HOSPITAL COSTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 75, 25 February 1927, Page 6

HOSPITAL COSTS

AND PATIENTS’ FEES. INCREASE OFFICIALLY SUGGESTED. \ RISING COST OF RELIEF. [By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.] WELLINGTON, Feb. 25. A .financial survey of hospital costs in New Zealand issued by the Department of Public Health strongly supports with figures the recent warning- of the Minister of Public Health that hospital boards should curtail their capital expenditure. The report also shows how tire cost of living problem is heavily pressing on the hospitals, and suggests an increase in the average rate charged • for patients’ maintenance. A growing liability for charitable aid due to unemployment, and in an almost equal degree to desertion by the breadwiner, is also demonstrated.

Stripped of all details, the economical conduct of a hospital can be demonstrated fairly well bv the statement of the cost per bed. This is taken by the department as a guide, and it is shown that while the cost per bed was £99 6s in the year 1910, it has rapidly grown until last year the cost was £l9s' 7s per bed. The rise in costs is reflected in all departments. Provisions cost £22 7s per bed in 1910, and are now responsible for £42 2s; surgery and dispensary expenses have nearly doubled, a 6 also have the domestic costs, while salaries and wages account for over £79 per bed as against £3B 8s in 1910. The details for some of the larger hospitals, on the basis of cost per bed. are of interest. Cost per TTosnitnl bed.

STANDARD PURCHASING. A highly successful experiment waß made by the department in importing certain lines of hospital requirements after the war when prices were soaring. It secured ootton-wool and lint at a cost one-third of that usually paid by the boards, but unfortunately the additional work thrown on the department by the administration of several lafge military hospitals caused it to drop the development of standard or bulked purchases, though it now proposes to revive the whole' question at the forthcoming conference of hospital boards. “It is felt that the time has arrived, if the growing cost of hospital supplies is to be arrested, tfhen further action, should be taken in the matter of combined purchasing, the inspecting house manager’s _ reports showing that, with the exception of a few boards, there has been littlb improvement in the methods since 1912. It is felt that for various reasons it would be better if the duty were undertaken under the aegis of the Hospital Boards’ Association rather than by the Government itself.” The report of a committee which has considered the system will be considered ,at the Hospitals Conference, and the h»pe is expressed that no parochial reasons will interfere with adoption of the bulk buying system. . , CHARITABLE AID.

The expenditure of hospital boards on indoor and outdoor relief showed a rise of £9356 in 1926 compared with the previous year. The whole expenditure has more than double since 1911, when it was £88,091 compared with £191,483. In classifying the causes which give rise to relief payments, the department is endeavouring to secure uniformity, and for that reason prefers to show the immediate cause. It is pointed out that imprisonment may be due to drink, but the immediate cause, imprisonment, is indicated in the returns.

The involuntary unemployment of the breadwinner last year was responsible for relief affecting 2,437 persons, compared with 1,450 in the previdus year. “Desertion of breadwinner” made it necessary to relieve 1.579 persons, slightly in excess of the number who were destitute owing to old age. “Wage insufficient to maintain family” accounts for 802 cases\ of relief: Altogether, 12,885 persons obtained relief. THE HOSPITAL FEES.

While the' cost of maintaining a hospital bed is put down at an average of £195, the average fees received from patients in the general hospitals amounted last year to £65 as against £SB in the previous year. The department expresses satisfaction at the growing proportion of fees collected, representing as tlrey now do, 20 per cent of the cost of hospitals. “There is however,” it comments, “a great disparity between the amounts collected by the various boards, and there is apparently too wide a disparity amongst hospitals in the same group in point of size and function, viz., from £3O to £99 per occupied bed. Though undoubtedly in some cases a system of collection is in vogue which is as efficient as possible, and the energy and zeal of the officials are ably supported by the boards, yet in other by no means , poor districts the small amount of fees collected is a matter for grave concern. Generally speaking, a board whose hospitals are receiving under £6O per occupied bed should seriously, review the methods of collection.” The fees charged should, in the opinion of the board, approximate to the cost of treatment, but there is great disparity. The majority of the boards have adopted a uniform maintenance fee of 9s per day, but the department is of opinion that this is now too low. Fees charged outpatients arc also too low in nio6t cases and require revision.

£ « d Auckland 181 3 0 Wellington 177 6 0 Christchurch ..... 215 2 0 Dunedin 212 0 0 Waikato 176 6 0 Palmerston North 157 5 0 Southland ..... 147 3 0 New Plymouth 219 i 0 Cook (Gisborne) 224 3 0 Wairau 183 1 0 Hawera 235 8 0 Oamaru 188 3 0