HOSPITAL FINANCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 13 January 1928, Page 2

HOSPITAL FINANCE

NEW ZEALAND'S SYSTEM

COMMENT BY MR W. LOCK

Tcta "Mail" representative to-day,'Mr W. Lock remarked that the result of the recent "Hospital Day" collection which amounted to thirty odd pounds would probably be considered unsatisfactory bv many people. "Indeed," he added/ "if o'ur hospitals were in any way dependent for their financial sjipiporfc upon such efforts the result obtained would be highly unsatisfactory, if not appalling: The chairman of the board pointed out that the appeal was not made general and that only two portions lof the. hospital district put forth any [efforts' to assist. I certainly agree, with Ithe chairman that if a Hospital Day is ii'ieallv necessary every part of the district" should do'its best to raise funds to assist in carrying on the.good work of such" a noble institution. "When in England a good number of years ago I visited quit© a number of large public hospitals, and in all of them were displayed in prominent positions signs with the.words: "This Hospital is supnorted entirely by private contributions." That being.the case it is no wonder that great efforts are made from 'time to time to raise money by Hospital Days and other forms of appeal to assist in the maintenance of institutions which carry on such a humane and glorious work—that, of attending to the needs, relief, suffering and comfort of the poor who require such services. It is also little wonder under the existing circumstances that the appeals made for such a worthy cause should meet with great success. .■• "We in New Zealand, however, I am thankful to,say, are in a totally different position rea'grding provision for hospital finance. The cost' Of" hospital maintenance,, etc., in this country, is absolutely assured; arid does riot in any way depend on private contributions. I am,of opinion that rid 'other institution or public body in the world has a better system or method" for jjroviding money for the building, equipment, maintenance and general upkeep than exists in this Dominion. In fact, I know of no other institution or. local body whose finance is assured, and is ori such a splendid financial footing. As there" may be some who are' riot familiar with the mode of hospital finance iri the Dominion I would like briefly to'explain the position; \ "At" the beginning of each financial year Hospital Boards are supposed to consider carefully, the amount of money they will' require for the various departments. (Hie amount expended the previous year being a guide). Estimates are made in detail, arid a certain sum put down for contingencies. The required having .been ascertained, a levy is made on all the local bodies in the hospital district on a capital value-basis. ThVamountSySO levied are usually paid without demur; in any case local bodies are compelled' to pay them. The levy on the local bodies is for, half the total amount required to run the institution. The balance is derived from the Consolidated Revenue, the Health Department igraritijig a isubsidy; of- pound for pound oh the amount/levied. ' ' "I may' mention that amounts levied ori the' various local bodies in the Nelson hospital district for the current veav is as'fellows.-.: Nelson City Council, j 33 364; Waimea, County ~ Council, £5,072; Collingwcod. 'County, £658; Motueka, £512; Richmond, £403; Tahunanui; £242.;. Murchison £781; Takaka," £1,095: Should the Hospital Board by any chance under-estimate the amount'required, it can levy for an additional sum. This second levy would oa on the. same lines as • the first one. A second levy by a Hospital Board has not 'often been made in recent years, though boards still possess this power. Since the passing of the. Local Bodies Finance Act which prevents local bodies procuririg'an overdraft other than the amount i of the uncollected revenue, for the year | it would make,it awkward and_ difficult to have a second demand matle. which had not been provided for in the', estimates. A second demand for. a small 'amount could probably be met out of what'is called ' "unauthorised expenditure." The amount of money available for such expenditure under the Public Revenues Act is very small, being only one per cent, ori the revenue of .the General Account; The small local bodies could contribute practically nothmg._ ; "Now', whilst it is quite clear that there is reallv no necessity to collect money, or, as they say, 'go round with the hat,' for hospital maintenance and administration, there may be occasions when some special thing is urgently required, and not being provided .for m the estimates, donations. invited for-the special purpose. As an example, it is a desirable thing to give the patients as happy a time as possible at 'file Christmas season, and people .could be invited to show their interest in the patients arid" the institution by contn-| buting the funds required for this purpose. This method would perhaps he, preferable to the board makinga^ grant. I had the privilege and" pleasure of being present at the recent Christmas celebration, an account of which was given in 'The Mail.' .On that occasion a great deal of pleasure was given to the patients. The bright service and appropriate address bv Bishop Sadlier appeared to b» much appreciated, and the patients fullv enjoved the unloading of, the, Christmas Tree, from which each received presents' The preparations must have entailed a great deal of work upon the whole of the staff, but the results achfeved were well worth the ; effort. "I might add in conclusion that 1 have received some requests for information from several responsible gentlemen in Canada and the'U.S.A. interested m hospital finance. In the course of a reply from one of these gentlemen he detailed the principal methods adopted in Chicago to raise money for hospitals and charity. He further said: 'Your comments on our methods to raise money for hospitals, charity, etc., were very intertesting, and I believe there really should be Government provision for this work here in Chicago as it is in New Zealand in placo of so much, charity and necessary hospital work being left for the public" to bear.' "