HOSPITALS AND CHARITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14345, 15 April 1910, Page 7

HOSPITALS AND CHARITY.

OLD QUESTION REOPENED. [BY TELEGRAPH. — ASSOCIATION. J;" CnaiSTCHTTBCH, Thursday.' . -. The question'of ..who is entitled to hospital treatment was discussed at a meeting of > the, North Canterbury Hospital and; Chari- ;■ table Aid ' Board yesterday,' when members s of th© honorary staff waited upon the Bond ' on the subject. Dr. Acland said that there •was no doubt whatever that public : hos- T pitals were charitable institutions, and ; _, should be only for. those unable to pay - for > private nursing ' and modical \ dance.; \ In the Chrisk-hurch hospital payment .by.* :! patients was 4s daily, and last year the •-■>. average daily cost of < each patient was 7s Ijt . 3d. /Those paying; 4e daily were thus getting in charity 35.3d, and the services of > the honorary staff. As accommodation was insufficient, every ; well-to-do patient/; who gained admission, besides receiving un- _■■ ■ deserved charity, was keeping out a deserv- ■.... ing case. A large proportion of :• those v, treated by the out-patient depigment wert; also, well-to-do. If the Board must provide for all classes it might be done a division of hospitals into two distinct sections, charity wards and - accommodation for well-to-do people; i the 'Board charging i-pi according""to the ' : accommodation given, and the patient making his own arrangement r with his' medical' attendant re 'fees., ■' »*.'• jfctu ' The matter was referred to lie Hospital.?'*.;? Committee. ~*, <■*-~. jf^'A