HOSPITAL PATIENTS' FEES

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 135, 4 December 1929, Page 10

HOSPITAL PATIENTS' FEES

POSITION OF FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Last week representatives of Friendly Societies waited on the Wellington Hospital Board to protest against an increase in fees for patients treated in Hospital.

The Wellington Societies now receive 50 per cent, off ordinary fees for in-patients, but, owing to the Hospital Board's decision to abandon the flat rate in favour of a differential rate, lodge members, in common with the rest of the community, will be called on to pay more for treatment in the medical and surgical wards. At present lodge members participating in hospital benefits contribute about 3d per week for this purpose, and an additional %d or Id weekly may be required to meet the increase in hospital fees to'lodge members. In support of this protest, Mr. M'LaughIm stated that:—"The chief fund was the sick and funeral fund, which could not be used for any other purposes, and "the amount of liability per head to cover £30 funeral allowance and sick pay commencing at £1 per week was £32." It was also asserted by speakers at the deputation that the increase would be very serious tor some of the societies.

In order more clearly to understand the financial position of friendly societies some consideration should be given to information contained in the 52nd annual report of the Registrar of Friendly Societies. This shows that in 1928 membership was 100.928, and that the accumulated ±!HiV™ ye:ised flom £3,52 C,717 in 1927 to £3,/28,057 in 1928, an increase of £201 370 in the year. The average capital per mem*Vio Te2 s, e<?from £3018s lld in 1919 to £■«> 18s 9d in 1928, an increase of 19 per cent, in ten years. The average capital per member in New Zealand is also larger State* averages in the Australian Table 111. shows the expenditure under tour headings in sick and funeral funds:— £ Sick pay to members , 128 897 Funeral donations „ ' 34*082 Contributions and levies to" Gen- ' - tral Body .. co 701 Uther expenses 10 589 £258,291 As Mr. M-Xaughlin stated that the money from the sick and funeral fund could not be used for any other purpose than sick pay and funeral donation," will he tell us why 36 per cent, or £93,312 is not classified under these headings and where it is expended? Medical and management expenses are shown in table IV. of the report. This shows an expenditure of £228,891 under the following headings:—

Medical attendance of members 154 149 Expenses of management 53070 Levies to Central Body ' is^ Other expenditure 6^239 There appears to be a credit balance in these funds of £122,550 at the end of 1928. It will be noted that 23 per cent., £53,070 ot the expenditure is for "management expenses. If this item covers the cost of managing other funds the percentage is about 11 per cent. Insofar as the registrar's report discloses the transactions, it shows that on the whole the friendly societies are "not roLing in wealth," but, on the other hand, the figures show that the societies are not justly entitled to further concessions on the grounds of inability to pay. By small contributions large funds have been accumukted, which yielded in interest and rent last year £176,994. The small increase made by the Hospital Board should not have a serious result on the financial position of friendly societies or their members.—l am, etc., o , -p. 1 INQUIRER. 2nd December.