SANATORIA CHARGES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 110, 9 April 1926, Page 10

SANATORIA CHARGES

0 COST TO HOSPITAL BOARD

WHERE PATIENTS ARE

LOCATED

. Quite apart from the patients dealt with at the local institution the Palmerston North Hospital Board is annually put to the necessity of providing substantial sums of money to cover the maintenance of patients from out of its district who require treatment at one or other of the sanatoria in different quarters of the Dominion. This matter was dealt with at the annual meeting of the board yesterday in the secretary’s report, which disclosed that the estimated amount last year for payment to other boards and separate institutions was £3OOO, whereas the actual sunt called for was £3827 19s lid. It was agreed to place £4500 on the 1926-27 estimates to cover this item.

Reporting upon the position the secretary stated that tho board was carrying forward over £IOOO which it owed to the Health Department. The board, his report stated further, is required to guarantee the fees of patients in the Pukeora Sanatorium at tho rate of 11s per diem and the Otaki Sanatorium at tho rate of 9s per diem. At tho present time it has some 10 j)atients in tho Pukeora Sanatorium and an average of nine will probably bo maintained. That is to say, Pukeora Sanatorium will cost the board nearly £IBOO during tho coming year. In addition there are on an average four patients at the Otaki Sanatorium at an average annual cost of approximately £6OO. Further, the board has had on an average one patient at Hamner Queen Hospital for tho past year, and one patient at tho Tourist Department’s Sanatorium, Rotorua. These two items cost annually £3OO. There are still eleven children for whoso fees this hospital is responsible in the King George V. Hosjntal, Rotorua. The fees amount to £1 11s 6d per week. From tlieso figures it will be seen that the proposed estimato is tho minimum which can be made. Further, it is probable that the board will have to settle claims from the Auckland and Otago Hospital Boards amounting to over £SOO. No provision has been mado in respect of Otaki Hospital except to cover -commitments up to 31st March, 1926.