HOSPITAL COSTS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 182, 1 May 1931, Page 10

HOSPITAL COSTS

Estimates Not Passed • DEPARTMENT FIRM Board to Reduce Amount Upon intimation from the Department that it was not prepared to recommend the Minister to approve of its estimates until the amount had been reduced from £144,623 to £129,789, a reduction of £14,834, the Wellington Hospital Board decided yesterday to make the necessary adjustment. To enable this to be done a special meeting of the Board will be held on Tuesday next. The adjustment will involve an alteration in the apportionment of the levy upon the local bodies. The department stated it had no other course at present than to return the estimates for reconsideration and amendment in order that the requirements by levy and subsidy for maintenance purposes 'shall not exceed the amount named previously. It was suggested that the provision of £38,630 for outdoor relief could be reduced to £33,000; that was approximately . the amount actually expended during the year just ended. In view of the uncertainty of the position affecting demands by way of unemployment relief, the board was hardly justified in providing for an additional £5OOO expenditure. The provision for indoor relief might also be reduced by £5OO. Hospital maintenance, the department stated, was the major item and it was in this direction, it was urged, the board should aim to effect savings considerably beyond the amount of the “cut” in salaries and wages, if possible without curtailing services. In comparison with other large hospitals Wellington showed for 1929-30 a relatively high maintenance expenditure per occupied bed, particularly under the headings “domestic,” “establishment,” and “salaries and wages.” On the receipts side the amount estimated to be derived from patients’ payments was some £4OOO less than was received last year. It was recommended that consideration be given to increasing the amount at least by £2OOO. It was requested that the board, reebgnising the serious position of the country’s finance, would assist in meeting the position as far as lay in its power. The chairman, Mr. F. Castle, said the board had been forced into a position where if it were found the provision made in respect of the relief of unemployment was inadequate a call would have to be made upon the Government. He was not inclined to support the attitude of the North Canterbury board in refusing to make any provision for cases of distress arising out of unemployment He thought the Wellington board; had adopted a fair attitude. It had stated its requirements, the department did not approve of the amount, and the only thing to do now was to make the necessary adjustment. Other members of the board agreed that it was unwise to attempt to force the hand of the Government.