INFLUENZA EXPENSES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3469, 24 April 1920, Page 4

INFLUENZA EXPENSES.

A QUESTION OF LIABILITY. At. the‘ sitting of the Wanganui Hospital Board in Taihape on Wednesday, Inspector Swindells presented some accounts incurred in the treatment of three young men, employees of the Railway Department, during the influenza epidemic some weeks back. Mr Swindells explained that three young fellows, on arrival in Taihape from Auckland developed influenza, and as it was not possible to treat the cases at the public hospital, he arranged for volunteer nur.ses to attend them at the cubicles belonging to the Railway Department. During this “"1-iod expenditure amounting to £7 I/9 was incurred. He had sent the accounts to the Railway Department for payment, but the Department repudiated all liability. These cases were altogether exceptional, and he had to make arrangements for their treatment, and incur the liability in so doing. Had the cases been admitted to the hospital the patients would have «been charged hospital fees». The Board endorsed the Inspector-’s action,_ -and expressed very strong opinions about the lack of principle of those on whose behalf the expenditure was incurred in not paying the accounts. Inspector Swindells was instructed to send» the accounts to the Boar-d’s secretary, accompanied by a full report of the circumstances, and the Board's orficial is to write to the Railway Department, explaining the position fully, and asking for payment ‘of the accounts.