HIGHER HOSPITAL LEVIES

Evening Star, Issue 23862, 17 April 1941, Page 6

HIGHER HOSPITAL LEVIES

COST PER BED NOW 15/DISCUSSION ON FREE TREATMENT [Pee United Pkess Association.] WELLINGTON, April 16. Tho merits of the social security scheme in providing free hospital treatment for the public were freely discussed by the Wellington Hospital Board to-day, when the apportionment of the board’s levies on local bodies was tabled, showing an increase of 15 per cent. The total levy was £146,109 12s 7d, compared with £127,066 9s 8d last year. The chairman, Mr F. Castle, pointed out that so far the social security payments were for inpatients only, but it was expected that some of the outpatient payments would be received this year for certain services. When tre full payment was made for all services there should bo a reduction in the levies and subsidies in that the Social Security Fund' was no doubt intended to cover the full cost of the benefits under the Social Security Act. The full influence of the security payments to the boards would, however, remain somewhat obscure for a year’ or two. Mr Castle mentioned several factors contributing to the increased levies, all of those being due to the rising costs per bed, which were now approximately 15s a day. Mr A. H. Carman said that many persons believed that the introduction of social security meant that hospital administration would not cost as much as in the past, but it was obvious that, with higher costs, the levies must be higher. The levies were passed.