HOSPITAL FEES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2218, 16 June 1908, Page 3

HOSPITAL FEES.

DISCUSSION IN AUCKLAND. HOSPITAL BECOMING IMPOVERISHED. Press Association, AUCKLAND, Juno 15, Speaking- at n v -meeting of the .Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board -this afternoon, Mr. J. Coyle made an attack on the system of collection of fees at the hospital. He said the amount, written off -ns fees- not- collected totalled an enormous sum, no less than • £39,000 in three, years, and the total was steadilv mounting tip"; In 1905-6 it was £11,335; :in 1906-7 -it was £13,355, and in 1907-8 .£14,058. Ho regretted to find tho hospital being impoverished. As it.was it seemed to him that the 1 doctors “cellared’” nil the paying patients and sent them to their own private institutions, and cent all the non-paying patients.to. the general hospital. Mr, Bagiiair.said that All 1 . Coyle did not understand the position. The liospital was prinnuly intended for poof people who .were unable to pay for medical and surgical attendance. The Board would not be in order to -run the hospital for profit. So far it had been practically full of patients who were unable to pay. The committee went carefully into each case to find whether a patient could pay the whulo of his fees or any part thereof. Of course, looked at in Air. Coyle’s light, the hospital was an unprofitable institution, and it was bound to be so because- it was for the sick poor. The -basis of charge was 5s a day. At AVellington they charged 3s, although tho hospital there cost as much, if not more,-to run as tho Auckland liospital. Other southern. hospitals had small charges, and that made the Auckland writing-off look larger. The chairman -'(Air. Knight) said the hospital was -supported by rates. If a mail bad been hero 30 or 40 years and fell ill and went to the hospital unable to pay for tho attention he received, he, : nevertheless, had been contributing all the time to the rates. Tlio Auckland liospital collected more in fees- in proportion-than any other large hospital in New Zealand. The discussion then closed.