Voluntary Hospitals (Paying Patients) Act 1936

3 Provision for patients able to make some, but not full, payment.

(1) Except where the Charity Commissioners are satisfied that it would be inappropriate in the circumstances so to do, they shall include in the scale of charges specified in an Order charges fixed with a view to meeting the needs of patients who, though able to make some payment, are unable to pay charges sufficient to meet the full expense to the hospital of their accommodation and maintenance (including such medical and surgical attendance and treatment as is given by the resident staff of the hospital), and shall make it a condition of the Order that in the use of a number to be specified therein of the beds whose maintenance is authorised thereby priority shall be given to such patients.

(2) An Order may, in cases where the committee of management have not the power so to do apart from an Order, authorise them to defray out of any funds applicable to the general purposes of the hospital the difference between the full expense to the hospital of the accommodation and maintenance (including such medical and surgical attendance and treatment as is given by the resident staff of the hospital) of such patients as aforesaid on the one hand, and the sums with which those patients are charged under the authority of the Order on the other hand.