PATIENTS FROM ARAPUNI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19713, 12 August 1927, Page 12

PATIENTS FROM ARAPUNI.

LOSS TO HOSPITAL BOARD. UNSATISFACTORY POSITION. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Thursday. Purine the period June, 1924, to Juno, 1927, the treatment of patients from the Arapuni works at the Waikato Hospital involved the Hospital Board in a loss of fees amounting to £956 10s. The fees incurred at a charge of 9s a day amounted to £IBO6 14s, and the amount received in settlement was £BSO 4s. ( At a meeting of the board to-day the position was described as highly unsatisfactory by the chairman. Mr. Campbell Johnstone said the charge of 9s a day did not cover the actual cost of a bed. It was unfair that the board should be saddled with a heavy annual loss because the works, primarily intended to supply Auckland with power, happened to be situated within the board's area. In reply to Mr. J. J. Ryburn, the secretary, Mr. E. 0. Johnson, stated that the position of the board would be much worse if it was not for the fact that 50 per cent, of the fees incurred were contributed by the Arapuni workors medical club. On the motion of the chairman it was decided to make strong representations to the Government that a more equitable arrangement should be made.