ESTIMATES INADEQUATE?

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 436, 18 May 1937, Page 5

ESTIMATES INADEQUATE?

HOSPITAL COSTS PRESENT FINANCIAL POSITION Board Member’s Complaint "We have fixed, the estimates and immediately we find two things which are urgently required,” said Mr N. H. Moss at to-day’s meeting of the Stratford Hospital Board, following the reading of a report from the Matron, Mrs J. Hunt, advising the need for replacement of a thirty-year-old sewing machine and also the re novation of furniture in the Nurses' sitting-room. “Next year if I am on the board 1 am going to ask that full inquiry be made before the estimates are fixed,” continued Mr Moss. “I am feeling very concerned. We have adopted the estimates, which are entirely inadequate, and we are going to be in financial difficulties before the end of the year.”

Mrs D. Shannon: How were we to know that a new machine was required ? Mr Moss: We should have asked the Matron to come to our meeting When we were preparing the estimates. As far as I am aware she was not consulted, fit all. Mrs Shannon: It would have been much wiser if she had been consulted, but at the same time that has not been done. In reply to Mr Moss, the chairman, Mr T. R. Anderson, said there was no hope of revising the estimates. “Apparently in past years items were put on the estimates for specified jobs which were not done, because the money had to be used for matters that cropped up,” said Mr Moss. Mi- Anderson: I think you are hardly fair to the past board. It we have a Medical Superintendent why should we have to go around and inquire. “Well it is not making for efficiency if that is the position,” Mr Moss replied. Mr H. J. Marchant: There must be room for contact between the Matron and .the board. Mr Anderson: You can’t run your institution if you are running to each different head. The report of the Matron was adopted. ’Z