SECRETARY’S WARNING

Press, Volume C, Issue 29498, 27 April 1961, Page 21

SECRETARY’S WARNING

“Rural Hospitals May Close” A warning to some country districts that if they do not use their hospitals more, they are likely to lose them, is contained in the annual report of the North Canterbury Hospital Board. The warning is given by Mr J. G Laurenson. secretary of the board, in his section of the report. Commenting on the relatively high cost per bed per week of some of the district hospitals. Mr Laurenson said: “The cost is not the only index of the worth of a hospital. Of much more importance is its service to the community. But to be of service. a hospital must be made use of by those it serves. Unless there is this use. costs rise to uneconomic levels. Trained staff are kept at the hospital with difficulty, and without sufficient work to justify their presence. "There is great merit in maintaining the existing services. but the rural communities must be aware of the difficulties. and do their part to minimise them if they are to; continue to have, and be justified in having, hospital facilities in their districts.” Cost Per Bed

The cost per occupied bed per week rose as compared with 1959-60 at all the board’s Christ church institutions except the Essex hospital, the report said. There were also decreases at the Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Ellesmere, Kaiapoi, Lyttelton, and Rangiora hospitals. The Chatham Islands hospital was still the most expensive, however, at £134 6s lOd per bed per week, with Amuri a close second at £124 19s Bd. (The Amuri figure was increased because the hospital was closed for the last two months of the year). The Akaroa hospital cost

£6O 4s 4d per bed per week, and the Kaikoura hospital £56 13s sd, followed by Oxford (£49 Ils 6d), Cheviot (£47 15s Id), Princess Margaret (£47 9s 8d). Waikari (£44 16s 9d), Lyttelton (£43 Is id),

Christchurch (£4O 12s sd). Darfleld (£3B 6s), Ellesmere (£37 15s 3d). Kaiapoi (£36 3s sd). Rangiora (£2B 16s 6d>, Burwood (£27 0s Id), Essex (£23 4s 6d), the Cashmere sanatorium (£22 3s sd), the Huntsbury children’s home (£l3 12s sd), the TUarangi home (£9 18s 8d). the Jubilee home (£9 10s 7d), and the Teresa Green home (£9 9s «d).

The cost per occupied bed per week rose over the year by £8 Is 8d at the Christchurch hospital, and by £l4 8s 7d at the Princess Margaret hospital The report points out that at the Christchurch hospital however, the average number of patients treated in each occupied bed waa 26.1 as against 34.6 the previous year.