HOSPITAL FINANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 25, 21 April 1927, Page 10

HOSPITAL FINANCE

CANTERBURY POSITION ESTIMATES INCREASE £II,OOO (Special to THE SUN.) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. Twelve months ago the North Canterbury Hospital Board endeavoured to reduce the expenditure for the forthcoming year by £IO,OOO. To-day rhe finances of the past year were reviewed, and it was shown that the total expenditure exceeded the total estimates by £6,634. The estimates brought down for the forthcoming 12 months show an increase on last year’s figures of £II,OOO. It is estimated that the total maintenance requirements will he £196,449; the estimated revenue on account of maintenance is £61,400; estimated subsidy, £73,904; and estimated levy, £67,785. Mr. Otley, chairman of the board, in his address, said that the figures for expenditure were reasonable, when it was considered that the board housed and kept an average of 951.26, a staff of 400, and relieved 555 destitute families. In traversing the increased expenditure estimated for the coming year, .ie remarked that a new ward had been opened at the hospital, and that meant that there were 50 more people to he looked after. Next winter, too, would be a hard one, he thought, and there would be a good deal of distress. “There is still a question which has been before the public for a numbei of years, namely, that of making our hospital system truly a community one. I refer to the establishment of accommodation for the paying patient. Until this comes about, our hospital system cannot be regarded as perfect. Such pressure as is possible should be brought to bear on those :n authority to give boards the necessary power to bring about this improvement.”