PATIENTS’ PAYMENTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4403, 19 April 1922, Page 4

PATIENTS’ PAYMENTS.

UNIFORM SCALE URGED* THAMES BOARD VIEWS.. A circular letter from Dr. T. H.. A. Valintine, Director-General of Health, which came before the Thames Hospital Board on Wednesday, urged that the uniform' scble of 9s per diem, or £3 3s per week, should be charged for patients at hospitals. This charge had been arrived at as the cost of maintenance, as invests gated by the Hospitals Commission. Those who could pay should be made to do so, and those who were in necessitous circumstances could be given a reduction. Every" effort should be made to reduce the burden ot hospitals' on the ratepayers apd general taxpayers. The charge for children was half-rates. Mr Death thought, that the present was an inopportune time, and that the rise should be delayed for a year. Mr Rowe replied that maintenance .was much higher now. Mr Kennedy strongly objected co a rise. The greatest asset a country could have was a healthy population, and the fees should not be made prohibitive. Mr W. J. Hall said the Thames rate of 6s was too low ; most people could afford tp pay 9s, and consideration should be shewn to those who were in poor circumstances. Messrs Hale and Johnstone supported the rise.. The new rate was becoming universal, and the rate of 9s wpuld be charged- against the Thames Board for Thames patients in other hospitals. Mr Hail rem.arked that the Hospital was not a free oiiei, run by ,the State; it had gone behind financially now. It was decided, by 5 votes to 2, to raise the rates, the increa.se to date from June 1.