LODGE PATIENTS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 142, 18 July 1929, Page 6

LODGE PATIENTS.

"TUMOURS CYST."

To the Eaitor. Sir, — There should be a storm of indignation and disgust arise in the minds of our thousands of members in Hawke's Bay when they read of the remarks of Mr Priest at the Hospital Board, when our representatives were told they had come as crawlers on our behalf. Fortunately the other members of the board were able to pour the healing balm of common sense on tliis member's application. Let me point out that I understood the sum £2 4s should be £2 14s, also the fact tliat tho board's secretary says nonlodge patients pay about half. Well, we pay 50 per cent. and that is exactly level pegging. Also, as far as the Oddfellows are .coneerned it is a giltedge security and' the delay is merely caused by regulations that have to be complied with. A good many people will he surprised to know that we don't get half fees throughout at all. A concrete example is my own case. My operation (major) cost £4 4s (operation full fees) and five days £1 2s 6d. The lodge does not pay the lot, however. The_ member pays £2 2s, half the operation fees, himself. (Note the small gain by the lodge). Further (in this case) the lodge doctor goes to the hospital and does the operation himself, wliilst the hospital collects the lot. Then a lodge patient is discharged to attend as an out-patient. He pays exactlv the same fees as nonmembers (out of his owri pocket, not the lodge's.) And now arises the ctux of the whole thing. Are the lodge doctors sending its members into the hospital in minor cases instead of treating them themselves? Tf so, tlien the sooner we dump our present system tlie better. On the other liand it is common knowled'ge that doctors. being only human, send' a good many non-lodge cases to the hospital when they know they haven't Buckley's chanee of heing paid, and as much for a Snring cleaning as anything else. What would happen if tlie lodges tnrned round and said, "All right, wlien our "members go into tlie hospital we will pay the half fees direct to members, the board to cliarge tliem full rates, and tlie members please tliemselves wlien they pay, like tlie 50 per cent. of the nonmembers, who liave never paid a penny?" Has it oceurred to Mr Priest that the board is an elective body and that the lodges are easily powerful enough to put their own members on the board and have direct representation ? So long as we get a fair spin we are content. I will say 1 do not agree that tlie fees charged are suffieient. but until a system is brought 111 that places our members, and non-membfirs on a more equitable basis, many of our members may be sensitive to the fact that they are not wanted hi our ^excellent institutioji. Finally, Mr Ectitor, wliat about the huge sum we must have saved the eharitable aid department as lodge members as a whole, who, heing of a thriftv nature, manage to look after tliemselves? — I am, etc.,

Napier. July 17, 1929.