HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 46, 31 August 1928, Page 16

HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE

BOARD REPLIES TO CRITICS Speaking at* a mooting of tlio Wellington Hospital Board yesterday, Mr. G. Pothcrick, chairman of tlie Social Wolfaro Committee, said there.had recently been some criticism of tho increase in hospital expenditure, and some of that criticism had been specially levelled at the'amount expended on charitable aid. He thought that some of those who criticised would do better service if they helpfully tried to solve tho unemployed problem. The extra heavy calls which the Social Welfare Committee had had to face wore due to the unemployment situation. During the past eight weeks the committee had distributed 864 bags of coal and 1030 bags of firewood. Mr. A. J. M'Curdy said that with regard to indoor relief, there" had been an increase of 50 per cent, in tho last two years. A considerable number of persons who received out-door relief ought to be in suitablo institutions. Mrs. Preston expressed the opinion that there were men discharged from hospital who were unfit to resume their work. In her judgment suitablo accommodation should bo provided for such cases—it would bo economy in the long run. "This community needs a convalescent home for such cases,?' remarked the chairman (Mr. C. M. Luke). The need for such an institution had been frequently urged during the past ton or fifteen years. In Auckland they had the Costley Home; there was no similar institution here. Mr. Luko said the board welcomed criticism, but desired such criticism to be helpful. A large proportion of the board's increased expenditure was due to unemployment. Mr. M'Curdy said that if some of those who indulged in criticism'of theexpenditure were made awaro of the unpaid hospital 'fees in "their own district they would be -surprised. ■ A good deal of the criticism, said Mr. W. Appleton, came from the smaller local bodies. He thought that an invitation should be sent to members of local bodies to visit the hospital, and learn the facts. They would then see ] that ;the work of the institution and tho increased number of patients absolutely necessitated tho amounts levied on the'local bodies. . The cost per bed in the case of the Wellington Hospital was lower tKan that in the other three largest' centres. The. chairman said it must not be forgotten that the.cost of "nearly everything had Nearly doubled in the last fifteen years. Ho denied a statement reported to have been made by a member of the llutt Borough Council as to estimated cost of the hospital and charitable aid expenditure in that 'district. - It waS resolved that an .invitation be extended to members of contributing local bodies to visit the Hospital and inquire into the position themselves.