HOSPITAL INCOME

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 4, 5 July 1939, Page 12

HOSPITAL INCOME

EXPECTED INCREASE

SOCIAL SECURITY ACT

LOCAL POSITION

During the present financial year the income of the Wellington Hospital Board from current fees paid will, as a result of the payment under the Social Security Act of 6s per day per patient, show an increase over last year's receipts under this head of something like £50,000. This, of course, depends on there being no material alteration in the number of patients in the board's institutions, but as they are already taxed beyond their capacity an increase is not likely.

On July 1, the day when the hospital benefits under the Act came into force, the patients in hospital ceased to become liable for fees, and payments from the Social Security Fund began to accrue. On that day there were 841 patients in hospital in Wellington, and the payments from the fund to the board for that day alone will therefore total £252 12s. Last year the average number of occupied beds was 804, and if, as is expected in view of the existing limit to accommodation, that figure remains approximately the same this year, the board will receive on behalf of patients treated approximately £88,038.

Last year the Wellington Board's collection of fees averaged only £44 17s 3d per occupied bed for the year, which is equivalent to about 2s s£d a day. The total collected for the year was thus £36,069 or £51,969 less than the amount that will be received from the Social Security Fund this year, provided the average number of occupied beds remains unchanged. The Wellington Board has been criticised for the small percentage of fees that it manages' to collect, but this criticism has been answered by the claim that collection of fees in Wellington has proved'particularly difficult because of the fact that a large section of the population is continually on the move. ELUSIVE COUPON BOOKS. One of the major difficulties encountered by the board's staff in the change-over to the new system of finance has arisen from the requirement that patients must produce their Social Security levy coupon books. The secretary (Mr. J. B. I. Cook) said when questioned by a "Post" representative today that it had been necessary to employ a man full time on obtaining production of coupon books. All the patients in hospital were circularised some days before the benefits came into force asking them for the numbers of their coupon books, but it was not until copies of the regulations under the Act reached the hospital that it was ascertained that production of the books was required. Out of the 842 patients in hospital only 20 were able to produce their books. Of 57 patients admitted during ; the weekend only 10 had their coupon books. i Mr. Cook said he felt it would be months before patients entering hosI pital would be ready to produce their coupon books. He added that on making inquiries from the patients in hospital it was found that quite a number of them had failed to register under the Act. Registration had been effected on behalf of those patients by an officer of the board. The position now is, therefore, that all patients over 16 years .of age must, produce their, coupon books upon entering hospital. In the case of those under 16 years production of the parents' or guardians' book is required. CESSATION OF BENEFITS. jlt might be of assistance to the | public if the special provisions applying to persons in l'eceipt of benefits under the Social Security Act were made clear, Mr. Cook said. He cxl plained that when a person in receipt 'of any benefit whatever under the Act entered hospital payment of the benefit ceased, but the Social Security Commissioners had discretionary [ power under section 72 of the Act to i make to the patient whatever payment I they considered fit under the circumj stances. At the same time, of course, ! the board would receive 6s per day ! for people in that class as for other patients.

Payments from the Social Security Fund to hospital authorities will be made monthly on the basis of information provided for the Department by the authorities. These particulars of patients treated will be forwarded to the Department at the end of each month and the Department will make payment in a lump sum.

The Social Security Department will not be liable for payment of benefits on behalf of patients receiving compensation or damages or in the case of a patient who is a seaman on other than New Zealand articles.