HOSPITAL TREATMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17651, 11 December 1920, Page 8

HOSPITAL TREATMENT.

FRIENDLY SOCIETY CASES. A WAIKATO PROPOSAL. [BT TELEGKAPH. —OWN" CORRESPONDENT.] HAMTT.TON. Friday. The Waikato United Friendly Societies' Council submitted to the Waikato Hospital Board .yesterday a proposal for the hospital treatment of Friendly Society members within the hospital district on a guaranteed basis. Representatives of all the societies were present, and "'were introduced by Mr. C. Sweetman, who called upon Mr. J. A. Young, M.P., to outline the proposals. This Mr. Young did and explained that the scheme submitted was one which had already been tried and proved' satisfactory. In Christchurch, for instance, on the latest figures available, to March 31 last, they bad 6418 members on their list who, over the whole year, occupied a total number of 1985 bed days, which, worked out at 21.813 beds per quarter. On the basis of the Christchurch experience with 500 members in the Waikato Hospital District, it would work out at 2.03 occupied beds per quarter. The Waikato Friendly Societies' Council was giving a minimum guarantee of three occupied beds per quarter at £7 10s each, and if, by any chance, on assessment at . the end of any quarter the occupied bed days exceeded three, the Council would pay for the same at the rate of £30 per annum. Therefore, with a guarantee of not less than % three occupied beds per quarter they were* offering the Board something better than what the system worked out in practice. ■■« The scheme -was not on the basis to pay so much per head per member per year, but on the basis' of payment per occupied bed with a guaranteed minimum of three beds at £30 each per year. Mr. Young further urged that the board should affirm ; the principle, as it was a good/ ope, and should be encouraged, because 'it was a case of men being! prepared to help themselves. Should the board affirm the principle it would not commit them to the adoption of the scheme, and be suggested they should then refer the matter to a special committee of the board, who would confer with the representatives of the Friendly Societies, when they would go thoroughly into the matter in all its dietails. The committee would subsequently present to the board a report for consideration, and, no doubt, adoption. The chairman stated that on two former ocoasions when the board entered into negotiations with friendly societies in the Waikato regarding guarantees for the payment of hospital fees the whole scheme wa3 a failure, and nothing but a worry to the board. '

This was confirmed by severjal other members.

After further discussion the subject was referred to the House and Finance Committee to consider and report to the board for discussion later.'