HOSPITAL FINANCES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2092, 19 February 1920, Page 1

HOSPITAL FINANCES.

AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION Should the methods of financing the hospital institutions throughout the Dominion be altered, was inVl'feet the subject of a report by the Hospital Board’s treasurer (Dr. Whitaker.) received at the Board’s last meeting. In the course of the report touching the local Board’s condition, ho pointed out the increases in expenditure from 1915 to 1919 as follows 1915: total £5,871, including patients’ payments £1,8(10, debts wiped off £319, levies £2,041; 1910: total £B,Boo—patients’ payments £224, debts wiped oft £l,ss9,'levies £3,384; 1918; total) £9,511— patients’ payments £2,375, debts wiped off £4,295, levies £3,008; 1919; total £11,700— patients’ payments £3,948, debts wiped off £3j083, levies £7,115. Total for 5 years £35,502, patients’ payments £9,427, debts wiped off £9,850, levies £IO,BOB. The treasurer stated that while the actual hospital expenditure had doubled and local levies trebled in live years, more money had actually been wiped off the books as bad debts than had been collected. If the Board considered how-nmeh of the time of the clerical staff of three people must necessarily be spent in sending out notices to the debtors of all kinds, and then have to write off £4,000 a year and get in £3,000, a proper perspective would be gained of the Board’s financial undertakings as a business' proposition. As the law stood there were only two AVays of meeting (he discrepancy of bad debt and expenditure; (1) To raise-the amount of weekly payment, and (2) lo keep the’amount as it was and then go out .deliberately and get every penny except from those in receipt of charitable aid. If the. Board would do its share to get the hiw amended, there were much heller ways' out. They entailed a small increase of sacrifice on the part of everybody by: (1) compelling everybody to join a friendly society which guaranteed 13 Avceks’ sick pay; (2) to compel everybody to take out a hospital ticket of say £1 at the post office in the same avuv as fishing liesenses Averc taken out. The result of the two latter courses avouUl be that the Hospital Board Avould merely apply for a lump sum at the end of the year for so many patients. There would be no bad debts and no need to increase the clerical staff. He moved; ‘‘That the Palmerston North District Hospital Board is of the opinion that a more equitable method of hospital treatment would lie obtained if a yearly hospital ticket of £1 was made compulsory upon cvcrv person in the Dominion, such ticket lo be obtained at the post offices throughout the Dominion.”

Mr Hornblow seconded the Motion pro forum. It appeared to him (hat it would be a difficult matter for a man .to keep up the contributions, as it was even difficult for many of them to pay their friendly society dues. He doubted whether they could improve on the present method of financing - these institutions. Other members of the Board, while- agreeing with the object of the motion, doubted if the system was practicable. Finally the chairman (Mr J. A. Nash, M.P.) suggested that as the matter was to be brought before the hospital boards’ conference, the motion be altered to read: “That the conference he recommended to con's icier the question of hospital treatment and patients’ fees, which should be placed on a more equitable basis.” Dr. Whitaker agreed to this motion being substituted, and it was carried.