HOSPITAL ESTIMATES

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20784, 20 April 1939, Page 10

HOSPITAL ESTIMATES

WAIKATO BOARD’S YEAR £40,589 MORE REQUIRED “The capital and maintenance estimates as submitted for the approval of the board show an Increase in the total net requirements of £40,589, compared with the previous year's estimates,” commented Mr F. Findlay, chairman of the Waikato Hospital Board, at the meeting to-day, when the estimates were discussed and confirmed.

The chief reason accounting for the increase in the requirements, added .Mr Findlay, was that during the past financial year the number of occupied beds in the Waikato Hospital increased from 370 to 384.1 per day. This meant an extra expenditure of £2700, while wages and salaries exceeded the estimate by £BOOO. This left a large deficit, which was accentuated by the fact that, the amount collected from patients was £7OO below the amount estimated.

After allowing for a small capital credit balance and levies and subsidies due but ’unpaid amounting to £II,OOB, the board finished the year with a net deficit of £14,645, commented Mr Findlay, and this sum was the first item on the estimates for the current year. Further Increases Likely During the current year it had been necessary to provide for further increases, but the estimates were based on essential requirements only and it was impossible to reduce them if the present standard were to be maintained. The principal items where increases were necessary were :

In reply to Mr F. Potts, who asked what effect the introduction of the Social Security legislation would have on the Waikato Board, Mr Findlay stated that even the Minister of Health", the Hon. p. Fraser, could not give any definite information on that point. In the meantime the board would just have to carry on with its work. “Hardship on Ratepayers” “The increases in the levies are going to mean a decided hardship on many ratepayers,” commented Mr H. W. Wilson. “It is hard to know how some of them will meet their commitments when the new rates are struck, and 1 think some of the local bodies are going to experience difficulty in the collection of the rates.” “Of course, there can be no complaints against the Waikato Hospital Board,” said Mr T. Hinton. “All the increases are due to Government action. The department always seems to query any proposed reduction in our collections.”

Commenting on a recommendation of the House end Finance Committee, to the effect that in view of the increased cost on rtiaintaining the various institutions under its control, the board should consider the question of increasing the present rate of charges for treatment of patients, Mr Findlay expressed the opinion that such action would be inopportune at present on account of the impending introduction of the Social Security scheme. No action was taken with the recommendation.

Deficit after allowing' for subsidy unpaid £8,648 Loss on patients’ fees 18 1 collections 1,930 Waikato Hospital 15,457 0 0 Rotorua Hospital 4,175 Outside Hospitals 2,225 0 0 Amounts paid to other Boards 3,000 Capital Works 2,000 0 0 0 0 £3S, 1 35 IS 1 Notwithstanding the increased expenditure the Waikato Hospital 3oard compares more than favourably with other large boards, said the cha and comparisons are as follows rman, Maint. cost per head of r Fees Hospital. Occ. bed Population Occ. bed £ £ £ Auckland ... 259.4 l 6 10 Wellington . 212.6 1 S 5 Christchurch . 220.0 1 4 6 Waikato .... 164.9 17 1 50.2 55.6 Dunedin .... 220.S 15 3 Palm’stn Nth. 250.8 l 12 5 66.5 Dominion Av. 22 4.8 1 5 8 66.9