Hospital Costs Rising

Northern Advocate, 13 June 1938, Page 9

Hospital Costs Rising

Indications of the effects of increased prices were contained in the report of the chairman, Mr J. A. S. Mac Kay, to the annual meeting of the Whangarei Hospital Board today. "As predicted in my last report, i'ising costs during the past year have been reflected in the board’s accounts, and as a direct result it has been necessary to increase the maintenance levy to £8881,” said Mr MacKay. "It is apparent that from the ratepayers’ point of view, the position is getting indeed serious, but as I have recently dealt with this matter at some length, I will not deal further with it at the time. “I regret that the nursing staff, who continue to give such splendid service, are feeling acutely the effect of the industrial legislation of the past

two years as reflected in the rapidly increasing cost of living. During the year this section of the staff asked for a rise of 12). per cent in salary to enable them to meet these rapidly rising costs. The board, however, while sympathising with the nurses in their difficulties, decided to adhere jto the scale agreed upon by the | executive of the Hospital Boards’ AsI sedation in conference with the I Director of the Division of Nursing I and recommended to all boards.” ; During the year a contract, has been j let covering the board's immediate ; requirements at £32,641. The esti- | mated cost of the work in 1936 was j between £16,000 and £20.000; the ! higher figure, when the contract was l let. being due to the rapid rise in the i cost of labour and materials, i The necessary finance was arranged with the State Advances Corporation. I on slightly less favourable terms than j wore available to other local bodies two or three years ago