HOSPITAL TREATMENT OF MILITARY PATIENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18310, 29 July 1921, Page 2

HOSPITAL TREATMENT OF MILITARY PATIENTS

The secretary of tho Otago Hospital Board submitted to last night’s meeting of tho board a minute relative to tho charge for the treatment of military patients in hospital. The following is the text of the minute;

I have the honour to draw the attention of the board to clause 1 of the Special Finance Committee's report of July 22, 1920 adopted by the board on that date and agreed (o by the Defence Department—viz.; "That the Defence Department shall pay to the board for each military patient the ordinary charge for patients in hospital, and at the end of each year shall pay such sum as shall make up the actual cost of maintenance of patients in hospital, or tho board shall refund to the department such sum as may have been paid in excess of the actual cost per bod; the,' cost per bed to bo determined by the board’s accounts as certified bv the Audit Department.” From tho returns now made up, it will be seen that tho average cost per occupied the current year for tho Dunedin Hospital works out at £206 ICs 4d. which would bo equal to 11s 4d per day. The department has been paying this board at the rate of 7s 6d per day, and I have to respectfully ask for the instructions of the board in connection therewith. I w.oukl suggest that the department bo notified in the meantime of tho proposal, and that no further -action be taken until the books have been audited and certified by tho department. The matter was referred to the Finance Committee for report.