Hospital Fees

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 174, 20 April 1937, Page 11

Hospital Fees

Sir,—ln a letter to “The Dominion,” published on April 17, Mr. A. H. Carman quotes figures which are not in any way enlightening, but are misleading. Mr. Carman does not allow in his comparison for the large increase in patients, or for the fact that the Government is paying direct for more patients. The mere tact that we are collecting a few more thousands does not mean that we are collecting more per patient, which is the figure that counts.

Our Wellington Hospital does not compare well with the other main hospitals as shown by the following statistics: — ,

Wellington Hospital, with the highest maintenance cost per occupied bed for the main hospitals, has the lowest collection of fees. With a maintenance cost of 11/5 per patient per day for the year ending 31/3/36. and probably nearer 13/4 for the year ending 31/3/37, Wellington Hospital only charges 9/- a day, and these costs per day given above do not include any charge toward interest on loans, depreciation, plant, etc. All the main hospitals charge £4/4/a week per patient, and Otago Hospital has recently raised their charge to £5/5/a week, but Wellington Hospital only charge £3/3/- a week. After allowing for Government pensions, insurance.cases and other sundry fees, generally paid in full, it would appear that less than 20 per cent, of the patients make any payment at all. and of the fees chargeable to this 20 per cent, the board only receive on an average a 75 per cent, payment. Of £450.000 fees collectable over the last three years up to the 31/3/36, approximately £375,000 was written off. Also, ■when one studies the burden being placed on the ratepayers as compared with the other districts, the comparison being:—

it makes me certainly agree with Mr. Carman’s letter that certain facts should be made available to the public.—l am, GORDON BERRY, Member. Wellington Hospital Board. April 19.

Maintenance Fees per received occupied per bed. bed. Inc. 1934-5 1935-61934-5 1935-6 Auckland 165.3 181.3 51.9 61.2 6.3 Wellington ... 1S2.6 209.9 44.7 45.5 .8 Christchurch . 164.2 182.8 50.5 56.2 5.7 N.Z. Average.. 171.2 183.3 55.8 58.0 —

Rate of Levy on Local Bodies. 1935-6. 1936-7. 1937-S. Auckland .258 .280 — Wellington ... .262 .375 .418 Christchurch . .246 .271 — N.Z. Average.. .248 .290 —