HOSPITAL TREATMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 September 1941, Page 4

HOSPITAL TREATMENT

OF RETURNED WOUNDED SOLDIERS WAIRARAPA SUGGESTIONS DENIED. STATEMENT BY MR NASH. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. "I cannot find there are any grounds whatever for the suggestion reported to have been made by some Wairarapa Hospital Board members of ’cavalier’ treatment of returned soldiers,” said the Acting-Prime Minister, Mr Nash, in reply to a question by Mr J. Robertson. member for Masterton, in the House of Representatives yesterday. “The issue is as to the extent to which payment for treatment’ is to be met from the local rates and Government funds respectively. "The decision of the Government which was conveyed to hospital boards on November 1, 1939, was that payment would be made from War Expenses Account at the rate of 5s a day for maintenance and treatment in public hospitals of each army camp-sick patient in addition to the 6s a day from the Social Security Fund in respect of hospital benefits under Part 111 of the Social Security Act, 1938. These payments are made in respect of hospital treatment afforded to all sick and wounded members of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Upon their discharge from the Forces, however, when they resume civilian status, the payment from the Social Security Fund only is made. The question of the necessity for extending the period during which the extra payment of 5s a day is made beyond the present period of 28 days is under consideration.”