HOSPITAL BENEFITS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20783, 18 April 1939, Page 9

HOSPITAL BENEFITS

BEGINNING ON JUNE 1 NEGOTIATIONS WITH STAFFS TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENTS (Special to Times) WHANG \REI, Monday A suggestion that tne hospital benefits to be provided under the Social Security Act will come into operation on about June 1 was contained in a circular letter received to-day by the Whangarel Hospital Board from L>r. R . A. Shore, acting-Director-General of Health. He explained that the actual date of coinencement nad yet to he fixed by the Minister. "Following discussions between the executive of the Hospital Boards’ Association and representatives of the department on the subject of hospital benefits under Part 3 of the o'jciai Security Act, the department has been asked to circularise hospital boards recommending them to commence early negotiations with their medical staffs with a view to determining the altered arrangements, if any, that it is desirable should operate with the commencement of hospital benefits,” Dr. Shore said. "The desirability of reviewing the position in respect of such staff arises from the fact that the operation of the hospital benefits tends to remove the main basis of honorary service, namely, the provision of gratuitous medical services for those unable to pay for them.” Honorary Staffs “ The position with regard to each hospital has, of course, to be considered separately,” he continued. "In cases where the visiting medical staff is employed in a purely honourary capacity, it is suggested that the position might be met temporarily by the payment to the existing staff of honoraria, to be reviewed after three months from the date of the introduction of hospital benefits. In cases where visiting medical staff is already receiving payments in some measure, the circumstances may call for an increase in honoraria, also subject to review after, say, three months. ” The desirability of making only temporary arrangements is indicated, owing to the fact that the subsequent * introduction of medical and pharmaceutical benefits will affect the position.” Dr. Shore added: "It is recommended that this matter be discussed with your present medical staff and any proposals submitted to the department for comment as early as possible.” Ready to Commence “ This communication dnes not affect us, it applies more particularly to hospitals with visiting staffs,” said Mr J. A. S. Mackay, chairman of the board and a member of the executive of the ■Hospital Boards’ Association. " I have been repeatedly asked when the free hospital benefits would be instituted, as people are objecting to paying twice for their hospital treatment—once \ through the Social -Security tax and then in hospital fees. 44 1 wish to make It quite clear that it Is no fault of this board that free medical treatment under the Social Security Act was not introduced on April 1,” he continued. “We were all ready in this hospital to commence. The Hospital Boards’ Association has repeatedly informed the Minister that it was willing to co-operate in every way in the institution of hospital benefits under the Act.” Mr Mackay added that this was the first intimation that they had received as to the probable date of commencement, but they did not know what would be the amount of payment to the hospital boards.