HOSPITAL SYSTEM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 25 March 1936, Page 11

HOSPITAL SYSTEM

NEW ZEALAND’S METHOD INTEREST IN VICTORIA MELBOURNE, 11th March. Gradually, it seems, Victoria is bei; converted to the merit's of the No Zealand hospital system, which is fina ced largely by a levy on local boili and by Government subsidy. Victor! hospitals rely to an extensive degree < voluntary contributions, but it has be< found recently that these fall far sho of requirements, and attention has nece sarily had to lie given to an examinatic of alternative methods which will assiu the financial position. In spite of the manifest insufficiencii of the present voluntary system, oppos j lion to a change to a compulsory sy ! tem is being made in influential qua' • lers. The president of the British Med | cal Association, Sir James Barrett, fc instance, is opposed to the Now Zealan plan on the ground that it will dry u the founts of private benevolence, bul as those founts already show signs c diminishing, it is contended, there i not much point in that objection. MINISTERS VISIT DOMINION The Minister of Public Works, M Goudie. returned from, a visit to Nei Zealand a few days ago, seemingly in pressed with the method of fiuanciu hospitals in the Dominion, and ho an his colleague, Mr Pye, an honorar Minister, are submitting a report o, the subject to Cabinet. Meanwhile th Premier, Mr Dunstan, has given a bin that some compulsory method may b adopted. Speaking in the Allandale by-electio campaign this week, Mr Dunstan sail the Ministry had already done a grea deal to provide for increased accommc elation and necessary improvements a existing hospitals, both in the city an tile country, and to minimise ovei crowding. The equally important ques tiou of hospital maintenance, however had not yet been fully dealt with. “For many years the voluntary sys tem has been in force in this State, an

“For many years the voluntary system has been in force in this State, and it lias long been realised that it lias many defects,” said Mr Dunstan. “Year after year the same publicspirited people contribute to hospital funds, while others, equally able to contribute, fail, wholly or partially, to recognise their responsibilities. Realising the necessity for the best possible means of financing public hospitals, Mr Goudie and Mr Pye arc submitting a report on the methods adopted in New Zealand, together with recommendations.”

FINANCES OP HOSPITALS Hospital authorities are disinclined to comment on the proposal to initiate compulsory aid, but it is considered that, generally, they would welcome a change on the lines of the New Zealand system. A survey of the finances of Melbourne’s major hospitals reveals that most of them are finding difficulty in meeting immediate needs without giving a thought to future requirements. Last year, for instance, the Royal Melbourne Hospital, with a. Government grant of £30,000. still showed a deficit of £IO,OOO. and it is estimated that the position will be vere similar at the end of the current year. Of receipts of £96,000, only about £IB,OOO represented subscriptions and donations, and patients contributed only £19,000. At Prince Henry’s Hospital last year tlio receipts were £20,774 and the expenditure £36.462 a deficit of almost £16,000. St. Vincent’s Hospital has a bank overdraft of £106,602, of which £76,327 was incurred for rebuilding.