ECONOMY V. EFFICIENCY

Press, Volume L, Issue 14887, 29 January 1914, Page 4

ECONOMY V. EFFICIENCY

ADMINISTRATION OF THE HOSPITAL. On December 24th, th© North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board passed the following resolution in connexion with tha Inspector-Gene-ral's annual report: — "That the Hospital Committee be instructed to report to th© Board information regarding the membership of the hospital staff, hospital diet, and especially tho system of hospital housekeeping." ■ To give effect to the Board's instructions, a special meeting of the Hospital Committee was held on January 21st, when there were present: —Tho Chairman (Mr Sorensen) and Messrs Ashley, Horreli, and Turnbull. The medicai superintendent and the lady superintendent attended. The committee reported to the Board yesterday morning as follows :— "The questions raised by the Inspec-tor-General havo received careful consideration. In tho conduct of the hospital it seems that tho questions ot efficiency administration, and the care of the sick aro tho chief functions ot tho Board. •'Enquiry proves that your departmental officers havo exercised duo economy in the administration of the hospital. Examination of tho figures under tho various heads' of expenditure shows that there is no one item where any great saving may bo made. Tho officers havo been impressed with the need for care, and tho Board may bo assured that every __ort will be made to effect economies, provided such can be done without impairing tho efficiency of the hospital. "In this connexion it is only fair to point out that although this hospital, per se, has not the same number of beds as Auckland and Wellington, tho net cost per head of the population is lower than that of cither of tho other large hospitals. "The four chief centres show as follows : — . . "Auckland, 2s sid per head of population. . , , „ "Christchurch., 2s 3Jd per head of population. "Dunadin, 2s 7Jd per head of population. "Wellington, As 4d per head of population. , . "Tho larger number of beds proportionately reduces the average cost of administration. "Tho committee is quite alive to tho necessity of exercising economy in administration, and, taking the InspectorGeneral's report in its broad meaning, will continue to exercise its best discretion. "If the total net expenditure of the four principal Boards, other than capital exnenditure,' is apportioned on a population basis, then the figures show as follows:— "Auckland, 5s 2_d per head of population. "North Canterbury, 5s 3Jd per head of population. "Otago, 6's 2jd per head of population. "Wellington, 7s 9jd pef head of population.", . / The Board discussed tho report in committeo, and upon resuming it was reported that the -adoption of tho report' had been held over, and that Dr. Valintii*e, the Inspector-General, be invited to confer with the Board on the question.