HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14144, 20 August 1909, Page 8

HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT.

Sir,l; regret trouble- you for space to reply to " Ratepayer's" queries in Tuesday's Herald, but the importance of the questions raised demands'a reply. Why the expenditure on the Costley Homo has risen from £3533 in 1902 to £6240 in 1908, while the number of inmates had not increased, is explained by the fact that in 1902 the home was a refugo ' for the aged poor only." In 1908 it had virtually become "j a hospital, as ' well as a refuge, where consumptive and cancerous patients—and sufferers from other incurable and chronic ailments— medically cared for and treated, and necessitating a number of extra attendants to specially minister to them. Why the "observation cottage cost £1596, instead of the £300 voted therefor, is, among other questions that " Ratepayer/' asks, best answered by the Finance Committee of the Board.' While four members of the Board continue to dominate this important committee, arid leaving the harder duties pertaining to charitable aid or Costley Home management: to .others, the efficient and economical administration of the : Board s work can scarcely be expected to result. Member Costley Home Committee]

- Sir,— correspondent,V ! " Ratepayer," requests information that should be vouchsafed to him. , Ho asks the reason of the great increase in, the maintenance > account since 1902. ; That. year . was the last ' of a

■■ I, i in i 1 —mrra— .., 1 I period when the senior mocueal ofßoer wag chosen from the resident staff. The BoaJdyjM; and the honorary staff thon controlled the'3fM hospital. A change was made, and a' grope into the dark resulted in tho condition of - ?.£' affairs revealed by the report of tho Royal Commission. Tho bulk of the present Board were sent by tho local bodies to reform the >•' * hospital, and that they have grappled with ' their herculean task nobody will deny. But ' it is utterly impossible to attack every d©.:""fHiif partment at once. The professional work'i»Q|p now unchallenged, and the commercial side is at present being dealt with. Tho Board* by the,, newspaper reports, are going to remedy a state of affairs that is as intolerable as it is unique. Then, with the modernising of tho basement, the Auckland Hogpital will be like the citythe first in the Dominion. Citizen. • 'I

Sir,—Regarding the expenditure quoted by Mr. Johns in the Hebald of Monday, the 16th inst, it would appear as if ha '''- cannot understand the difference between total expenditure and maintenance of institutions. I again state that £35,0000 wag spent on institutions under the Board's ? control, not £40,000 as the writer would ■' - mzka it appear. However, he has come :; down £2000, so when he again takes up ''o his balance-sheet and sees that the other <<i> £3000 odd is made up by an advance to *' loan account (which is not maintenance of ? institutions), to be repaid again when the ■' loan is floated, perhaps he will then under- '-■■i stand why his previous remarks were £5000 out. ;. ■ .--

I am sorry, but I cannot see the trend of the other explanations of my colleague. I am afraid his mind has got fogged. I However, I am glad to see by the trend f of his letter that he is quite prepared to i support the progressive party in their endeavour to effect the necessary reforms If needed to place the different institutions under the Board on a sound eommerciaJ basis. , Board Membbb.