HOSPITAL CHARGES

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 21 January 1930, Page 6

HOSPITAL CHARGES

comnnnunity, but lie could not agree with Air Simpson that the 'financial a&i pect did not enter into the question.

I oould not be forced into joiningI friendly societies, who, it must be adj juitted, were a source of assured re- . venue. He did not anticipate a- fallI ing off in the collection of fees, and j mentioned that at the present time 50 j per, cent of the charges in respect of I comparatively young patients, unat- [ tached to friendly societies, were eoli lected. Mr Simpson explained that he look[ed upon an agreement with the societies as a business transaction, and the board should meet such organisations with open arms. It was a good thing to be assured of the easy collection of 50 per cent of dues for treat-j ment, but he was convinced that, without an acceptable renewal of tlio' agreement, this would be lost to the board, as the friendly societies would go elsewhere. There should be no suggestion of charitable aid in the agreement. as this phase was distinctly distasteful to lodge members. The chairman: “We’ll call it a reduction instead of diai-itable aid.” , Mr E. J. Gifford was emphatic in the belief that the cutting out of benefits to friendly societies would result in a reduction of fees collected. Mr Simpson formally moved renewal of the existing agreement. An amendment was moved by Mr Winks and seconded by Mr E. A. Washer, that an agreement be entered into with friendly societies within the board’s’- area covering treatment of members at 5s per day, the agreement to cover a period of two years. On being put to the meeting the amendment was lost hv three votes to five, those in favour being Messrs J. S. McKay, T. A. Winks and E. A. Washer and those against being i Messrs A. L. Campbell, S. J. Bennett, E. J. Gifford, L. Nairn and W. G. I Simnson. ( Mr Gillanders: “I did not vote, as I am opposed to any amendment of the agreement making for a reduction of the present charges to ordinary patients. Tn anv r nse. there should not be a differentiation between ordinary nation* and members of friendly societies.”' A further amendment was moved by Mr Gillanders and iseconded by Mr Campbell, that the board was prepared to enter into an agreement with the friendly societies, over a period of two rears, providing for the payment bv friendlv sociotv members of' 50 per cent of the 12s per day charge. 1 This was. carried by five votes to ' four, those in favour being Messrs Gil- ' landers. Campbell. Winks, Washer 1 and McKav. ;

EIIIENDLY SOCIETIES AND BOARD. SUGGESTED NEW AGREEMENT. At the monthly meeting of the iiuwera Hospital Hoard yesterday, the matter ot renewal of the existing agreement between the board and tlie district friendly societies in regard 'to hospital benefits, discussed at length at the last meeting of the board, was further dealt with. The agreement expires in March next and at the pre-

( vious meeting the jnatter was left in abeyance, pending presentation of data by the secretary, who at yesterday’s meeting submitted figures showing that of a total collection of fees during 1926-27 (£3978 16s 2d), the sum of £932 was contributed by friendly societies. Friendly society patients treated during the past three years were: 1926-27, local board 184, 'other boards 31, total 215; 1927-28, local hoard 233, other boards 33, total 266; 1928-29, local board 293, other board 54, total 347. Friendlv society members outside the district (203) equalled 16 per cent of the total membership. | Mr S. J. Bennett said the first duty |of the board was to study tlie health of the community, but not altogether from a financial viewpoint. It must be conceded, lie said, that friendly societies generally were an asset to any community, primarily making provision for sickness among members in time of need. No hospital would ho troubled financially if everybody paid membership fees to a friendly society. Tn the event of non-renewai of the present agreement no member of the hoard could conscientiously affirm that 50 nor cent of the cost of hospital administration would be collected. Any endeavour to increase the fees would crush the friendly societies, who had already decided that they could not comply with an increased demand. Personally, lie paid bis rates, thereby incidentally contributing to the hospital levy, and in addition paid £3 annually to a friendly society. The increasing incidence of motor accidents would, he felt sure, in the near future further increase the cost of hos-| pi tal administration, and, though he was not working solely in the interests of friendly societies concerned, he maintained it was not a fair thing to pass on trf them any further liability. Mr A. L. Campbell suggested the framing of an agreement providing for the payment of 50 per cent of hospital charges during the first year, with an increase of, say, two per cent in the second year.

Mr W. G. Simpson advanced tlie opinion that it would ho unwise to in any way amend the existing agreement. Any increase in charges would have the effect of alienating tlie ,support of some of the friendly societies, whose work and support should be encouraged by the hoard without too great a regard for the financial aspect. The agreement should he renewed. without amendment, for at least another year. Air F. Gillanders stoutly contended that there should he oo distinction between friendlv society memhors and ordinary patients. Should the former withdraw their support of the hospital the eolleetiop of fees would not. he thought, greatly increase the cost of administration.

Air T. A. AVinks agreed with the previous speaker.

The chairman (Air J. S. Ale Kay) said the chief function of the hoard was to watch over the health of the