AUCKLAND HOSPITAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 November 1938, Page 5

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL

REFUSAL TO PAY FEES

(PEE PBEBS ASSOCIATION.]

AUCKLAND, November 14

“There is a strong* tendency on the. 'part of many debtors to ignore, requests for payment, and in the outpatient department numerous patients now expect free treatment. Although they are quite able to pay, they flatly refuse to do so,’’ stated a report forwarded by the fees committee to the Auckland Hospital Board to-night. It was added that the board had been informed that it would be required to collect all fees outstanding at March 31 next, and that these would not be “wiped out,” as many debtors seemed to expect. It was added that the committee had issued instructions to the fees department to adopt sterner measures to effect a settlement in cases where debtors were in a position to pay and were reluctant or refused to do so.

Fees collected in the seven months ending October 31 amounted to £37,418, as compared with £37,752 in the corresponding period of 1937.

X-RAY DEPARTMENT.

AUCKLAND, November 14

The complete inadequacy of the present plant in the X-ray therapy department of the Auckland Hospital was emphasised by the radiotherapist, Dr. G. R. Nolan, in a report to the Hospital Board. He said this criticism applied both to the lack of X-ray equipment, and to the limited space and accommodation for the efficient working of a modern therapy clinic. Dr.' Nolan recommended the purchase of two types of therapy units, together with a quantity of associated equipment. It was estimated that the cost of the plant would be £3200. The proposed alterations to the building to house the new equipment, and to make better use of the space available, at a cost of £3OO, could best be decided on when the equipment had been ordered. The board decided to invite tenders for the supply of X-ray therapy plant for the hospital.

ARCHITECTS’ FEES

AUCKLAND, November 14

Subject to the consent of the Minister for Health, £2500 will be paid by the Auckland Hospital Board to the Australian firm of architects, Messrs. Stephenson, Meldrum and Turner, as a fee for the report and plans submitted for the development of the hospital buildings. This decision was made by the board, on the recommendation of the finance and purchasing committee, which discussed with Mr. A. G. Stephenson, principal of the firm, the fee of £3500 claimed for the work carried out in accordance with the board’s instruction on August 4, 1934. The committee reorted that afterconsiderable discusison, Mr. Stephenson offered to accept £2500 in full settlement of the claim. However, it was poitned out that if it were decided to employ the firm’s services further in the building scheme, either as directly responsible or in association with the hospital’s architect, the fee for the report and sketch plans would bo regarded as being covered by the fees which would be payable in accordance with the Royal Institute of British Architects’ scale of professional charges. This provision was embodied in the board’s resolution approving the. payment of £2500 in full settlement of the architects’ fees for the report, and plans.