HOSPITAL PROBLEMS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6630, 8 June 1928, Page 9

HOSPITAL PROBLEMS

NEW SOUTH WALES REVENUE FALL IN SUBSCRIPTIONS. SYDNEY, May 31. Many causes contribute to the decreasing public subscriptions for hospital purposes, a fact that is giving the Government of New South Wales serious cause for alarm. Not the least damaging is the enormous overhead cost of collecting funds for hospital and other charitable purposes. The public resent giving a shilling—allegedly to a hospital—when they know that tenpenee of it is going to bo eaten up in preliminary expenses and that the hospital eventually is going to be lucky if it gets the odd twopence. So seriously docs the Minister for Health, Dr. R. Arthur, view the position that he has written to all institutions telling them that they have got to practise the most rigorous economy and suggesting that it is incumbent on them to insist, without exception, that persons who can afford to do to must pay. The more the question is gone into, the more it becomes apparent that there is a great deal of humbug about public hospitals. Though, theoretically, they are available for free treatment, the proportion of patients who cannot afford to pay some small amount is very insignificant. The vast bulk can certainly pay something and if the health authorities would take a. lirm stand in the matter and insist on payment by those who can do so, the public would bo more willing to make voluntary subscriptions.