INCREASED HOSPITAL LOAN.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 225, 14 October 1940, Page 4

INCREASED HOSPITAL LOAN.

THE growing number of patients to the Whakatane Public Hospital has overtaken the estimated requirements in a manner that can only be described as disquieting. As a result the Board after careful consideration in the earlier part of the year finds now that the authorised loan of £4000 is insufficient to meet the extensions and improvements contemplated- It is now necessary to make application for an additional £2000 —an increase of 50 per cent. It is comforting to have the Chairman's assurance that this will not entail an increase in the ruling rates but at the same time it would be interesting to have a survey of the requirements over say the next five years, in order that the ratepayers would have some gauge as to what the hospital service is likely to entail; a growing financial burden or a stationary one. Twelve months ago the average was 40 occupied beds per day. The same figures today show a fifty per cent rise, no less than 61 patients, rising at certain periods to over 70. When these figures are presented ratepayers will realise: better the problem which is now facing the Board. Already the institution is doing its utmost to cope with the district's needs and what appeared to be adequate a year ago is today far behind the actual requirements. The cost of the new building is set down at £4,700. For this sum a very substantial addition to the present block should be possible. There can be ho doubt that it will also meet the case for some time, but if the past year is any indication then it would be very welcome information to have from the Board a well-grounded estimate of possible obligations in the future.