PATIENTS' FEES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 31, 5 August 1925, Page 6

PATIENTS' FEES

FINANCING PRIVATE WARDS .VIEWS OF HOSPITAL BOARDS' EXECUTIVE. The Executive of the Hospital Boards' 'Association, in a report issued to-day, replying to the recommendations of the New Zealand branch of the British Medical Association, opposes the suggestion that the hospital policy generally should bo under the control of the Board of Health. "The hospital policy of the country," states the executive of the boards, "must be in the hands of its elected representatives, and the responsibility for its proper carrying out reBiain with the Minister of Health." "The method of financing private ward accommodation is one upon which there is little difference of opinion," states the executive. "So long as fees charges are fixed to cover the estimated cost of maintenance, and include a proportion, of depreciation charges, interest on capital and administrative expenses, no radical departure from the usual method of financing capital undertakings is called for. Preference no doubt would be given to the method adopted by power boards, and even a temporary charge en the rates avoided if possible." The executive opposes the suggestion of the B.M.A. that the administration of -charitable aid should be taken away from hospital boards. As to the question of patients' fees, attention is drawn to the fact that at the recent Hospital Conference a proposal to increase tho fees "was negatived by an overwhelming majority, it no doubt being thought that any attempt to raise tho present fee of 9s per "diem would be attended by very little more revenue, whilst it would impose hardship upon' many conscientious persons, who could not really afford such fees, and might, indeed, be discouraged thereby from seeking necessary hospital treatment." (