HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID EXPENDITURE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3258, 23 August 1916, Page 20

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID EXPENDITURE.

At the meeting of the Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board on the "17th, the chairman (Mr J. H. Walker; made some remarks on the secretary's annual report. Speaking of the Dunediu Hospital, he said that the average number of occupied beds had increased from IS2 to 2GO, there being 331 more patients treated. The average cost of maintenance and administration per occupied bed. after deducting patients' payments, had been reduced from £B6 10s lid to £BS 12s lid. The amount collected from in-patients had decreased by £B3, but a considerable amount due by the Defence Department was outstanding. On the expenditure .side all the items under provisions had increased, totalling £1033. The surgery and dispensary division had also increased by nearly £4OO. and the domestic establishment by £736. Salaries and -wages had increased by over £IOOO The average cost, of maintenance of the Benevolent Institution had increased from £l2 5s 7d to £ls 3s, but the average number of inmates per diem would increase this figure. The cost of provisions had increased by £SGo. Surgery and dispensary had increased £4l, but the domestic establishment had decreased generally. Repairs to bedding, etc, had Increased by £220. but repairs to buildings had decreased by £217. and the expenditure on grounds by £264. The expenditure on the Pleasant Valley Sanatorium remained much the same as last year. The average cost of maintenance and administration, after deducting patients' payments, was reduced. The patients at the Maternity Hospital had dropped from 180 to 140 per annum. Apparently the cost remained about the same. The balance sheer of the Fever Hospital showed an increased cost of about £l6O. The average cost of the Tuapeka Hospital hud been reduced. There was a slight cost at the Port Chalmers Hospital, 'there had been an increase in the cost of the Knitangata Hospital of £4l. The Tnpa..ui Hospital showed a decline in receipts and an increase in expendil urc