"IT'S DIRTY THEFT"

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 20, 24 January 1924, Page 12

"IT'S DIRTY THEFT"

RICH PEOPLE IN PUBLIC

HOSPITALS

A MEDICAL MAN'S OPINION.

(BI ISLEGP.APn.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

CHRISTCHURCH, 23rd Jan.

A letter from the t Wairewa County Council was read .'at a meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital Board today suggesting that patients who could afford to go into private hospitals but who go into public hospitals should be charged higher fees than those charged to poor patients. The chairman (Mr. H. J. Otley_V said-, that all the emergency cases and all accidents were taken into the hospital, but the board collected all the fees that could be collected, and care was taken to prevent people from obtaining advantages to which they 'were not entitled. • Country residents felt that the fees should be; higher, but many town patients cojild not afford any more than was charged at- present. If a man did riot pay what he should pay the board took step's to compel him, even if it had to/sue him. Mr. W. E. Le'adley said that the board took precautions to prevent wealthy persons from using the hospital. He, moved that the county council should be informed of the position as stated by the chairman, and be asked to state ' specific cases of wealthy persons getting into the hospital. The Rev. J. K. Archer said that the hospitals should treat all the people in their districts, rich or-poor. He sympathised with the rich, who were excluded from the expert departments in the. Christchurch Hospital. People should be charged according to their capacity {to pay, but once inside all should be treated alike. . '

The Hon. B. Moore said that if the doors were thrown wide open' the hospital must engage a large, staff, and it must be remembered that doctors on the honorary staff at present gave their services gratis.

Mr. S. Andrew said the board should have a paying ward for those Who needed special treatment, and who were willing to pay for it at the Christchurch Hospital. He was convinced that the honorary staff would not object to that arrangement. . n^ Dr. Fenwick (a member of the honorary staff)' said the question had been unsolved ever since the first hospital was opened in England hundreds' of years ago. He continued: "We are always glad to serve poor . people. At the same time it is very galling when you find that somebody who is. better off than you are ■ has sneaked a bed, that should be occupied by a poor person. It's dirty theftr-that's all it is." . „' ,

Mr. Leadlny's motion ivas carried.