HOSPITAL STAFFING REMAINS DIFFICUIT

Chronicle (Levin), 17 December 1946, Page 7

HOSPITAL STAFFING REMAINS DIFFICUIT

- r~ "The staff'ijOHitidn at the Palmerston North TIoSipitai-;'and In the various outside institutlons:"remains . diiiicult; there is Still a fitKrketT 'shpftago of senior nurses, " said ithe medical- superinteiidpnt, of tlie T'almeistoh • North Public ilosxiital,-^ .jVll;. J . H. North, in" reporting to-the""Paliherston North llospiLal Boa.rd vesterday. "This position is general thi'ougliout New Zealand and is likeiy to reniain dillicult for at least 12 nionths. ' The domesLic stalf position, ai'ter a temporary improvenient, is again very diffieult— kitchen and domestic slalf are urgently required for . the nurses' liomo and the Palmerston North Hospital." Hospital Statistics "Tlie hos|»ital statistics sliow a high duily occupicd bed ligure for the past nionth, " Mr. North said. "The num bcr of ini'ectious diseases adniitted is small. All the lnaternity homes tlirougliout the board's area , reniain l'ully occupicd aud tlieir bookiugs are hcavy i'or tlie next few moutlis. " Mr. North reported the following statistics: — l'atleiits rcniainhig in hospital 011 October 31, 313; ad'initted duriug Xovember, 3U2; discliarged during Novembcr, 365; dicd during Novembcr, 31; remaining iu hospital Novembcr 30, 30'J; daily average of occupicd beds, 317.1. Infectious Diseases Scurlot fever, remaining iu liosjiital Octobcr 31, 7; dixditheria, adniitted during Noveniber, 2, remaining in hospital Novembcr 30, -1; liydalid, adniitted Noveniber, 1, remaining Novembcr 30, 1; orysipelas, remaining Noveniber 30,. 2; dysentery, adinitted Noveniber, I, remaining Noveniber 30, 1; luedingitis, adniitted Noveniber, 3, remaining Noveniber 30, 2. Maternity Homes Patients remaining in homes October 31: Palmerston North, mothers 12, babies 15; Foxton, mothers 5, babics. 1; Otaki, mothers 0, babies 9; Feilding, mothers 3, babies 3. Adniitted during Noveniber: Palmerston North 37, Foxton. 17, Otaki 24, Feilding 11. Births during Noveniber: Palmerston. North 31, Foxton 17, Otaki 18, Feilding II. Remaining in home Novembcr 30: Palmerston North, mothers 16, babies 16; Foxton, mothers 6, babies 6; Otaki, mothers 9, babies 10; Feilding, mothers 3, babies 3. Attended ante-natal elinic: Palmerston North, lirst visits 23, rcturn visits 47; Foxton, return visits 3; Otaki, lirst visits 20, return "visits 26. Daily average of occupicd beds: Palmerston North 13, Foxton 4.63, Otaki 8.3, Feilding 4.73. Premature babies retained in hospital, daily average, 3.3. "I have to acknowledge the gift of a number of journals from Mr. C. 8. Williams for the hospital library aud further journals from Mr. D. 8. Wylie," Mr. North added. "These are valuable contributions to tlie medical library. The Manawatu branch of the B.M.A. has offered to supply books to Ihe value of £50 to the library. This generous gift is much appreciated. The library is available to all members of fhe asso" ciation. ' '