FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 18 August 1925, Page 5

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

OUT-PATIENT FEES

DEPUTATION TO HAWERA HOSPITAL BOARD.

The question of the payment of outpatient fees was brought up at the monthly meeting of the Hawera Hospital Board yesterday, and after the matter had been fully 7 put before the board by a deputation representing the Taranaki Friendly Societies’ Association it was resolved that the matter be held over until after the association had had its annual meeting next week. The board resolved that unless these fees were paid by the association the present agreement between the association and the board would be terminated. The secretary of the Taranaki United Friendly Societies’ Association had forwarded details of members and fees in the various districts of Taranaki, showing total payments to all hospitals of £3152 and a*total of members of 2835. He included also a copy of the sixteenth annual report and balance-sheet, and notified that a deputation would wait on the board. In accordance therewith Messrs C. D. Sole and H. R. Cattley, representing the Friendly Societies’ Association, waited on the board to put its case. Mr Cattley said that the matter had been discussed, and the societies considered they should not have to pay out-patients'’ fees for massage, which no other hospital in New Zealand expected. Accident cases received treatment in hospital and later as outpatients. and in such cases the fees were paid by the association. The association paid out for X ray treatment a fee of £1 Is, and the Hawera. Board expected them to pay for all cases. The association obj'ected because it was against its rules. He said he believed it was quite on the cards that this would be altered to allow payment of out-patients’ fees, but most lodges were, however, opposed, to this. It took the association ah its time to pay its wav, and if out-patients’ fees were to be paid also the lodge membership fees would l have to be increased, . and the struggling man would be penalised. Hospital patients were increasing every year, especially women and children, and the association, as he had said, had difficulty in making ends meet. Practically the whole of the funds went to hospitals. Mr C. D. Sole said last year the association paid £3OOO to hospitals, and it was recognised by most hospitals that .friendly societies were their best assets. Only South Taranaki paid for out-patients’ treatment, and all others had rules preventing these payments. But the association was informed that Hawera Hospital Board were likely to cancel the existing agreement if these fees were not paid. The association collected large amounts the hospitals could not collect, and handed them to the boards. The members banded together to help themselves, but at the same time they wished to help the hospitals as far as possible. Hawera members had moved a motion refusing to pay out-patient fees. This had been carried and adopted in the rules. The chairman, said that many outpatients cou’d be put into hospital as ordinary patients, but to save the nurses thi s was not done. He consideied the association should recognise out-patients, a s the Hawera Board was really saving it money. Last year, said Mr'Sole, the amount to Hawera by the association was £SOO. The friendly 7 societies were improving their position. Patients could get their own doctor, and the association made a grant. They paid a large amount to Hawera, and were a good paying concern generally. They had the keenness of a debt collector, and were therefore entitled ,to consideration. If the member, of the society were prepared to pav larger fees they would have no objection to pay out-patients’ fees. The societies collected large amounts, .am' hacl paid over £2OOO to the hospital*-. Of this sum Hawera.’s share was £SOO. and had it not been paid bv the Association the amount would probably have been on'v about £3OO. If Hawera would continue tlie agreement v lie fed sure it would make no loss. Very few members were charitable aid patients. If .all the young married men of the district joined the societies Hawera’s most serious trouble would be .so'ved. The deputation then retired, and after a short discussion, the board resolved to defer the decision until the next montjilv meeting, after the IJ.F.S.A. had held its annual meeting.