LIABILITY DECLINED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 170, 22 July 1941, Page 7

LIABILITY DECLINED

PAYMENT FOR WAR DISABILITY ATTITUDE OF HAWERA HOSPITAL BOARD Hawera, July 21 On its experience ol the too prompt discharge of soldier and airman patients from various branches of the armed services, the Hawera Hospital Board, at its monthly meeting to-day. declined to accept liability for the payment of war disability treatment.

The board recently had occasion to transfer an ex-member of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, formerly of Normanby, to Pukeora sanatorium for treatment, and inquiry was macle whether the board was responsible for payment of fees less 6s a day paid by the Social Security Department. The reply from the Health Department was that no arrangements had been made by the War Pensions Department for special payments for exservice patients suffering from war disabilities as in the case of many sick and wounded. It was understood that the matter was under consideration by the department, but in the absence of any special payment it appeared that the board would be responsible for the cost of the patient's treatment at Pukeora. In another case an aircraft hand at Ohakea, formerly of EltTiam, was admitted to Pukeora sanatorium on May 10. He was discharged from the Air Force as from May 21, and his fees from that date had been charged to the Palmerston North Hospital Board, which now questioned its responsibility. Since the man concerned was a lifetime resident of Eltham, it was asked whether the Hawera board would accept responsibility.

When the board decided as a matter of policy not to accept responsibility, Mr. E. A. Washer pointed out that the Whangarei board recently found itself in the same position, when it decided to warn soldier patients not to accept their discharge from the Army until they had been discharged fit and well from the' hospital. It was stated in the Whangarei case that both overseas and Territorial soldiers had been sent to hospital by the Army authorities, and almost immediately discharged from the Army. Under that policj the soldiers were treated as civilians and the board received only 6s a day for treatment. The cost of such treatment obviously Should be borne by the department, it was contended by members.