HOSPITAL FINANCE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 231, 25 June 1943, Page 4

HOSPITAL FINANCE

Social Security Payment For In-patients INCREASE AUTHORIZED Regulations gazetted last night give effect to the undertaking in the Budget that payment from the Social Security Fund to hospitals in respect of in-patients would be increased from 6/- to 9/- a day. The Minister of Health, Mr. Nordmeyer, said that the increase would operate as from April 1, 1943, and that hospital boards should amend the demands on local ao’thorities in order that the reduction might be passed on to the ratepayers. So far as patients in private hospitals were concerned, the increased amount . would be deducted from their accounts beginning from the first of next month, but patients who had been discharged from private hospital between April .1 and June 30 could apply to the medical officer of health of their district for the additional amount of 3/- a day to which they were now entitled. Forms for this purpose would shortly he available.

COUNCIL’S PROPOSAL REJECTED

Hospital Board And The Levy Refusing to act in what it considered an unconstitutional manner, the Wellington Hospital Board last night rejected a suggestion from the Wellington City Council that it should follow a certain course of action in connexion with hospital finance. The city council notified the board that it had adopted a resolution asking the board to forward its -claim for payment of hospital levies to the Controller of the Social Security Fund; that all local bodies be invited by the council to take up a similar stand in order to be relieved of a double system of taxation which was considered inequitable and unjust; and that the council strike a rate > of 1 60'L-SOOd. for hospital purposes, but that no payment actually be made to the hospital board except" pursuant to a resolution of the council.

“The board is not prepared to accede to this request, or suggestion,” said the chairman, Mr. F. Castle. “We are working under statutory powers requiring us to do certain things, one of which is to levy on local bodies. The provisions of the Act are very positive and mandatory. They state that an amount apportioned by a hospital board to a local authority is a ddbt and is -recoverable (plus interest accrued) in any court of competent jurisdiction. We are being asked to do something outside the law under which we are working. I am surprised at the city council adapting this course. We cannot take unconstitutional proceedings to try to force a position not curable by us. I suggest that the board maintain its constitutional position of respect for the law.”

“This board regrets that it is unable to accede to the request of the city council,” said the secretary when asked to read the draft of a resolution, being framed. The chairman: Not “regrets.” It is jijst unable to accede. Mr. H. F. Toogood said that whatever their feelings on the matter, it was beyond the jurisdiction of the board members. The argument should be removed from the board table. They were there to spend funds with proper economy and benefit for the work of the hospital, and not to enter into political arguments. They had to -get the money as the law provided. (Let those who made the law amend it as was thought fit and proper. “I think the city council expect that answer,” said Mrs. Knox Gilmer when U_K£Solution was adopted on the lines indicated by the chainman.