HOSPITAL PRESSURE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 153, 24 March 1939, Page 10

HOSPITAL PRESSURE

Limitation Of Admissions Necessary WELLINGTON POSITION “The position is becoming so acute now that non-urgent cases will have to be deferred if the numbers continue as at present,” said the superintendent of the Wellington Hospital, Dr. A. R. Thorne,’in a report to the meeting of the hospital board last night on limitation of admissions.

“Though the daily average of inpatients has increased yearly we have endeavoured to arrange admissions as soon as possible,” Dr. Thorne said. “Till the present time the longest waits have occurred in the eye, ear, nose and throat, the orthopaedic and the tonsil sections.

“The daily average over the past few years has risen yearly from 498 in 1932-33, 533 in 1933-34, 571 in 1934-35, 621 in 1935-36, ‘6BB in 193 G-37, to 70S in 1937-3 S, and this month will finish the 1938-39 year with a daily average of 808 for the whole year. The daily average for February this year is 847, and for March will be approximately 544. For February last year it was 733, and for the year before that 600. The increased daily average iu main wards only as between this February and February last year is 82. “I can only stress the urgency of a condition which has become increasingly worse year after year,” he said. “The emergency ward being erected will not cover the year’s increase in patients. The advent of hospital service under the social security scheme and the centenary celebrations for the coming year will cause a further demand on the hospital. The nursing staff particularly, as well as the rest of the staffs, are working under considerable disadvantages. It is better to limit the number of patients and try to give them a reasonable amount of attention than add further to the patients in the wards and create chaos.”

The numbers, Dr. Thorne said, were far in excess of vyhat the Health Department, the fire board or authorities dealing with earthquake precautions would allow, but there seemed to be no other means of giving relief other than provision of further temporary or emergency wards. He recommended, therefore, that the number of patients in the wards be limited, and that nonurgent cases be deferred when no beds were available and placed on a waiting list.

The superintendent's report was received.