HOSPITAL MATTERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10881, 22 April 1921, Page 2

HOSPITAL MATTERS

ESTIMATES FOR THE YEAR NO! MARKED INCREASE IN LEVY ON BODIES. SOM INTERESTING FIGURES. The monthly meeting of ther Wellington Hospital board was held yesterday afternoon. Mr F. Gastle (chairman) presiding. The other members present were Messrs C. H. Chapman, J. Glover, C. M. Luke, A. J. McCurdy, J, W. MeEwan, G. Nash, Q. J. Petherick, W. J. Thompson, W. T. Cotton, the Revs. Dr. J. K. Elliott and H. Van Staveren, and Mesdames Carver, McVicar, and Snow. On the recommendation of the finance oonimittee the following accounts were passed for payment: — Wellington Hospital Salaries and wages, £2153 13s; Belmont, £67 18s fid; other accounts, £4876'8s 3s; total, £7097 19s 9<l Social Welfare and Ohiro Home—Salaries, .£ll6 18s 3d; other accounts* £1394 4s 4d; total, £lsll 2s 7d. Head office—Salaries, £l5B 12s; other account, £199 ss; district nurse, salary, etc., £lB 10s; total, £376 7s. v . Grand total, £8985 9s 4d. THE FINANCIAL POSITION. RECEIPTS, EXPENDITURE AND ESTIMATES. chairman submitted and moved the adoption of the finance committee's report as to the expenditure for 1920-21, ahd its estimates for 1921-22: For the year e'nded March 31st, 1921, stated Mr Ca-stle, the ordinary expenditure exceeded the estimate by £5568; but as the ordinary receipts exceeded the estimated amount by £4703, the actual deficit under this heading was £865. To this must be added a small deficit of £195 on account of capital expenditure, * making the total deficit £IO6O. An examination of the figures for ordinary expenditure under the principal heads shows the following:—Wellington Hospital.. £6744 above the estimates; Social Welfare and Ohiro Hotne, £479 below the estimates; and head office, £3ss below. The separate return relating to tflie Social Welfare department.gives further information showing that the outdoor relief required £1863 less than the estimate, while the indoor relief exceeded the estimate by £1393. The decrease Uoted in the head office expenditure is mainly due to: (1) The elimination of expenditure for public health inspectors at the end of December, 1929, when these officers were transferred to the Health Department; and (2) retirement of the collector. EXPENDITURE INCREASE®. The details of expenditure for Wellington Hospital show where the excess amount has been absorbed,, the principal, itsrus being:—Fuel <coal and gas), £969 (principally due to increases in price of coal and gas); repairs to buildings, £721; repairs miscellaneous, £1046; motor vehicles, £272; alterations to Ewart Hospital, £911; salaries and wages, £2078; outside maintenance, £184; cleaning, £209; light, £144; Belmont Home, £156; total, £€672. RECEIPTS ABOVE ESTIMATE. The actual amount received, added the chairman, exceeds the estimate by £4723. On account of iees the excess was £696; rents, £575 in excess; contribution's, £1207; miscellaneous, £705; social welfare, £522; head office, £99; sale improvement, £1609. In connection with in-patients' fees the following return allowing the average number or occupied beds and the percentage of received during the past hvo years, will be interesting and shows that, while the overage number of occupied beds has slightly declined, the percentage of fees collected is showing an improvement, which you will, see is more marked if you deduct the amount received from the Government on account of in-pati-.onts. The value of the change made in the method of handling patients when being discharged lias certainly improved the position very much. . I tnink greater improvement would be effected if those responsible for some of the patients were presented with monthly accounts instead of being presented with an account for several months maintenance when the .patient is discharged. TABLE OF LEVIES. The following table shows, omitting shillings and pence, the levies on the aifferent local authorities:—

RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE. A SUMMARY. The receipts and expenditure of the Wellington Hospital Board for the year ending Alarch 31st, 1921, are summarised as follows in a statement submitted to the board yesterday:— Expenditure—Hospital. .£89,510 (capital expenditure, -£5794; mother expenditure, £102,724); social welfare, etc.. £15,500; administration. .£2700; liabilitie over assets (31/3/21). £808; total. £106,518. Receipts—Hospital, £19,760; social welfare, etc.. £1575; administration, £1650; total. £22.985; leaving an excess of expenditure over receipt* of £85.533. Of this? amount £46.891 is apportioned in levies o nthe- ©ontribtitorv local authorities. while the Government subsidy will make up the balance, £38,642. CAPITAL AND m'HHR EXPENDITURE. The estimated c.a.nif.tt.l tor

the coming year is £5794; of which, £2897 is apportioned amongst the con<fcrib.utory local authorities, while the tame amount will btr claimed in Government subsidy. Other expenditure is estimated at £102,724, less estimated receipts on this account, £32.985; leaving a balance of £79,739. Of this, £43,994 is levied on the contributing bodies; while a Government subsidy (at 16s 3d in the £) of £35,745 would be claimed. THE DISCUSSION. "LOCAL BODIES SHOULD BE SATISFIED/’ Mr C- M. Luke seconded the adoption of the rejxrrt and the estimates. Mr J. MoEwan. in supporting, said that the local bodies were to be congratulated upon the fact that they had not to pay much more, if any more, in levies than last year; and. in some caeca they would have to pay a little less. He considered the expenditure estimated for was amply justified. Mr Van Staveren remarked that he did not think that there was much for the local bodies to be congratulaed upon, considering that the Government had relieved the board from some £7300 of expenditure on State children, and in tipi to of that fact the levy would be practically the some as it was last year Mr Luke did not think that the local bodies would cavil very much at the board, as they themselves had had the same experience in regard to increased prices, wages, etc. Mr C. 11. Chapman pointed out thdt the estimates made no provision for the large amount of unemployment which seemed bound to arise in the district in the course of the coming year. He thought that in view of that prospect the finance committee should have estimated considerably more than the £15.500 put down for social welfare purposes. The report of the finance committee and the estimates were adopted.

Wellington City Cl* 1920-21. Ji 1921-22. JC 36.656 Uorowhenua C’ty Cl. „ |f fin I t C'ty Cl. 3319 Mnkara C'ty Ci 1447 Lower Hutt B. Cl I'etone B. Cl. 2134 Miramar B. Cl 1272 Karori B. Cl , Onslow B. Cl „ Levin B. Cl Kastbourno B. Cl 503 Jrhnsonvillo T. Bd. 291 258 Upper Hutt T. Bd. .. 370 Otaki T. Bd Totals 46.891