HOSPITAL MAINTENANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 May 1920, Page 5

HOSPITAL MAINTENANCE.

HIGH COST AKD BOARD'S DIFFICULTIES.

PROPOSED INCREASE OF FEES. In returning thanks for his re-election to tho position of chairman of the Tarnnaki Hospital Board yestc-rday, Mr. M. Eraser said he accepted oHice for this year chiefly because of the important works the Beard at present had in hand, and which lie hoped to see carried out. He then remarked that the work of the Hoard \va.» such that it required now a strong chairman, and the strongest Board possible. The expenses were increasing. tind in spite of all the Board'.- efforts, it seemed impossible to keep them down. Each patient ill the hospital now cost the Board !)s "id per day, whereas the cost nsc-d to be 03 Od. He also stated that the Board had had to pay £2OOO in connection iviih the influenza epidemic which had I never been refunded. The Board was itlso losing money on the farm, and members would have to consider whether pv not they would get another manager or dispose of the farm altogether. Personally he thought the chances of selling would never be better than at present. and the land was too valuable for the Board to hold.

Reverting to the cost of maintenance of the liospit;il, Mr. Frnser said it had pome to such ft state that the Board iir.d had to strike a rate of 2s Od on the local contributing bodies. Host of them had taken it all right, and as far as he know only one body had raised any question over the matter. The rate, however, bad been decided after cutting down as far as possible. Those who complained at the high cost could not know the difficulties the Board had to contend with. They certainly could not say that the men who constituted the Board had neglected their duty. It simply meant that the higher rate had to be paid or the hospital closed. The rate was Is more than that struck for last year, and yet he. thought the Board would have its nose down to the grindstone all the year. At a later stage of.tho meeting a letter was received from the clerk of the Egmont County Council in regard to the rate proposed to be struck by the Board on the contributing local authorities, enclosing the following resolution passed by the Council: "That this Council protests Against the greatly increased expenditure, and suggests that the Board increase the hospital charges to those able to pay." It was also decided to protect to the Minister of Public, Health against the ever-increasing expenditure. Home further discussion took place, in which the chairman said there was a continual increase in the cost of everytiling. Wages had gone up, and the cost of all supplies wrs increasing- In some lines the cost of medical supplies had increased by over 300 pci cent. Mr, Fraser mentioned the matter of gauze, of which the hospital used probably between 15,000 and 20,000 yards in the year, and said the price had risen from 9s (id to 45s per yard. If those who complained knew the conditions he thought they would change their tune. He- also reminded them that the medical staff had foi a number of years given their services without fee. Mr- .T. Voung said he thought the trouble was with one or two men. In view of the extra cost of supplies he did not sec how the board could reduce the amount to be levied. As members of local bodies they knew that the cost of all supplies was increasing every day, and wages were in much the same state. He suggested that the chairman should nend a letter to the Egmont Council explaining the increase in the cost of supplies during the past few yenrs. Mr. Clcorge Young said that what the Board ought to do was to increase the hospital fees. It was not businesslike to give a service for 7s Od per day which cost the board fls sd, and he gave notice to move at the ne.vt meeting that the hospital fees should be increased.

It was.' also decided that the chairman should write to the Kgmont County Council as suggested by Mr. Young,