HOSPITAL COMMISSION

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1921, Page 4

HOSPITAL COMMISSION

I NANO All U A HOSPITAL HOARD. C’l IRISTCFI FROM, April 23. Before the Hospital Commission, Mr (’. Nevin, secretary of the lnangalnia Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Reel'lon. submitted the following evidence on behalf ol the Hoard: (1) That th<' whole capital cost of building hospitals in the Dominion should be borne by the Government; (2) that a sliding scale of subsidy, as suggested at the conference of Hospital Hoards, should be adopted ; (3) that the present rate of subsidy, 2-1 s in the pound, should be continued; (4) that the Government should contribute to meeting the cost of separate institutions, as at present; (o) that tlm question of grants to charitable societies and institutions should be left to the Department to deal with according to the needs of societies; ((!) that a maximum fee of T2 2s a week for maintenance and treatment in -public hospitals should he charged; (7) that it was not desirable to .have private or paying wards in public hospitals; (8) that the present method of allocation and election hy the ratepayers was satislaetory and just to all concerned ; (S) the Board was opposed.to Government representation on Hospital Boards hy means of nominated members; (!)) the areas of the hospital districts should remain as at present ; ( llfi the Health Department should import and store all necessary drugs and surgical requirements, and supply them to tlte Hospital Hoards at cost price, all boards to he compelled to purchase those supplies from the Department. In reply to Mr Shirtc!i(Vo, Mr Niven said that about one-third of the patients iit the Reel ton Hospital paid for hospital treatment, hut tim e who did not pay were followed up and were urged to pay. In reply to the chairman, Mr Niven said that if the Innngahua district was amalgamated with the Grey district, the administration expenses would be increased, compared with the present total cost of the two separate districts.