HOSPITAL COSTS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 60, Issue 4352, 6 November 1950, Page 5

HOSPITAL COSTS

“A NEW DEPARTMENT’ THAMES BOARD PROPOSAL The increased hospital expenses was mentioned daily in the press and it was the duty of the Thames Hospital Board to do what it could to try and overcome the problem of ever rising costs, said Mr J. W. Neate, at the October meeting of the board. Nine and 10 years- ago the board thought of rebuilding the hospital and the estimated cost had.increased in that period from about £123,000 to about £250,000, continued the speaker. There was no architectural division with regard to hospital boards; Little had been done to assist boards. There should be some hospital planning bureau as there was in Sweden. The Education Department had its special department to draw up plans, whereas the hospital boards "had no such departmental agency to deal promptly with the requirements of the numerous hospitals throughout the Dominion. Mrs M. Williams seconded the proposal. Mir Neate had mat shown how one hospital building could be built any quicker than ait present, said Mr W.. C. Kennedy. People drew good wages amid gave poor service. It might be a fine thing if it was another 1,0 years before one block was placed for the new Thames hospital for by that time the cost might be far less. What Mir Neate was asking was flor the setting up of a new Government department. The chairman, Mr J. W. Danby, said that the department under Dr. Watt was alive to the- needs of the country. He had said that a survey of the needs of the country was to be made and that movement was taking place. He advised not rushing in with a matter that was under consideration by a new cabinet. There was much activity in the architectural department of the Government and it might be unwise to urge the very thing that was under consideration. The remit was merely a recommendation, said Mrs Williams, who went on to say that she could see no harm being done by sending the remit forward.

Mr C. W. Parfitt thought the board should be better informed before passing a remit. Mr Edwin Edwards supported the remit which, if sent forward, could do no harm but only do good and if the idea was being considered by the Govemfnent then it would merely add further support for the proposal. Mr Neate then moved “that there be established under the jurisdiction and control of the Department of Health, |s separate from the Ministry of Works, an architectural and engineering construction division and that there be incorporated in its activities

a hospital planning bureau on basis as at present operating in Stockholm, Sweden, as recommended by Watt and that such remit be ed to the general conference in L 951& / The motion was duly carried. h