SUBSIDIZING PRIVATE HOSPITALS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 109, 1 February 1941, Page 12

SUBSIDIZING PRIVATE HOSPITALS

Board Discusses Principle Opposition to tlie Wellington Hospital Board subsidizing private hospitals to ensure Hit* free treatment of. patients was expressed by some members of tlie board at Thursday night’s meeting when a clause in the report of Hie finance and policy committee recommended the following. - That, as it result of an interview with tlie Director-Genera', of Health relative to maternity accommodation for the Wellington Hospital District, the following resolutions were adopted ; —(a ) That tlie acting-superinten-dent .interview .Mrs. Smith, the proprietress of the Upper Hutt Maternity Hospital, and ascertain what arrangements could be entered into between herself ami the board relative to the taking of additional cases and tlie paying of subsidy over and above social .security so as to ensure free treatment io the patients: <b> that til! matters are linaiized in the Upper Hutt district, no action be taken in regaid to subsidizing eases in other maternity hospitals throughout Hie board's district. , Messrs. .1. Purvis. A. 11. Carman anu V W (Toskery opposed subsidizing private hospitals. to make up the difference between tlie social seeinit.t payments in their charges. Mr. 1 intis said he was in favour of the board setting up its own hospital at Upper Hutt. Air.. .1. l.'. ('rawford remarked tnat. private enterprise had 'invested considerable capital in Hie.se insliliitions end lie saw no reason for forcing them mil while they could carry on successfully. As Hie matter was only in the negotiation stage, no action was taken ami the report "'as adopted.