MOTUEKA COTTAGE HOSPITAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 15 October 1931, Page 4

MOTUEKA COTTAGE HOSPITAL

NELSON BOARD’S ATTITUDE GUARANTEED SUBSIDY REQUIRED Over six months ago, at the end of the financial year, the Department of Health notified Hospital Boards of a much reduced Government subsidy this year which would necessitate estimates of expenditure to be drawn up to coin cide with a fixed and much-reduced total revenue, and the recommendation was made, with other suggested economies, that boards curtail their outlying district services and concentrate in maintaining an efficient central institution. The Nelson Board found it necessary, in order v to work within the amount allowed it by the Department, to close the Motueka Cottage Hospital, but made an endeavour to lease it. A vigorous protest was made by Motueka against this action with the result that the institution has remained open. Tire latest turn of events is that an officer of the Department has visited the hospital and made a report on it, recommending that it remain open. However, in spite of the Departmental instruction the Board decided at its meeting yesterday that the doors of the institution would be closed if the Government did not guarantee the subsidy necessary to keep it open. The report of Dr. Shore, forwarded by the Department, detailed the services given to 4000 people in the district. The officer considered the hospital was necessary, and the suggestion was made that the Board lease the institution with a subsidy, but if that was not possible, the hospital would have to be kept open with money from some other source. The report recommended the effecting of a lease, but if that could not be done that the Nelson Board continue to maintain the service. Tlie Chairman (Mr F. W. O. Smith) said the report left the board no choice. If the Department would make a grant of the necessary £SOO to £6OO for the institution the board would have nothing further to say. It was explained that no applications were made for the lease under the terms of a subsidy. Major R. Dagger: “We have no as surance of a subsidy; it is only the recommendation of an inspecting official.’ He considered the board. should ■ tell the Department of the position, ask for an immediate assurance of the necessary subsidy as the board had no money and state that if no subsidy was forthcoming the board would have to close the door of the institution at the end of October. Major Dagger continued that the board would have to have full payment of the cost of keeping the hospital open, otherwise he was not- inclined to see the board incur liabilities in respect to it. Major Dagger moved a resolution on the lines of his remarks, stating that unless the guarantee of the Department to meet the debts incurred up to the end of the year was received, then the place would be closed. He was reluctant to move the resolution, but the board had no money with which to carry on the service. . The Chairman: “It is up to the De. partment to tell us what they will do. Major Dagger: “Yes. We want ‘yes. or ‘no’ for an answer. If they say ‘no, then we can’t”. The motion was carried unanimously.