HOSPITAL FINANCES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 172, 18 April 1939, Page 5

HOSPITAL FINANCES

“Government Should Give Relief To Ratepayers” Dominion Special Service. HASTINGS, April 16. “Now that the Government has brought the Social Security Act into force, and is collecting l/-in the pound, it should bring in free hospital treatment, and so give relief to ratepayers,” said Mr. C. Lassen, at today's meeting of the Hawke’s Bay County Council. His remark followed a statement by the chairman, Mr. C. C. Smith, that no finality bad yet been reached regarding hospital finances, and the further delay was putting ratepayers, the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board, and also the county council in a difficult position. Mr. Lassen pointed out that if a payment of 6/- a day, as had been mentioned, was brought in, it would mean a saving to the ratepayers of £2OOO. The hospital board was concerned at the increase in levies, not only for capital work for buildings, which were absolutely necessary, but also on the maintenance side. As chairman of the hospital board, Mr. Lassen said he had recently had a conference of the board’s officials, and had stressed that they had to justify any increases proposed. Maintenance costs had shown an increase of £11,000; of this amount £lO,OOO was for increases in wages and salaries in accordance with awards. The board employed, a wide range of staffs, and in both hospitals had a total of 305 employees. This big increase illustrated the effect of awards, and it had to be remembered that the board had to give a 24-hour-a-day service. Now that the Social .Security Act was in operation, it was time the Government gave a liberal amount for each occupied bed.

It was decided to urge the department to forward notification without delay of the proposed payment a bed a day for hospital treatment to be made under the Social Security Act.