DISPUTE REVIVED

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 77, 10 March 1931, Page 5

DISPUTE REVIVED

HOSPITAL BOARD AND DR. DORIS GORDON PATIENT IN NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL STRATFORD BOARD RECEIVES ACCOUNT QUESTION OF PAYMENT The controversy between the Taranaki and Stratford Hospital Boards and Dr. Doris Gordon was revived at the meeting of the Stratford Board at the monthly meeting to-day, when an account for the sum of £36 16s was received from the Taranaki Board for the hospital fees of the patient in question. It was the opinion of one member that the liability should not be recognised as the patient should have been sent back to Stratford. The chairman (Mr. W. L.. Kennedy) said the New Plymouth Board had a patient thrust upon them, and in any case the position cut both ways. Mrs. Phillips: If the patnal was in a fit condition to send to New Plymouth she was fit to be sent back. The reply to that statement Avas that perhaps the journey had affected the patient adversely. Mr. E. Marfell said that some attempt should be made to settle the dispute. The chairman favoured that course. "We admit the responsibility to take

her in," he said, "but we don't admit that we are bound to pay, though some allowance should be made" Mr. Marfell favoured offering t j£2o, in support of which he said that owing to the surrounding circumstances the board should ask for such a concession. He moved in that direction. In the discussion that followed Mr. J. O'Neill asked if the patient had any means to meet the liability. He considered the board should not be in a hurry to settle the account. .

Mr. E. R. Rutherfurd was not in favour of paying the account. It was pointed out that the patient was in the New Plymouth Hospital for 60 days. Mr. Rutherfurd: This board did not know that the patient was there all that time. Other members expressed surprise that such should be the case. The motion was not seconded, and finally it was resolved on the motion of Messrs. Mari'ell and Rutherfurd, that the chairman of the board meet the clrJCTfman of the Taranaki Hospital Board with reference to the settlement of the account; also, that the Taranaki Board be informed that in future cases of the kind notification should be given to the Stratford Board before admission, in,' accordance with the arrangement between the boards at a conference in the past.