The Waipukurau Press. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1932. HOSPITAL FEES

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 122, 18 May 1932, Page 4

The Waipukurau Press. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1932. HOSPITAL FEES

On the subject of the non-payment of hospital fees Bishop Julius (Christchurch) made pertinent remarks a few days back. His caustic criticism was of special interest to those who have knowledge of hospital administration, also that section of

the community conversant with the difficulties faced by many patients whose financial resources are very

limited or suffer serious income earning setbacks as the result of their illness—possibly semi-permanent if not complete incapacity. In such circumstances of economic distress the

physical results are also disastrous. There are of course many people who fail to show appreciation of the assistance they have received, but we prefer to believe that the majority of patients are as mindful of their obligations as is practicable. Many there must be who are misjudged because they do not see fit to lay bare i all their financial troubles. Those who can afford to pay for the medical and nursing service given, and fail to do so are dispicable—not only do they reflect discredit upon themselves, but compromise the honest appreciative people who are heavy at heart because of their inability to meet the call for paying the fees due. “The pointed remarks of Archbishop Julius on the subject of people who could pay their fees to St. George’s Hospital but would not, are a reminder that the medical profession is the one most subject to victimisation of this kind,” observes the “Christchurch Star.” “In other callings and trades, the giver of

goods or service can refuse a deal or an undertaking if he doubts the other’s ability or willingness to pay, but the doctor cannot haggle about fees when a patient is in urgent need of his attention. No hospital can refuse to admit a sufferer, while the dentist has to give his first thought to the aching tooth and tackle the problem of collecting afterwards. Still, despite the revelations of the Archbishop, inquiries from other sources indicate that most people are conscientious about the payment of their dues to hospitals, doctors and dentists; and that while some folk are a little lax, in most cases it is laxity pure and simple, and seldom a deliberate disinclination to meet obligations. In the case of the Christchurch Public Hospital, it has been found that people who can pay do so with fair promptness, and of all classes who receive treatment the most punctilious are the working people, many of whom have to extend their payments over a period, in instalments. Of course, the Public Hospital has many cases of genuine hardship, and these are all dealt with individually on their merits. Many fees have to be reduced, and many are written off altogether. Such a procedure is unavoidable in such an institution, and the treatment of the pool’ and needy is a definite side of the hospital’s functioning. It is slightly different in the case of the big private hospitals, such as St. George’s and Lewisham. The moneyed classes, patronise those hospitals more than the public hospital, and

their patients are to a much greater extent able to pay full fees, and fees for special treatments and comforts. It was suggested by an experienced man that perhaps it was to this class that Archbishop Julius referred. A possible explanation lay in the present depression, as some people who had incurred considerable obligation to the hospitals might be unexpectedly pinched for money and unable to pay for some time. Cases of hardship play a definite part in all hospital and medical attention. The general practitioner realises that the poor man must be helped as well as the rich when he is ill, and there must be times when full remuneration is not forthcoming, through no fault of the patient. After’ all, no man gets ill if he can avoid it, and liability to a doctor is an inevitability and not sought after thing. But in most cases, medical men say, people are conscientious about payment, and very few are ungrateful for the services of the skilled healer.”