HOSPITAL FEES.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1924, Page 4

HOSPITAL FEES.

llll'Kt TOP CKNKHAI.’S CO.MM.KX I'

WK1.1.1 XDTOX. Sept. 0

Some partiuent ohservations on fees due by hospital patients are made InDr Valintine, Dirertur-fi’enernl of Itealllt. in his annual report, presented to Parliament.

'file Dirortor-tioiieral points ollt that : "With the enlargement of the hospital service, increase in medical knowledge and consequent clahortitinu of our institutions, with tin- natural tendency, and, in fact, desirability of persons Seeking treatment therein, rather than in private hospitals which cannot hope to compote with general institutions in oMieicitcy and equipment, it is all the more necessary that the matter of the collection id patients’ payments should he carefully watched and placed on a sound and satisfactory basis. A- hospital hoard of any size, (hulling with a great number of patients’ accounts, would he well advised to set up. as the Wellington Hoard already lias done, a separate fees ennimitteo to deal with all matters concerning patients’ accounts. The lucre sending out of printed reminders, or engagement of a (oiled nr on a commission basis, are of little good by themselves. The amount which a patient can pay, either at a certain date or by regular instalments, having been ascertained definitely upon or before Ids discharge, then

such patients’ account. should he brought up for review upon the dates on which payment is due as promised, and, in eases where a collector is employed, any failure In receive the amount undertaken iu he paid should he reported immediately by him to the hoard's secretary, or accoiintanl. and the matter immediately brought up for review by the fees committee. There is a clear distinction between sentiment and a luisiimss-libe method in such matters. Though patients, such as small farmers, may not he in flic same position as wage-earners as regards paying, their accounts hv regular instalments, they may lie able to pay their im mints in lull if given time to do so. There is a limit In the lime for which an account should lie allowed to run and. generally speaking, something should l.e expect ed to he paid within twelve months, iu laid a patient who, on discharge, can show sat isl'actory reasons why he cannot pay his account within twelve nmnllis. pre-cuts a very good case lor a very i cm-idcrahle reduction being made in Ids account, (ienerally speak-

ing. there is tin warrant, for sum amounting to many thousands i

pounds. being allowed lo accoieulat and he entered nil the hoard's hook from one year lo another."

Quite a warm discussion was going on in the smoking carriage of the South Island Main Trunk express the other day amongst a group of travellers and others as to the superior m.-rit.s of various < oitgli cutes. The

weight of opinion seemed to sway in favour oj Kolgo and one of those present dually clinched the argument by remarking: “Well, the proprietor of Kolgo lias at least the courage ol his convict ions (nr in all his advertisements lie guarantees to refund the purchaser his money if the lirst dose does not give immediate beneficial relief to even the worst of colds.” Kolgo is obtainable from all leading stores and chemists, the wholesale distributors fur the toast being (iriticn and Smith, (Ireymnuth. —\dvt.