A.C.C. and the hospitals

Press, 2 March 1982, Page 18

A.C.C. and the hospitals

Sir,—Re the present pros and cons of the Accident Compensation Corporation and use of hospitals, if I caught the tail end of a politician’s remarks correctly “the public hospitals cost nothing.” I presume he meant to the A.C.C. But what does it cost the community at large? In round figures I believe it is $lBO per day, per bed, at N.C.H.B. institutions, and s66,;.plus $.21 per day at a private hospital such as St George’s, the $2l being a subw sidy.from the Health Depart- ' ment and the $66 what the patient pays, of the A.C.C. now perhaps? What operating costs would be privately, I do not know, nor whether the A.C.C. makes .‘any grant to the N.C.H.B. for services. Using private hospitals would obviate on anydelays to patient rosters, which possibly have to be altered, especially for theortheopaedic. wards. It could be that if the private hospitals were used more "the taxpayer would be far better served — Yours, etc., H. C. SMITH. February 14; 1982.