133Establishment of Samaritan Funds

#### 133 Establishment of Samaritan Funds 133 Establishment of Samaritan Funds (cf PH Act s 40A) > > (1) The following money and personal effects are taken to be the property of a public health organisation— > > > > > (a) all money and personal effects (being choses in possession) that are— > > > > > > > (i) left in its custody by any patient who dies in one of its hospitals or health institutions, and > > > > > > > (ii) not claimed by the person lawfully entitled to them within a period of 12 months after the patient’s death, and > > > > > (b) all money and personal effects (being choses in possession) that are— > > > > > > > (i) left in its custody by any patient discharged from one of its hospitals or health institutions, and > > > > > > > (ii) not claimed by the patient or other person lawfully entitled to them within a period of 12 months after the date of discharge. > > > (2) All such money, and the proceeds of the realisation of any such personal effects, are to form a distinct and separate fund of the public health organisation to be called a Samaritan Fund. > > > (3) A Samaritan Fund is to be managed and disposed of in such manner as may be prescribed by the regulations for the benefit of patients or outgoing patients who are needy. > > > (4) A local health district or statutory health corporation may establish a separate fund for each hospital or health institution, or a single fund for all public hospitals or health institutions, under its control. > > > (5) A reference in this section to a public health organisation includes a reference to the Crown in relation to any public hospital controlled by the Crown (including the Minister or the Health Administration Corporation).