FOOTING THE BILL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2829, 21 July 1916, Page 6

FOOTING THE BILL

HOSPITAL LEVIES BURDEN ON LOCAL BODIES RELIEF DESIRED A conference of representatives of the local bodies which contribute to the .support of the Wellington Public Hospital was held at the 'i'own Hall last evening, and various subjects concerning the administration and upkeep of the institution were discussed. The Mayor of Wellington (Jlr. J. P. Luke), who presided, said in tho course of his opening remarks that there was a desire for reversion to iho old system of electing hospital boards. He thought they should not go too far in that direction—tha.t some of the members should bo elected by the people and some by the local bodies. As to the' increase in tho hospital levy, there was no doubt that all the local bodies would be somewhat alarmed. He did not believe there had been a tendency to extravagance. The .number of patients had increased, r ltd the Government should increase its sub-' sidy. .Mr. 11. Baldwin (lower Hn.tt), who is chairman of tho Wellington Hospital Board, said that the increase in the expense of the hospital was becoming ruinous to some of the local bodies, and they were entitled to relief. Then he thought the support of the' sanatoria and indigent children were national affairs. As showing the increases at the Wellington Hospital, he mentioned that the average number of patients per day was 223 in 1010, and 352 in 1915-16. A delegate: Does that include military? Mr. Baldwin: "It' includes everybody." The number of patients nnder treatment in 1909-10 was 279(1, and in 1915-lli 4978. The out-patients had grown from 15,828 to 17,971. Salaries, suipplics, and so forth had greatly increased. What of the Hospital Administration? It might, be asked why the increases ■had taken place. There were, he thought, three reason:—(l) The popularity of tho institution. (2) Tho tact. tha.t nursing and attention which was not available in the private house could lie had in the hospital. (3) To sliirk the responsibility of paying the doctors. ' Mr. P. T, Moore: Hear, hear. That is tho whole point. Mr. Baldwin: Mr. Moore says 'hear, hear." But' it has ,struck mo that the heavy charges made by the doctors may have, something to do with it. If tho charges were more reasonable more people might be inclined to bo treated in their own home. People were gaining the--idea that tho .hospital -was their institution. and flint they had a Tight- to its services. However, all things considered thero was no likelihood of the cost of the institution decreasing. Mr. .1. W. M'Ewnn (Petone) said that the chief subject for discussion was tho question of whether or not more money should be asked of the Government. His opinion 'was that the upkeep of the Hospital was heavier than it should be. He held thar there was ample room for improvement, in the administration of the Hospital. He quoted figures to show that, notwithstanding the greatly increased costs at the Wellington Hospital, the increase cost in Dunedin was infinitesimal. What: was the reason? It. was purely a question of administration. Mr. B. B. Gardener'(Levin) said that onlv a small portion of the fees owing were''collected. Out of -£40,000 collectable- in a veaf, only .£7OOO was received. The great weakness in the administration of the Hospital was the lack of a general manager, a kind of chairman of directors. The board had a good chairman now, but a chairman who had his ow.n business, to attend to could not be expected to find the samo time for hospital work as. a general manager would. As the expenditure had increased out of proportion to the population, there must be something wrong.

"Tho Root of the Trouble." Jlr. F. T. Moore (Johnsonville) said tlint a- reason why the cost had eone up was that people. who could afford private treatment were using the Hospital. Moreover, many patients were omittiufr to pav their fees. Mr. C. C. Crumn (Onslow) expressed the opinion that the' Act needed altering. Sir. P. T.evi (Eastbourne) said that the root of the trouble was that the bodv which snent the monov was not the'body which found it. Members of tho Hospital Board were elected on a popular -franchise, and were responsible to no one Cor their expenditure, and, therefore, there was no inducement for th<"ii to be economical. Mr. G. Frost (Wellington) remarked that the Wellington City Council had been from year to year starrsered by the annual increase iu the Hosnital levy. Rnmcthincr must be done, and the local bodies should take no the matter seriously. He was convinced that the local bodies should be directly represented if the present system was to continue. Otherwise, the remedy was for the Government to tak" full'control,-or greatly increase the subsidy.

The conference then briefly discussed mid rejected the following motion by Hv. Mnnashan (Makara): "That the Hosnital authorities be renuested to annually furnish to each contributing local authority -confidential information with respect to tho names of each patient admitted from its district to the Hospital for- treatment, the fee pid bv each patient, .and the amount, if any. duo by the pat'ent to the Hosnital.: al=e the names of those nerfons who are receiving charitable aid and the amount eaeli r»ceives."

Oii the motion of Air. B. T. G. Burn ("Karon") it was resolved: "That SPctinn 12 of the Hosnital and Charitable Institutions Act, 190!). V repealed, and that election of representatives be placed i" the hands of contributinp locnl bodies."

The folte'vin"? motion by Mr. B. T ; Gardener CLevinl was carried by 1" votes to 12: "That in the opinion of this conference the whole of Hie Hosnitnl and Charitable Aid Boards of the dominion should bo nationalised. us bv this means a mnr» equitable basis of ■pxnenditi're won?. 1 be obtained througli"oiih the Dominion."

Tt is pr»halilc' Hint before the resoluare forwarded to the Government an effort will be made to secure for them the support of other liodies interested.

Before the withering concluded,. Mr. Baldwin 'whs thanked for convening the conference.