HOSPITAL FINANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19405, 13 August 1926, Page 12

HOSPITAL FINANCE.

MATTER OF PATIENTS' FEES. WAIKATO BOARD'S DECISION. [BX TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] HAMILTON. Thursday. ! The Waikato Hospital Board met today, Mr. C. Johnstone presiding. Advice was received from the. Minister of Health that the Tauranga, Opotiki and Bay of Plenty Hospital Boards protested against the suggestion of the Waikato Board that the King; George V. Hospital, Rotorua, and East Taupo be included in their district. The chairman said Rotorua previously belonged to the Tauranga district, but it had been transferred to the Waikato.. • Mr. J. Price moved that the Minister of Health be informed that the suggestion that Rotorua should be included in the East Coast districts did not come from the board. The motion 'was carried. For the last four years the'Waikato Board has conducted a voluminous correspondence with t}ie Health" Department regarding the payment of fees incurred by patients treated in the King George V j Hospital, Rotorua. The department has held the board responsible .ior the payment of the fees, and the board has. had to pay 75 per cent, of the amount incurred. The department - wrote to-day agreeing to the suggestion that the board should pay the department 50 per cent, chargeable for patients treated in the Rotorua Hospital, including the infectious' diseases hospital, from the Waikato hospital district. After discussion-it -was decided to agree to the arrangement for two years. ' ■■ ■