HOSPITAL EXPENSES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 717, 17 July 1929, Page 11

HOSPITAL EXPENSES

MEMBER PERTURBED AT ESTIMATES “1 am only a novice, but I would like to be taught,’’ said the Rev. W. C. Wood at yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board, m asking for an explanation of the fact that the estimated expenditure for the past quarter had been exceeded by £ 4,74 ft. He hoped that the figures at the end of the year would not reveal a similar position. The chairman. Mr. W. Wallace, said that an advance payment on the Government subsidy and a loan of £IO,OOO had yet to be received. Mr. Wood, in remarking that he had pledged himself to prevent extravagance, said it seemed more a question of estimated expenditure and actual payments. The chairman said the financial position was largely governed by the number of patients receiving treatment. There was an average of 600 patients last year, whereas this year the average was about 700. Patients could not be turned away from the door of the hospital if they sought treatment. Outdoor relief was also responsible for increased expense. The statement of payments for the quarter showed that £31,893 was spent at the main hospital, this being £2,643 more than estimated. Outdoor relief absorbed £11,556 or £1,556 more than estimated.