HOSPITAL FINANCE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 29, 28 October 1932, Page 12

HOSPITAL FINANCE

Debit Balance of £2713 SOCIAL SERVICES RISE Distinct Changes Noted INCREASE IN SICKNESS Wellington Hospital concluded its half-year with a debit balance of £2,713, according to a statement made by tlie chairman, Mr. F. Ca sfl ®, at the /monthly meeting of the Board yesterday. The debit balance,, said Mr. Castle, was made up of an over expenditure of £1598, and under receipts amounting to £lll5. The only department seriously over-spent was tse social welfare department, which showed a. debit of £2042. The collection of receipts from in-patients was £-426 below the estimate, a substantial decrease as compared with the same period last year. The granting of relief had not been as light as one expected. “We are going along fairly well,” Mr. Castle added. “I am satisfied that the committees and the staff are ■ doing their utmost to keep expenditure within the budget. lam hopeful that some of tlie departments will show a still further under-expenditure and that the receipts will move up a little.” Social Welfare Activities. The chairman of the Social Welfare Committee, Mr. G. Petherick, reported that for the month of September 520 cases of sickness had been dealt with as against 187 in May last. It was difficult to understand the increase, in view of the fact that there was very little sickness in the city. “I don’t know how it is that we are getting these cases,” he added. Mr. Petherick said it was to be regretted that the list of separation and desertion cases was steadily increasing. The total for the month was 174, as against 118 in May last. In May last the old-age cases totalled 36. Last month there were 84 cases. The increase was due to the reduction which had been made by Parliament in the old age pensions. The board had had to come to their aid. Relief to single unemployed men had cost the board £36 for the month, as against £lBO for the same month last year. Mr. Petherick drew the attention of members to the ever-increasing number of maternity cases which the board was called upon to assist. “It seems we have to meet the position, but I want to stress the fact that the cost to us is growing all the time,” he said. Case of Imposition. Mr. Petherick said he regretted to report a serious case of imposition, which had been brought under the notice of the committee. It was one of the most glaring cases and the worst he had come across in his experience as chairman of the committee. A sum of nearly £5OO was involved,'but as the matter had been placed in the hands of the police and a prosecution would follow, he proposed to say no more in the meantime. In presenting the report of the House Committee, Dr. R. Campbell Begg, chairman, said that the work of the hospital was being carried on very smoothly. The hospital had been fairly busy, but in some of the wards for men there had been a remarkable absence of serious cases. In one ward he found the nurses complaining that they wished more patients would come in. “Very inconsiderate,’' remarked Mr. C. M. Luke, with a smile. Dr. Begg said that cases arising from motor accidents were not only frequent but prolonged in their treatment. This was a great expense to tha { hospital.