§ MR. MEAGHER (Kilkenny, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is competent for boards of guardians at their meeting subsequent to the admission of patients to the infirmaries or hospitals under their control, who seek relief by way of loan, to fix the amount which the patient or patients shall pay per day for their maintenance and attendance while in the hospital or infirmary; and, if not, whether, seeing that at the present time such patients contribute but a fraction of the cost which they bear on the rates, he will introduce a Bill granting boards of guardians the power to fix the rates of charges to patients who seek relief by way of loan, so as to include, in the case of patients who are able to pay, a part of the cost of medical and nursing attendance, and the actual cost of the dietary.
599 (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) In the opinion of the Local Government Board the answer to the first part of the Question is that the guardians have only a limited power under Section 4 of The Poor Relief (Wand) Act, 1862, whereby they are empowered to charge patients in hospital or infirmaries a portion of their cost, but such portion is in no case to exceed the average of the general cost of maintenance, medical and surgical treatment, in such hospitals or infirmaries. The Government are not prepared to consider the suggestion contained in the latter part of the Question pending the presentation of the Report of the Poor Law Reform Commission.