HOSPITAL COSTS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1931, Page 6

HOSPITAL COSTS

ASHBURTON PROBLEM. (Ihj Telegraph—Per Press Association) ASH BURTON, August 11. The administrative staff of the Ashburton. County Hospital was the subject of a report at to-day’s meeting of the Hospital Board by " the Director of the Division of Hospitals (Dr Ft. A.. Shore.) The salaries paid to tiie administrative staff were €I3OO compared with €I2OO- in Nelson and. €1650 in Hawera, and at Nelson there was also a part time radiologist at £2OO per annum. It would be seen that the (salaries at Ashburton were not excessive. The Medical Superintendent was not overpaid. The total number of patients treated during the year ended on March 31st, was 1009 and the average iiiunbe of occupied beds was 61.8. (For the previous year the figures were 1163 lid '69.3 respectively). The number of outpatients treated during the year ended March 31st, 1931, was 1000, with a total number of attendacnes of 5942. (For the previous year the numbers were 789 aiid 6023 respectively.) The matron was paid at the rate off €335 no annum. The salaries of th administrative members of the nursing staff at Ashburton, compared with Nelson and Hawera, were as fallows : —Ashburton matron, €335, No- 1son matron €250, matron’s assistant €l5O, Hawera matron €250, matron’s assistants €l5O. Tn view of recent criticism of the cost of the administrative staff iiio inspecting accountant ..stated that the office staff consisted of a secretary on a salary .of €SBO per annum, an accountant at €262 10s pe annum, and a shorthand typist at €l3O per annum all less the recent 10 per cent, reduction.

'Pile Board decided that the secretary make adjustments t-o his system of fees accounting to enable monthly accounts to he rendered in such cases. A table of the rates charged indicated that the board was treating all patients at a loss irrespective of whether they were able to pay the Hull cost of treatment or not. Tire hoard would agree that- patients in a position to do so should pay the full cost of treatment. It was recommended that the scale of fees be increased to more-nearly approximate the actual average cost- of treatment. This wouid in no way affect those unable to pay, as the hoard was compelled to write off the fees or a part of same. Dr. Shore recommended that the scale of fees being increased as follows, the present charges being shown in pnrentheces. —Children under five years of age 5s per day (4s); children five years and under ftfeen years of age 7s 6d (6s),- patients over fifteen years of age, 11s (fe).