OUTPATIENTS’ FEES

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1934, Page 11

OUTPATIENTS’ FEES

TREATMENT AT HOSPITAL. REVISED SYSTEM INTRODUCED. With a view to simplifying the collection of fees, the Taranaki Hospital Board decided at its meeting yesterday to adopt the report of the general manager, Mr. E. Holden, that all out-patients before receiving treatment, obtain a note from the office. In adopting the recommendation, the board made it clear that there was no intention of refusing treatment to any out-patients, because of inability to pay the small fee. ' The present system was for outpatients, both follow up cases and others, to report at hospital for treat-, ment, reported the general manager. The follow-up cases invariably were treated in the ward from which they had been discharged. The casuals were usually treated in the casuality ward. In view of that he believed it would be very cumbersome for the nurses to receive the fees and issue recfeipts. There was also, the objection of money being received by so many individuals. It therefore seemed that the logical way of dealing with in-patients fees, under the present conditions, was for the money to be paid into the office. The question also arose as to correct information and addresses, of those who did not pay at the time of the treatment, being given for office use. That appeared to narrow down what was being aimed at, for all out-patients to .come to the office for admission notes and receipts for cash. He therefore recommended that no outpatient treatment be given unless a chit was obtained from the office. The position, then, would be that a person presented himself at the office and, if possible, the fee collected before being sent to hospital for treatment. A printed receipt would be given and the person would present it to the nurse which would be sufficient authority for the treatment. In the cases where the fees were not collected at the time, full particulars of addresses, etc., could be obtained and the charge debited in the usual way. The advisability of bringing their fees before each treatment would be stressed. They were of the opinion that education along those lines would be of material benefit to. all concerned. A further advantage, if the scheme were adopted, would be that no treatment could be given without a record. At present they were wholly dependent upon records being kept and sent to the office by the nursing staff. Mr. Holden stated that the medical superintendent agreed with the proposal, at least, until a self-contained outpatients’ department was inaugurated.