HOSPITAL FEES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 245, 11 July 1921, Page 4

HOSPITAL FEES

CONSIDERED TOO LOW COMMISSION PROPOSES AN INCREASE The collection of hospital fees is one of the matters mentioned in the report of the Hospitals Commission. Tho report stairs that according to last year’s returns, the. average cost of treating patients in public hospitals amounted per occupied bed (excluding interest on capital) to about £3 per week for the year 1919-20. The weekly maintenance fee charged for patients in hospitals during that period varied from £l. Is. to £3 3s. In every instance the charge was less thnn the coat, but as the fixed charge was the maximum maintenance fee collectable. the toards could not demand more than that sum, even if a patient were well able to pay the full cost of his maintenance. The commission considers that section 51 of the Destitute Persons Act, 1910, should to amended with a view to empowering hospital boards to.demand the full cost of maintenance, regardless of any fixed charge, where circumstances warrant such increased demand. Recently there has toon a general tendency among boards to raise hospital fees. The commission recommends a uniform, fee for maintenance in all hospitals of 9s. per day, and half rates for children, leaving to the boards the right to reduce such charge in necessitous cases, and to contract with friendly societies for their members on a basis of half fees guaranteed. The low fees now charged fomembers of friendly societies liy some benrds. notably Auckland 2s. 3d. per day and North Canterbury Is. 7d. per day, seem ouite inadequate, and had business for the hoards.