HOSPITAL FINANCES

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20491, 6 May 1938, Page 9

HOSPITAL FINANCES

WAIKATO BOARD’S FIGURES REASONS FOR THE INCREASE AN ADDITIONAL 37 BEDS An explanation of the increase in the 1938-39 maintenance and capital requirements of the Waikato Hospital Board over the estimates of the previous year was given In a report submitted at the monthly meeting of the board yesterday. The estimates passed at the last meeting of the board showed an increase of £9942 10s over those for the previous year. The chief reason for the increase in the board’s net requirements was that it had been necessary to provide for an additional 37 beds. The Waikato Hospital would have 30 of these and the remainder would be installed at Rotorua. An additional factor was that several items in the 1937-38 estimates were under-estimated. The principal maintenance items accounting for the increase were an advance of £6OOO in salaries and wages at the Waikato Hospital and increases in several other departments of the institution’s operations. In 1937-38 the board estimated £27,500 for salaries and wages and the actual payment was £31,461. The 40-hour week was one of the main reasons for the increase in this direction, while the Increases in the rates of pay necessary to comply with the requirements of the Arbitration Court also had their effect. It was also necessary to provide for ,an increase in the following items at the Waikato Hospital owing to the increased number of beds to be provided during the year: Provisions, £IG93; surgical and dispensary, £1350; renewals of supplies, £1000; painting and repairs to buildings, etc., £9OO. At the Rotorua Hospital the increases were as follows: Provisions, £500; salaries and wages, £2200; renewals of supplies, £300; painting and repairs to buildings, £650. During the past few years, on account of financial stringency, the painting and general repairs to the buildings were practically discontinued and'it was now necessary to make up arrears and provide for the additional work in order to keep the buildings in a good state of repair. Guarantees of Patients’ Fees Other Items accounting for the increase were as follows: Amounts paid to other boards for guarantees of patients’ fees, £1000; Te Kuiti Hospital (including £2lO for painting and repairs), £800; Matamata Hospital (including £IOO for painting and repairs), £150; Interest on loans (due to the new loan of £43,000 being taken up .last year), £675.

The report stated that whereas the board estimated an income of £31,700 from patients’ payments, the amount estimated for the current year was £38,500, an estimated increase of £6BOO. In addition, there might be an Increase of £SOO from payments from patients in the old men's home and other charitable institutions. The charitable aid estimate had been reduced to £IOOO, and it was noticeable, continued the report, that this vote at £2OOO was a reduction of £3400 compared with the estimates for the 1936-37 year. The income from endowments showed an increase of £l5O, being chiefly accounted for by the fact that several leases of Victoria Street property were renewed at a higher rental than formerly.

The total levy on local authorities for 1938-39 was set dowm as £44,237, compared with £38,812 in the previous year. This represented an increase of 13.9 per cent. The rate of levy per £1 of rateable capital value for 1938-39 was .253 d, compared with ,232 d for 1937-38.