HOSPITAL FINANCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21467, 15 April 1933, Page 7

HOSPITAL FINANCES

THE WELLINGTON BOARD REDUCTIONS IN ESTIMATES ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Thursday Reductions have been made this year in the estimates of the Wellington Hospital Board. The estimated expenditure for the year is as follows, the actjual expenditure for the previous year being given in parentheses: —Wellington Hospital, £109,316 (£111,374); outdoor .relief, £30,000 (£37,245); Ohiro Home', £SIOO (£4976); head office, £6'156 (£6126). t . At the meeting to-day, the chairman, Mr. P. Castle, said that for ordinary purposes the gross expenditure of the past year exceeded the estimate -by £3990. To this must be added a .deficiency in receipts beloAv the estimate of £2317, making a total deficit of £6307. Patients' fees dropped from £30.516 in 1931-32 to £21,178 last year. The estimates were adopted. During the discussion, the opinion was expressed that the board was sailing too close to the wind. * The report of a special committee appointed by the board to consider the position in regard to the triedical and general administration of the hospital was brought down. The board agreed unanimously to a clause stipulating that the medical superintendent shall be a medical practitioner duly registered in New Zealand and possessing an approved senior degree in medicine or surgery. Wider administrative powers were assigned to the secretary and a proposal to reduce the salary of the medical superintendent from £1023 to £SOO a year was deferred until April 27. POSITION IN THE WAIKATQ ESTIMATES FOR THE YEAR [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Thursday The Waikato Hospital Board met today, Mr. J. J. Ryburn presiding. The Finance Committee reported that the estimated requirements for the current year would be £52,300, of which £48,388 would be absorbed on maintenance costs and £3912 on capital charges. The amount required to be raised by levies on local bodies was £28,387, an increase of £777 over the amount levied last year. Commenting on the accounts, the 1 chairman congratulated the board on the satisfactory state of the finances. The position, he said, was veiy good indeejl. No services in the outlying districts had been cut out. Considering that the Tees for treatment had been increased from 9s to 12s a day, and the difficult times, the collection of fees had been exceptionally good. Tlio savings made in interest had been counterbalanced by extra charges caused by the sales tax and the increased exchange. Had it not been for these increases the levies on local bodies could have been reduced. The estimates will be submitted for confirmation at a special meeting on April 20. % ; It was decided that in future tonsil and adenoid cases be'treated in the Te Kuiti Hospital and that the retaining fees of two local doctors be increased -to £IBO a year. * The application of Nurse A. R. Harris, of Mokau, for the lease of the - Huntly. Hospital, was accepted. A deputation representing the Pukemiro Medical Society \yaited on the board's Finance Committee and stated that the present rate of the society's expenditure exceeded the receipts by approximately £3OO a year, owing chiefly to the reduction in membership and. the necessity of providing for re- . lief workers. The deputation stated that further financial assistance was-re-quired from the board. It was decided to give the society a special grant of £SO for six months and to ask tho society to reduce its expenditure and make more use of the Huntly Hospital. A deputation from the Huntly Unemployed Medical Association asked the beard to consider:—(l) Free medical service for the unemployed; (2) free treatment of members under 20 and over 16 years of age; (3) an increased' subsidy on contributions. It was -decided to increase the board's subsidy on members' contributions to the society's*' doctor by 50 per cent to. Is 3d a member a month. "