HOSPITAL FINANCES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 103, 16 April 1912, Page 2

HOSPITAL FINANCES.

At the meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board yesterday, the chairman presented the following report : — Before proceeding with the estimates for the incoming year I will briefly review the finance of the past year, and this will show you at a glance Hie financial position on 31st March, 1912. On 31st March, 1911, there was a debit balance on building account of £3OOO, outstanding accounts £1000; total £4OOO. Against this there was a credit of cash in bank of £1414, uncollected subsidy £2588; total £4002. My estimates laid before you last April for the ordinary expenditure for the year ending 31st March*,'l9l2, were: 'Estimated £12,550, actually expended £12,491, a difference of £59. Receipts: Estimated £13,427, actually received £15,234. Accounted for: Expended £12,491, excess outstandings £250—£12,741, balance £2493 ; total, £15,234. PUBLIC CONTRIBUTIONS. The contributions for the year amounted to £lOOl, and this, with the subsidy added, makes up the large sum of £2201. The receipts being so largely augmented by the donations made by the public, 1 take this opportunity cf expressing the thanks of the board to the public of the Hawke’s Bay Hospital District for their generous donations, thereby materially assisting the board in •making improvements adding to the comforts cf the inmates, and furthermore we may take it. as an expression on their part of approval of the course pursued by the board in making the necessary large alterations to the institution.

REPORT ON NEW BUILDINGS, PLANT ETC., AND WORKS

proposed to be carried out during the present financial year In laying before you this report I have taken the somewhat unusual course of bringing it on prior to the ordinary estimates of working expenditure, as any large alteration would, to a certain extent, necessitate the recasting of the working estimates, largejy in the direction of making additions providing fur repairs. The new works-that I lecommen should be carried out and completed during the present financial year are.— ‘ (1) Erection of surgical ward ’u'females, estimated cost £4lOO. (2) Additions to nurses’ home (U bedrooms with extras), £l3OO. (3) New X-Rays plant, £llO. (-1) Laundry, £l3OO. (5) Electric lighting and heatiny (ci ntract let), £lOOO. (6) Levelling sites, £2OO. (7) Purchasing land, £360. Equipment w r ard £250, equipment nurses’ home £l5O, equipment laundry £5O, new boiler £100; £B5O.

Contingencies, including architect’s fees, clerk of works, extras, etc., £950 ; total £9870. And during the financial year ending 31st March, 1914, the following works be recommended :—

Surgical ward for males (24 beds), estimate £4600, isolation block £llOO, dispensary and shelters for consumptives £BOO, administration block £3OOO, doctor’s residence £7OO, fencing and extras £4OO ; total, £10,600. I need hardly bring before you the importance of proceeding with the works proposed to be done this year. The necessity is so well known to the whole of the members of the board. The surgical ward for females should be proceeded with at once, the present existing, conditions, due largely to the overcrowding of the present ward, is not creditable, and does not cope with the requirements of the district. The immediate erection of the laundry block is necessitated by the fact that the site occupied by the present laundry will be required next year for the erection on cf a surgical ward for males. The present old buildings do not provide sufficient space to cope with the growing requirements of that department, and again will avoid the shifting of the electric lighting plant now contracted for, which will then be placed on a permanent site adjoining and under the same ’roof as the laundry. Electric Lighting Plant. —The contract for this work has been let, but the contractors have been advised that the site other than the one pointed out and mentioned may be chosen, and in consequence the commencement of the work may be delayed. Additions to Nurses’ Home. —This is necessitated by the increased number of nurses required, and at present there is not sufficient accommodation and in consequence the hospital is under-staffed. Levelling Bank at Entrance.—This work must be undertaken to provide

material for filling up the site at the new laundry, and in front of the No. 1 ward, thus extending the required space there. This will also clear the site for the new administration block.

X-tlay Plant.—The existing imperfect plant has been but of little use lately. The board passed an amount for repairs, but before exe ; cuting any work in connection with it an expert examination showed that the repairs would only be a temporary expedient and that it would be cheaper in the end to procure a new and up-to-date plant. This would be a source of revenue, as an amount of outside work is done, for which a charge is made. Purchase of land for Doctor’s Residence.—We have now under offer a suitable site close to the hospital, and I* strongly advise the purchase of that section. It is fairly level, in a good position and would require but little if any expense in levelling. The amount set down for equipment for new wards, nurses’ home, laundry; etc.,'has been carefully gone through, and is, I think, a fair allowance. The new boiler is a necessity, as the present one does not cope with ordinary requirements. The sum set down for contingencies is, I think, a fair one. LEVY. The rate struck last year was l-9th on a penny. I propose this year to strike a rate of 2-23rd of a penny; this is a reduction of 21 3-5 per cent. This rate, however, I estimate,' will bring in sufficient with the available surplus, the subsidy, and other sources of revenue outside of rating to provide for ordinary requirements and clear off the overdraft.

To complete the schedule of works as. set out will require a levy this year for building purposes, of 5-41 th of a penny in ,the £. This will provide £4938, and with the Government subsidy of £4938, £9876 in all, and should provide sufficient funds. The Hospital Act dealing with the question of finances, makes provision for contributory bodies raising money by loan. If those bodies rise the sum proposed to be levied, by a loan extending over a period of 36/ years, an annual payment of l >2-19 would provide interest and extinguish the loan during that period. This course of procedure Would relieve these bodies from any perceptible increased taxation, and as all the buildings will be cf bribk or work of equal stability they would form a valuable asset to the hospital district.

There is another side to the question. I may say the humane side. Under present conditions the able efforts of the doctor and staff are to some extent neutralised by the want of space, and they are in consequence unable to separate the various classes of cases. At the present time in No 3.Ward both medical and surgical cases have to be treated. All the works included make for better facilities for treating patients, and clearing the path for what I confidently look forward to, the completion cf an up-to-date hospital with more modern wards and increased accommodation. The chairman moved the adoption. Speaking of finance h'e said by adopting the principal of raising a loan it would only mean a small contribution from each body. It would mean a smaller contribution than by a rate though spread over a longer period. The levy had to be made and it was cor the local bodies to say how they would meet it. Mr. Ormond seconded the adoption of the report with a recommendation that the money required for the first year be raised by way of loan.

The adoption of the report was then agreed to.

The chairman then formally moved the adoption of the rate levies mentioned in the report, viz., 2-23rds penny ordinary and 5-41ths penny building- purposes.—Carried. The Building Committee was empowered to proceed with the building work st once.