THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF NAPIER HOSPITAL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3932, 26 February 1884, Page 4

THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF NAPIER HOSPITAL.

In presenting to the subscribers the third annual report of the Hnwke's Bay Hospital, Napier, tho Committee desire to tender their hearty thanks to all those who by their contributions have enabled them to enlarge, and so materially to extend, the usefulness of the institution, the bed space available having been nearly doubled during the past year. To effect this there has been collected locally, in a special building fund, a sum amounting to close upon £3000, of which £2000 has been expended, leaving sufficient funds in hand and on call to complete tho payment for the building of a new wing, children's ward, &c, and open them free from debt —an eminently gratifying result. Tho wards in the original building have now been entirely set apart fqr males, the large male ward, No. 1, being fitted up with 17 beds, the late female ward, now the No. 2 male ward, with 1 4 beds, and the private ward with 2 beds, thus providing accommodation for 30 male patients; whilst, in case of need, a further 6 beds can be placed in the centres of the large wards without unduly limiting tho necessary cubic space of air, 1000 feet, considered requisite for each person. The new wing is devoted exclusively to the use of women and children, the large ward, reserved for females, being fitted with 12 beds, built for 18, 9 on each side, and the children's ward with 4 beds and 2 cots, with space for more. Tho matron's rooms arc in this part of tho building, also the nurso's room, and a ward kitchen, whilst bath-rooms, lavatories, &c, aro attached to each ward. Access to this wing is obtained by three separate entrances, one of these, consisting of a largo porch, is being fitted up as a conservatory, and opens out upon a part of tho grounds which, with the summer-house thereon, is also allotted to the use of the women and children.

Our total hospit il accommodation is therefore now sufficient for 3G males and 25 females and children, Gl in all, and this will, wo trust, fully supply the wants of the district for many years to come. Tho kitchen has been greatly enlarged, and fitted with a now range of the largest size, tho boiler supplying hot water to all parts of tho building. Tho whole of the exterior of the main building has been repainted with three coats of paint, at a cost of £80; it is intended, funds permitting, to repaint and distemper tho interior throughout in the spring. Water Supply.—This h is now procured from the now town rosorvoir, connection having been made with tho mains. A standpipe has been fixed in the grounds, and a supply of hoso obtained for use in case of fire. Stand pipes, in connection with the tanks, in different parts of tho building and grounds, aro also supplied with attachments and hose, as is a small portable engino, and all these are available for flushing drains, cleaning buildings and windows, watering, &c, as well as in case of fire. Drainage, &o.—The whole of the drains have been systematically re-laid, with a good fall, trapped and ventilated, and a plan showing their position supplied by tho architect; attention alone is now required to render them thoroughly efficient for their purpose. Largo lined covered bins on wheels have been provided for the refuse, and a contract has been entered into for tho tri-weekly removal of all rubbish, nightsoil, &c, from tho promises. Additional earth closets have been placed in the grounds, also a urinal supplied with a constant flow of fresh water.

Ventilation.—Perforated zinc has been placed in the eaves of tho liiof round the wards, causing a free current of air between the ceilings and roof, greatly improving tho temperature and ventilation ; tho latter has been a constant source of care, the difficulty of getting thorough ventilation free from unpleasant draughts boing very great; but this appears to have been at length overcome, and, looking to its importance, is a matter for congratulation.

Wards. —During the past year tho wards liavo all been supplied with pictures, clocks, filters, gazogenes, chairs, and stationary, and are now as comfortable and complete as it is rjbssible to make them. Library.—Through the kindness of tho Amateur Dramatic Society the foundation of a capital library has been commenced, and the books have proved a great boon to tho patients ; tho Committee will bo very glad to receivo further contributions, either in books or money to buy them. Every caro is taken of them, the book cases being kept in the Board-room^ , under charge of the matron, and catalogues are placed in tho Avards.

Instruments. —A very complete set of surgical instruments has been imported from tho makers, and arranged in a suitable cabinet in the dispensary ready for use. Staff.—An experienced night nurse has been engaged, and tends greatly to tho increased comfort and well doing of tho patients. Under tho careful supervision of the matron, Miss A. E. ICobelfc, the Committco believe they will bo able to carry on tho servico of the hospital as enlarged without increasing the staff. Groutids —A substantial plant, earth, and tool house has been erected, a large kitchen garden laid out, and numbers of fruit, shelter, and ornamental trees have been planted, whilst the fiowiT garden has been much improved, and tho walks are being reformed and asphalted. An " all tho year round" shelter-house is being erected for the male patients between the two large wards, over which a largo steel firo-bell will be hung. During the ensuing year ifc is intended to form and plant with shelter trees terraced walks on the two acres of hill side pacing south, and at present lying waste. Plans for an additional storey over the front block of the Hospital., building wore prepared and tenders called for, tho lowest was £100 ; plans ivero also prepared for a detached fever ward at an estimated cost of £750; the Committee aro, howovei , , uuablo at present to proceed further in the matter, as the funds to the credit of the building account would bo exhausted by the .work already in hand.

Tho buildings and furniture have been insured for tho Bum of £7,000, their total cost in till having amounted to about £8,400 ; of this sura £1000 was set aside by tho old Provincial Government, £1,400 contributed by the General Government, and the remaining £6,000 raisedin tho district. Tho Committee regret having to report the retirement of Mr J. A. Smith from the Committee on account of failing health. His services as tbe founder of the hospital aro so intimately associated with tho institution as to to render it dosirabk to take some steps to place tlie fact permanently pxx record, and they have, therefore, nominated him to a Life Governorship of the Hospital. Maintenance.—The cost of actual maintenance for tho twelve months has been abont the same as for the previous year, and has been defrayed by the Government... Up to March, 1882, when the Government took ovor tho maintenance of tho ' hospitals, tho institution was supported by voluntary subscriptions supplemented by a subsidy of £1 for £1, and ho well did the system work horo that a credit balance of £lt)3G ; being the subsidy duo on the March'quarter's subscriptions, was handed over intact to the Government, with the Hospital, at that date. ' ""■--, In conclusion, $he Oommitteo again tender their sincere thanks to those numerous' friends who have contributed towards bringing tho Institution up to its present highly satisfactory state; and to Dr. Men/ies, Mr Harker, and tho staff, for the zeal and efficiency with which they have carried out their duties. \ '■': January, 1884. i HOSPITALS lIEEE AND AT HOME. ! Sir,—A aeries of very ably written articles, under tho heading of "Hospital' Administration," is now appearing in the , Lancet, No. IX. of which, dealing especially 1 with " the working classes aud tho Hospitals," may bo of interest to your readers. I therefore append a few extracts which seem to be..equally applicable to our hospitals here. It says— "liverywhere thoughout the country the •working classes, from whom many of the j hospital patients are drawn, are taking a more active interest in tho support and management of the hospitals. It is naturally regarded by tho intelligent workingjnan as.ft privilege and his duty to give his

share towards the expenses of the hospital in his neighbourhood. Laudable as this feeling is, it was declared at the conference that ' the Blitish workman, as a rule, will not contribute much to a hospital until he is thoroughly convinced that he will receive his quid pro quo. . If he is satisfied on this point, however, his contributions will be liberal, as shown by the experience of the managers of the" North Staffordshire Infirmary, Hartsthill, where the work people contributed £3085 in 1881, or £367 more than the sum expended by the hospital upon the maintenance and treamenfc of all the patients sent to the institution from the contributing workshops, including the wives and families of the employes in question. The system in the provincial hospitals, taking the Leeds Infirmary as an example, is to send a representative of the hospital to speak to the people in the mills and workshops, the employers readily consenting to stop the machinery a little earlier for dinner for this purpose. When the workmen are assembled the speaker shows them in a few words what tho infimary is doing for them, and is prepared to do, and points out that it is but just that they should do something in return for the hospital. The next step to secure the sympathy and co-operation of the managers and foremen of departments, for unless their sympathies are enlisted, the speaker's eloquence would be fruitless." In this part of the colony much has been done to put this matter on a firm basis ; broad and liberal views having characterised the administration of the district hospital. The largo employers of labor and their managers have taken much trouble in explaining the ticket system to their men, and in distributing the annual tickets, and receiving and forwarding tho men's contributions to the hospital, whilst among the men themselves I have found in the course of my three years' experience that the greatest satisfaction exists with the system,,and this is constantly increasing as it becomes better known and understood. lam firmly persuaded that if all hospitals in New Zealand were worked on similar lines to ours in Hawko's Bay the working classes and the poor, for whoso advantage and benefit hospitals are specially devised, would really receive a just and substantial quid pro quo. or in other words, in time of sickness woidd be amply repaid for their small annual subscription.— I am, <fee., 1 E. Menzies.