HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1917, Page 2

HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION.

' MR. WRIGHTS CHARGES. A FLAT DENIAL GIVEN. OLD BOARD DEFENDED. At the conclusion of the ordinary business of the Hospital Board yesterday, Mr. A. H. Halcombe referred to a letter written by Mr. H. R. Wright, a candidate from the Egmont county, in which the writer had charged the board with squandering money and with funking, their duty by deserting their ship, and had further stated that accounts had not been sent out for 18 nymths. Mr. Halcombe said that without fear of contradiction he could give a fiat denial to each and every one of the allegations. The board had not funked their duty, but had recognised that conditions were •so intolerable that they could not hope to carry on, and accordingly resigned and allowed representatives from various town bodies to carry on in their place, rattier than Ftay in office and let the medical staff resign. Provision for the housing of the nurses was absolutely essential. The board had erected a large hospital, but had not built accommodation for the nursing staff in anything like a proper proportion. Instead of squandered money, the board had really saved every penny they could, at the expense of the noble women who were carrying on the nursing work of the hospital, and he repeated what he had said earlier in the day, that the trouble would not have arisen had the board considered the interest? of the medical staff rather than the pockets of the ratepayers. Ten years ago 311 persons were treated in the year: at the present time 1063 were treated in a corresponding period, and it must not be forgotten that expenditure was tremendously increased by the higher cost of drugs and all materials. Accounts were sent out immediately after a person was discharged from the hospital, but anyone with the least understanding of Hospital and Charitable Aid Board activities would know that the board did not press for payment when it could not be made. Many people who could afford to pay -undoubtedly had let their accounts run on. Mr. Halcombe considered that in defence of the old board he was justified in publicly, flatly denying the allegations. In his report to the board the secretary made the following statement: There has been published in the local press a statement to the effect that accounts had not been rendered for 18 months. This is not true, the rule being that an account is to be given to each patient on discharge, from the hospital, and an account is sent by post from this office immediately we are notified of discharge.