OTAKI SANATORIUM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 117, 18 April 1939, Page 3

OTAKI SANATORIUM

FINANCIAL STATEMENT. INCREASE IN PATIENTS. Otaki sanatorium maintenance is estimated to cost tlie Palmerston North Hospital Board £I2,SCO this year, based oil allocations of £1650 for provisions. £390 surgery and dispensary, £OOSO for salaries and wages, £3460 for domestic and establishment and £750 lor farm and miscellaneous items, plus £2OO for the expenses of tuberculosis clinics and patients in Pukeora sanatorium. “The main increase in expenditure at Otaki has taken place in domestic and establishment costs,” tho board was informed at its annual meeting yesterday by the secretary (Air A. J. Phillipps). ‘ “This is, of course, chiefly due to the fact that a large amount lor repairs and renovations to buildings during the past year has been charged against this item. These jobs included the re-roofing of file nurses’ home building, and the shifting of the far east shacks. They are noil-recur-ring. At the same time there are more patients under treatment, and this is reflected by the cost of provisions, surgery and dispensary supplies and salaries and wages.

“During the past- year there were 160 patients under treatment at the sanatorium as against 140 in the preceding year, and the average number of occupied beds for the year was 64.6. as against 52.3 for the preceding year. So far as the expenses of tho clinics are concerned, while Dr. Francis is awav a lesser amount will he spent on clinics Ilian in the preceding year. The expenditure on sanatorium maintenance exceeded the receipts during the past year bv £509 19s 2d. and this amount is in the meantime being carried forward as owing to this board from the sanatorium account.

“Tt is difficult to estimate what the effect of the introduction of the social security scheme will lie on the number of inmates at flic Otaki Sanatorium, but it seems quite certain that more persons will then seek sanatorium treatment. Normally I consider there would have been some surplus available iu the sanatorium account this year. but. with the visit abroad of tlie medical superintendent and the tact that we are employing relief while he is absent, it will he difficult for the account to be kept square this year. However, as the whole position i.s shortly to be placed before flic Minister. it seems proper at tbis stage to restrict our estimate of expenditure to the amount which we are estimating as revenue.”