HOSPITAL COSTS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 95, 23 April 1931, Page 10

HOSPITAL COSTS

In accordance with the policy applied to other Departments of public expenditure, the Government is seeking to reduce the cost of hospital relief. This effort has evoked strong protests, particularly from Auckland. While we can agree that the poor and needy and the sick should not be allowed to suffer, and that other less essential services can stand a heavier cut, this does not mean that there is no room for economy in hospital expenditure. We believe that there is scope for such economy both nationally and locally. In past years Governments, under local pressure, have permitted the erection and maintenance of small institutions. The

small-town ambition for a full-size hospital has been gratified, when-it would have been better to concentrate attention on'a smaller number of base hospitals. The local administration alwo has been less efficient] than it should be. On llic general plea lhat it was provision for the needy and the sick, expenditure has bn.en allowed to " grow, without searching inquiry as to whether the provision was made in ihe most cflicient and economical way. The national policy in this matter is the Government's responsibility, but tlicj local authorities must co-operate. They must help to eliminate all waste and inefficiency. The public have now their opportunity io help by returning to the Boards men such! as Drs. Campbell • Begg and Macdonald Wilson, who have a thorough | knowledge of hospital adminislra-1 tion, and can give invaluable aid in making il more efficient.