HOSPITAL COMMISSION

Evening Star, Issue 17636, 15 April 1921, Page 2

HOSPITAL COMMISSION

SUBSIDIKS AND ADMINISTRATION. GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY OF £ FOR £ ASKED. [Feb Dmitkd Prkss Association.] WELLINGTON, April 14. The Commission of Inquiry regarding hospital subsidies and administration was resumed to-day. Air George Shirtciilfc pointed out that only 22 per cent, of the total hospital fees were actually collected. Mr Killiel’c. secretary of the Hospitals Department, thought that the system of collecting fees was pursued on too rigid lines. The printed form should he followed by a. personal letter or application for payment. In tho case of Otaki Hospital. which was under the control of tho department, no less than 60 per cent, of the fees charged were collected. He was of the opinion that each patient should be interviewed on discharge with respect to payment of his account. Air” Murdoch Fraser, chairman of the Taranaki Hospital Board, submitted tho decisions arrived at by his board. Shortly, tho board expressed the opinion that nothing less than the amount of the present subsidy should be given. By this means non-ratepayers contributed a portion of the cost. A scheme might ho evolved whereby Government could advance the funds required for capital expenditure. The board favored, ns moro equitable than tho present basis of subsidy, that basis approved by the conference in Juno last. Not less than 24s to the £ subsidy should be given. It was inadvisable to alter the present system by which each individual board was free to fix patients’ fees on the basis of the cost of maintenance. Tho of paying private wards in connection, with public hospitals was entirely against the fundamental principles of tho institution of such hospitals. Government was iustlv entitled to representation on boards. The board did not favor small hospital districts. A considerable_ saving could be made if standardised lines in hospital requisites could bo bought in large quantities direct from tho manufacturers, and distributed to each hospital. Thomas Neale, chairman of the Nelson Hospital Board, urged that the Government should contribute £1 for £ towards the. capital requirements, both as applied to capital and interest, artd that maintenance be contributed equally. He hold that a uniform rate of patients’ fees should be charged. Ho considered that where boroughs were grouped with county councils the boards should be elected under one suffrage. It would bo in the interests of both parties that the Government should have a representative on the board. _ His board would bo pleased if the Commission would consider the advisability of legislation giving power to any contributing body to rate separately for any hospital benefit that did not benefit contributing bodies generally. Tho Minister of Health had stated that the whole system was based on equal partnership between the Government and local bodies in regard to hospitals. In that case the Government and the ratepayers should contribute equally to the expenditure; whereas last year tho Government was some £60,000 to the good, paving that sum less than if it had contributed equally with the ratepayers. Air T. F. Martin, secretary of the Municipal Association of New Zealand, submitted remits passed at the Municipal Con ference held in September, 1919. Sir James G. AAHlson, chairman of tho Palmerston North Hospital Board, urged that the Government subsidy on capital expenditure be £ for £. There were bound to lx; demands for heavy expenditure by hospital boards in future. If tho Public Trust Office could not find the money he suggested that tho Government should issue a local stock loan for tho purpose of raising the necessary money. He would prefer a 36i years’ loan, repayable by a sinking fund, "to a 10 years’ loan, repayable by a tenth each your. If the Government paid £ for £ on interest ns well as capital a short term loan might be better than a 36i-year loan. He held.that the now schedule would prove just as unfair as the schedule of 1309, now abandoned, had proved.