HOSPITAL FINANCE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5265, 20 April 1928, Page 3

HOSPITAL FINANCE.

THAMES INSTITUTION FIGURES. ESTIMATES FOR THE YEAR. At a recent meeting of. the. Thames Hospital and Charitable Aid Board the treasurer (Mr G. Tonge) presented a comparative statement for the, year cnjded March 31, 1928. Figures for the corresponding period in 1927 are shown in parenthefSes in each instance:—

The number of in-patients treated was 993 (1039), a decrease of 46; number of maternity cases treated, 84 (63) ; number of deaths in hospital, 38 (50), of which number four deaths occurred within 24' hours of admission ; number of operations performed. 552 (454), an increase of 98. There were no deaths under aniaestheics. In the out-patients’ department 904 (746) were treated, an increase of 161.

In commenting on the figures submitted, Mr J. W. Dauby made the following statement: — “It seems to me that the estimates prepared and submitted by the treasurer .require such a substantial increase in levy by all of the contributing local bodies in this (hospital district that : t is highly desirable that a special meeting of the board should be held to eo.nsider carefully the estimates for the ensuing year, and also to carefully s'crutinisq the mounting cos.tsof tl’m administration of the institutions under control of the board. ' “I confess myself anxious about the treriiendoii's liability of ever-increas-ing, kcal body taxation. The treasurer has given very serious thought and a great deal of time to the preparation of these estimates. From his point of vi,qw they are necessary. Their computation is correct, but the point as affecting the ratepayers and which should be carefully reviewed by this board is whether, in any respect, our administrat'd! is extravagant or unnecessarily costly, and to consider ejven details where economic may be possible. “Not only is a higher rate required, but a s.ub.tsantially increased rateanle valuation. t

“Comparing the work of the year to March 31, 1928, with the' previous year, the "following facts are disclosexl: —

“I think the treasurer is to be com," nie.nded for thq splendid results of the fees collected. “On examining the cost of hospital maintenance last year provisions cost £2023 19s Bd, or £Bl Is Id morq than last year. “Surgery and dispensary £961 17s 3d, or £163 8s 7di less than last year. “Domestic and establishment, £3345 4s Bd, or £920 Os 9d more than ‘] ( ast year. '

“Under this heading extraordinary expenditure has taken place during the yeair as follows : Frigid air installation. £3OO ; kitchenette, £122 ; sewerage and' drainage, £265 ; crockery stocks, £9O ; and at least £lOO for the additional eight tons of coal per month extra required for the Oaunidsy since its installation seven months ago ; and, lastly, salaries a,nd wages, £4598 Os 3d, or £167 14s 10d more than last year. “The total maintenance cost of the District Homes this .year was £1353 17s 3d, or £32 14s 9di less than in 1927. while fees paid for inmates of the home were £546 6s sd, or £l3O 4s 3d more than in 1927. “The total amount paid for indoor and outdoor relief in 1928 was £1'591 9s, being £277 17s 3d leps than in 1927. “The rateable capital value for levying purposes, just to hand) from the Valuation Department, shows the value of the various local bodies of the hospital district as follows :— ■' ' £ Thames Borough Council • ■ 835,751 An increase of .... 15,176 Paeroa Borough Council • • .388,330 An increase, of .. .. 17,020 Ohinemuri County Council 665,397 A decrease of .. .. 920 Thames County Council .. 675,986 An increase of ■ • • • 105,162 Hauraki P. County Council 2,139,594 A decrease of • • • ■ 1,34.0 “A total increase in the rateable capital value of the local bodies in the Thames hospital district of £135.098. “The estimates for 1928, as .submitted, require! an increase; in. the levy from .357 of Id in the £ to .390 of Id in the £, which, on the new valuation, will make the amounts payable by the various local bodies next year for 1i0.5,pital levy as follows:—

“I realise that in next year’s estimates the item Dominion levy is increased from £4OO this year to £9OO next yqar. This, being a Government requirement, is unquestionable. Also, £BOO is included for comprehensive internal repairs in the hospital'. I believq, in the interests of economy, that is neccissary. but I do think that the time is here for a very careful survey

of our mounting administrative costs with a view to the greatest possible economy in every department. “A treasurer can only prepare’ his estimates within the restrictions of a board’s policy and must be guided by it. It seems to me that the consldter'ar tion of the estimates is a matter of such importance to all the local bodies concerned that this board should devote the time of a special meeting to their detailed scrutiny.” After some discussion .it was agreed that there was no necessity to call a special meeting, but the board desid 1 - ed to go into committee there and then and discuss the estimates. After about an hour standing orders were resumed, and the estimates adopted'. Mr E. L. Walton, movejd that a special committee be set up, comprising the chairman (Mr W. E. Hale) and Messrs P. E. Brenan and J. W- Danby, to go into and report to the board, on all aspects of the administration in which economy might be effected. Seconded' by Mr W. J. Hall and carried.

HOSPITAL. 1927— £ s. d. Fees charged 8936 11 6 Fees collected 3016 9 6 Approx. 35 per vent, collected. 1928— £ s. d. Fees charged 9136 19 0 Fees collected 3510 6 6 Approx. 42 per cent, collected. “Or an increase in fees collected of £493 175. maternity. 1927— £ s. d. Fees charged .. .... 45516 0 Fe;es collected • • • • • • 247 14 0 Approx. 55 per cent, collected. 1928— £ s. d. Fees charged 652 ? O' Fees collected • • ... • • 413 17 0 Approx. 64 per cent, collected. “Or an increase in .maternity fees collected of £166 3s. Amount collected' for Ambalance feels, last year £26 12 6 Or increase over 1927 of 6 14i O' Amount Outpatients’ fees collected! £114 5 6 Or increase over last year 23 11 6

£ s. d. Thames Borough Council 1358 7 10 An increase of •. • • 137 '5 9 Paeroa Borough Council 631 1 7 Increase of .. • • 78 11 1 Ohineniuri C. Council • • 1081 9 10 Increase of • • • • 8? 19 5 Thames County Council 1098 14 0 Increase of 249 4 6 H.P. County Council .. 3478 16 9 Increase of •• •• 293 10 5