Wilson Home Is Not Much Of A Catch

Northern Advocate, 10 January 1938, Page 6

Wilson Home Is Not Much Of A Catch

MR HIGGINSOH

When the Whangarei Hospital Beard today passed for payment an account of £Bl 14/ for 80 days’ maintenance of a patient from this district in the Wilson Home, considerable discussion ensued.

“It is felt that some explanation is due regarding the apparently high charge at the Wilson Heme.” stated, a letter from the secretary of the Auckland Hospital Board. He then quoted figures upon which the estimated charge of 16/ per day was based. These gave the estimated daily cost of an occupied bed at 18/8; the allowance for the fixed annual value of the home, in accordance with she trust deed, was £550, interpreted as a daily amount per bed of 1/2. This brought the total cost per day down to 17/6, from which 1/6 was deducted from the estimated income from the Trust Fund.

These figures, it was stated in the letter, were merely estimates, and no account had been taken of administrative expenses, interest, or depreciation. Cost Will Not be Less. “One thing, however, is certain,” the letter stated, “and that is that the cost will definitely not be less than the figure quoted above. Should the institution grow, as it seems certain to do, then it will be necessary in the near future to seriously consider some equitable basis for determining a charge to cover all expenditure involved.” The letter goes on to state that' it must be clearly understood that, should any case sent by this district exceed the statutory limit of two years, the Whangarei board must accept full financial responsibility, no matter how long the stay of the patient in the care of the Auckland Hospital Board may be prolonged. A circular letter from the Auckland board drew attention to the fact that “it is the intention of the Minister that your board should charge your patients 10/ per day for treatment in the Wilson Home, and carry the difference of 6/ per day itself, as is done by my board in respect of cases from the Auckland - Hospital district. Departmental Circular.

' A Department of Health circular > ’stated that the department has subi mitted that the proposed rate of 16/ | per day is applicable only as a basis I for contributions by the various hosI pital boards and then only as regards I the prevailing type of cases—i.e., the pcst--infsntile paralysis patients requiring intensive massage and bath treatment and special nursing assistance by reason of their helplessness. This letter, sent under the signature lof the Director-General of Health, states that, in view of the generally prolonged- treatment involved, it is considered undesirable that a rate as high as 16/ per day should be adopted. In the circumstances, it was recommended that the Whangarei board reconsider its charges to parents with a view to adopting a maximum of 10/ per day “or such less charge as may be agreed upon in any particular case.” The chairman, Mr J. A. S. Mac Kay, explained that the account was for the case the board has at present in the Wilson Home. High Cost for Child. He commented that 18/8 was a high cost for a child. According to the scale of the Whangarei board, £2 was charged for an adult.

In reply to a question by Mr A. Clarke, the chairman pointed out that it was now suggested that parents be charged not more than 10/. Mr MacK'ay added that he had been unable to attend a meeting of the executive to obtain further information on the position, but it would appear that the executive could not tell the board anything it did not know 'already. To him it dcd not seem to warrant a special trip. Mr F. Higginson; Couldn’t much the same treatment be given in this hospital? The chairman; I am not in a pcsititon to say exactly, but I knov; that paialysig cases are treated in other hospitals. He mentioned Wanganui Hospital as a case in point, but could not say whether the treatment at Auckland would be better' than that which could be given locally. Mr H. Younger: How much money for the Wilson Home was donated from this district? No figures were available for the chairman to answer this question. Mrs V. Donaldson: One thing wo can do is to fix the figure we are going to charge our parents. Baths Not Expensive. The secretary, Mr Marwick: It is no use charging more than 10/ per day.

Mr J. A. S. Mac Kay suggested that the board should also get f a statement from its medical superintendent as to whether or not such patients could be treated here.

Mr s Donaldson pointed out that the necessary baths -are not attached to the Whangarei Hospital. The Chairman: Baths arc net expensive. It is possible that we could have them constructed. The idea of baths is to give the patients confidence, enabling them to walk with the support of the water.

“Wo don't seem to have many paralysis cases in the district at present, he added, “but. in Abe event ot an epidemic, it seems we would have to do as Wanganui did.” Mr. Higginson: The home is net much of a catch after all. The chairman moved that the board accept the responsibility and charge the parents at the rate of 10 - a day. This course was agreed upon. Mr. A, J. McKay: Are wo makine inquiries about local treatment?

The chairman: We could get an opinion. On the motion of Mr. A. J. McKay it was decided to obtain this infprnKrtion for consideration at the '‘ng&t board meeting.