NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 May 1916, Page 6

NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL.

(Open letter to the chairman of the Hospital and Charitable Aid. Board). Sir,—As mover of the Egmont Countv Councils resolution re the above, and in view of Mr. Macßoynold's motion to alter the scale of patients' payments I flunk it is duo to the. ratepayers of the Raholu riding, of which I am one of the representatives, with its valuation of £1.14:>,000 (the second largest valuation in New Zealand reported in Star Almanack), to bring before your Board the alarming manner in which the hospital rate is bumping up. The Hawera Star reported my prediction that now th\' new hospital is open Egmont's contribution would soon be £2OOO a year a figure some people thought too high, but as it is now £I4OO, a jump from last year of about £SOO, yon will easily see why we are getting nervy. The pr'esenK system of the ratepayers making nn the 1 deficit of 3s fijd per "day will always cause whatever buildings may be erected to be crammed, which means more nurses large new nurses' homes, and a constantly increasing taxation, for it does not need a very high order of intelligence to know that if one of the leading hotels in New Plymouth were to announce that some kind body would contribute 3s fid per guest per day that the licensee would he at the owner ever, day and twice on Sundays to get largely' extended premises, and this' is precisely what the doctors have been doing." I- suggest that the Board strictly classify the "patients into throe divisions:— A—Workers (with wiyes and families) sickness free, accidents, employers or Insurance Co., to pay full rate. B.—Workers (single or married without families), struggling farmers and small .shop keepers, rates to be fixed by the Board, on the recommendation of the secretary, who, sworn to secrecy like the I postal officials, would be able'to investigate financial position. C—All others at the full cost of hoard, lodging, nursing and medical attendance! The adoption of some such' scheme would soon restore your Board's finances to normal and bring back the rate of 9d or lOd, as at present there is not a shade of difference between your Board's style of running things and that of the old Dublin fruit seller who was. puzzled why she was losing money, buying oranges at five for sixpence and selling six for fivepence. The more patients come into New Plymouth Hospital the greater the loss, and the bigger the rate, as the following table proves. (The building was originally built'for 2S):— I 28—Loss per day, ,-C4.lSs; rate then | Is-3d, equal to 2Jd now. | 50—Loss per day £8 15s. , i 70—(As at present), loss per day £l2 15s, rate Is 3d. 100—(As it shortly will be), loss per day £l7 10s, rate Is Od to Is 8d (estimate). -

It's only a question.of. a few more patients and a soft-hearted Board and the annual loss will reach the appalling sum of £0385, while the man' that gets away from this table.is much cleverer than his friends take him to be. Every one knows how your Board gets beaten, yet you fi.v a low rate resulting in a continually increasing loss, then allow a Is a day off that for cash in a month, which sonic people pay while others just as able won't pay a farthing. It is to be hoped that your Board will insist on your new secretary introducing tho latter class to the S.M. and let them make their explanations to him. I need hardly refer to the well-known case of a settler who died worth £20,000. He went into a private hospital in New Plymouth, and asked his doctor how much the operation would cost. "Anything over £30," wa-s the reply. "And if Igo into the public hospital, how much then?" "Oh, 215." "Then I am going into the hospital," said this man of wealth, and he did go and had his operation performed. The kind-hearted tax-payer put 3,s Od daily into his bank account during his long illness to help to soothe his mind. I am throwing up these danger signals to warn your Board that some of the local bodies are not going to take these entirely uncalled-for .imposts that you are levying, lying down, and with the hope that yon will speedily put things on a business basis.—l am, etc., W. R. WRIGHT. Rahotu, May 13.