The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 1914. HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 13, 15 January 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 1914. HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION.

Though we must all regret the rate at which the cost of hospital and charitable aid is growing in the Dominion it is pleasing to know that so Far as the Stratford District* Hospital is concerned the administration is satisfactory, and the expenditure compares very favourably with that of similar institutions. The particularly interesting statement which was given by Mr J. McAllister, the chairman of the Board, at its last meeting, makes this quite clear. Two facts are outstanding from the chairman's statement: the first of which is that the expenses per occupied bed in" the Stratford Hospital—and this appears to be a fair and reasonable way of making comparisons—are lower than at any other hospital of the same class in the Dominion, and secondly that the recovery of fees from patients due to the hospital is practically higher than any other hospital in the Dominion, irrespective of class. That this is so speaks well for the care exercised by those in authority. At the same time the total administration and maintenance together show that the raranaki institutions as a whole cost considerably more than the average l>er occupied bed, though from the (figures given it appears that there are [

surprising differences in the cost at the various hospitals of the Colony, "he highest being Otira £454, and the lowest Thames, £6O, while the Dominion average is set down at £lO5. With regard to patients' payments per occupied heel, a matter which seriously affects ratepayers, there are only two Boards in the whole of the Dominion i able to show a better return than Stratford, namely Wanganui with £53 16s, and Otira with £6O, Stratford figures being £SO 2s. Much of the information given iiy the chairman is of interest as showing what is being done in other parts of the Colony and how other parts of Taranaki-are controlling their hospital affairs. Stratford appears to he the only Hoard in this pro-' vince which had a Hospital Saturday,' while last year Patea was lucky enough to come into a bequest amounting to £234. As the chairman very well snys in concluding his report the figures confirm the Hoard's confidence mi the good work of the Secretary, Medical Superintendent and Matron, for the way in which the hospital lias been managed, and it is undoubtedly dm* to their zeal and ability that such j a good record has been obtained.