HOSPITAL FEES.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1918, Page 6

HOSPITAL FEES.

BOARD FAVORS AN INCREASE. The question of maintenance fees was (igain discussed by the Tarauaki Hospital Board at its mewing yesterday. The cl/airuian (Mr M. Fraseri said tiie commuiee appointed to consider tiie"' matter , bad been unable to come to a unam- | iu, i- Ti.jy had considered every aspeot of the case, and while renj = .usmg that the husp.tal was primarily a charitable institution for the benelit of poor people who were in circumstances of distress they felt they could pot recommend an increase ii> Uie fee.charged. On the other hand, the committee knew that the hospital was being used by large numbers of people all over laranaki who were not poor or In distress, and for whom the institution was never intended. These people could well afford to pay for skilled medical or surgical treatment, and yet no one could say they should not make use of the hospital. In the light of that aspect of :.hp question the committee felt the fees should be increased. Personally he believed that if higher leos were, charged they would find still more people who could afford private treatment taking advantage of the hospital. One proposal of the committee had been 1 raise the fee to 7s, reducible to 6s if paid within the month. It was still felt, however, that such a course would keep alive an old evil, and the man who could affor to pay would get the benefit of the eoncession, wliile the poor man would have to pay the full rate. That was the ugly feature of the whole busings. Another proposition was that the fee be 6s, with an increase of Is if not paid within a certain period, so that people who have the money would be induced to pay. The chairman explained, however, that although the first proposal was carried by two of the/tlwee members of the committee, he was of opinion that all the members need not feel bound by such a decision but were free to express their personal views and vote accordingly. Mr. Syken said New "Plymouth Hospital compared more than favorably with other hospitals in regard "to the amount of maintenance fees collected. It must also he remembered that they' l-e----cei ,-ed the same fee for children sus adults, 'which did not obtain in any other institution. Hs did not favor ua increase in tl'p fno. because it would penalise honest worker*. The opinion of other boards was that if higher fees were charged it Would not be possible to collect any lar&er percentage of fees. He thought An increase m the rate would defeat the real purpose of the institution. He said it was due to an enterorising board that the hospital had been mad* the popular institution it was, ind if the oeople who were anl& it, p.-.v mot* m*s the hospital he did not think tl'o poorer people should be made in suffer by increased charges. He moved that the fees remain as at present. f

Mr- Capper seconded the motion. He thought if the fees v»re raised it would only induce the wealthy people to make more use of the hospital. Mr. C. Andrews said the fee should be

| raised to 7s, if not up to the actual daily cost of 7s 3d. The poor people, who could not pay, would not be affected by the charge, and the peoplo who coula afford should pay, If they wore not paying what it actually'' cost 'the board for their maintenance" then they •vere receiving charity from the ratepayers. Ho moved that the charge .&e is net for adult patients. Mr. McNeill seconded the amendment, saying they -vere reluctantly compelled to increase the charge. He thought, however, it'might still be left to the board to consider special cases, and chanres for children.

Mr. Voung said he did-not think the board would get any more patients than now if the fees were raised; he rather thought there would be fewer. He favored an increase to 7s.

Mr. J. Andrews drew attention to the fact tint moat working men were members- of a lodge which made provision for payment of sickness accounts. He sad t!:ere would be a big demand on the ratepayers for money soon and he thought the board should make those pay the cost of maintenance who could afford it

Mr. Haleonibe said there was the aspect of the medical attendance to be | (considered. The staff practically accepted their positions because the hospital was a charitable institution. They were performing work that had cost then> a great deal of money to learn, and were giving their services for the benefit of people who could not afford to pay the ordinary charges for operations. The question was a very difficult one and he did not like the idea of raising the fees.

The chairman pointed out that the position had bfe n overlooked, where perhaps several children in -one family had to go into the hospital on aecovmt of an infectious diseasft Thev were probably well again i n a few davs, but tin* Health Department insisted on them rema.mng there for six weeks and if the fee was raised as proposed it would cost thft parents of those children 43s per week for each of them for the six weeks The parents were wiling enough to look after the children in their own homos but the department would not allow them. They had to lie sent away for the public good. He thwight some'special consideration would have to be shawn for children.

Mr. Andrews said he was quite prepared to make it less for children, but thought 7s was not too,much for the man wno could afford to pay. _ Mr Hill said he was in favor of as increase, and had hecn ever since he came o„ to the board. There was no reason why a man who tSuld afford to pav should get for 5s w'hat was costing the board 7s 6d\

Mr. Andrews said he would surest that the matter of fees for children be left to a committee to deal with. ; On th P matter herns- put to the vote a division was calitd, the proposal to '.''''"'"" "' T,l ' ! ' ,lnv '""ins carried, the voting i n favor being: ,T. Andrews, F. J. "' ,l "■ Andrews, R. McNeill, and .T. Young. Against: M. Fraser, A. K Syk-es, G. Capper and A. Haleomiie. ' It was ultimately decided to refer the matter of charges for children to the finance committee to report to next meeting.

The chairman pointed out thai f.V whole matter was stibiect to the approval of,the Minister of Public Health.