HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2160, 27 January 1881, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the .Board was held on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Present—Mr H. Thomson (chairman), the Mayor of Christchurch, the Mayor of Lyttelton, and the Mayor of Sydenham. * The Hospital committee reported that during the past fortnight fifteen patients had been admitted into the Hospital and twenty discharged, leaving fifty-four patients in the institution. During the same period there were four deaths. The committee recommended the adoption of the following rule : In-patients who, in the opinion of the house surgeon, were able to work should assist the nurses or servants in such employment as the bouse steward or matron may direct. The secretary laid before the Board the new books which had been procured to carry out tbe recommendations of the Soyal Commissioner.

The Board approved of the action of the secretary in procuring the same. In reply to the chairman, The Secretary said that the recommendation re the in-patients able to work being so employed, as stated in the hospital committee’s report, was identical with that in force in the Melbourne Hospital. The report of the hospital committee was adopted. A letter was read from Dr. Skae, forwarding a return to be filled up. The return was ordered to be laid before the hospital committee, A letter was read from Mrs Keetley and Mr T. B. Keetley, forwarding their respective cheques for expenses in the recent Hospital enquiry to the Hospital fund. The Chairman said that the thanks of the Board were due to Mrs and Mr Keetley for their donation.

The Mayor of Sydenham moved—“ That the thanks of the Board be returned to Mrs and Mr Keetley for their donation, and that the same be placed to the destitute patients’ fund.” The Mayor of Lyttelton seconded the motion, which was agreed to, A letter was read from the County Council of Patea, asking whether the Hospital Board would undertake the treatment of a case of blindness which had been partially dealt with in the Wellington Hospital, on the same terms as that charged there. The letter was referred to the staff.

The secretary laid before the Board a statement of receipts and expenditure of hospitals and charitable institutions for the half-year ending 31st December, 1880, as follows :

Board Boom, Christchurch Hospital, January 20th, 1881. Sir,—l have the honor to lay before the Board returns of receipts and expenditure of the charitable institutions under their control for the half-year ending 31st December, 1880, together with comparative statement of the expenditure, classified since June, 1878 : Christchurch Hospital.—Number of patients in Hospital on June 30th, 1880, 60; admitted during half-year, 289; total, 349; discharged from Hospital during half-year (including deaths), 79; remaining in Hospital on 31st December, 1830, 70. The daily average number for the half-year was 59 ; for the corresponding period of last year, the daily average was 73, The receipts for the half - year amount to .£285 15s Bd, as against £241 7s 3d for the corresponding period last year. The expenditure for the half year was £2195 9s 6d, as against £2563 13s 5d for the corresponding period of last year. I should explain that in the expenditure for this half-year the wages (which amount to £199 12s 3d) of the Charitable Aid men who were at work at the Hospital have been included. The expenditure under this head was previously debited to the Charitable Aid Department The average daily cost of each patient was 4s OJd, but repayments reduce this average to 3s 6id. For the corresponding period of last year the average daily cost was 3s 9Jd, but repayments reduce this average to 3s s£d. As previously stated, the daily average number of patients during the past half-year was 59. The cost per head is therefore greater than in the corresponding period of last year, when the daily average was 73. The number of deaths during the half-year was 33, as against 37 for the corresponding period of last year. Akaroa Hospital.—Number of patients in Hospital on 30th June, 1890, 3; admitted for the six months ending 31st December, 1880, 24 ; total, 27. Number discharged during that period, including two deaths, 27. Eemaining in Hospital on 31st December, 1890, nil. The receipts for the half-year wore £35 17s, and the ex - enditnre £244 13s lid.

Casual Ward, Lyttelton.—Number of patients in tbe ward on 30th June, 1880, 2; admitted for six months ending 31st December, 1880, 4 ; total, 6. Number discharged during that period, 6; remaining in ward on 31st December, 1880, nil. The receipts have been .£36, as against £2l for the corresponding half-year. The expenditure was £B9 4s 9d, as against £72 3s 5d for the corresponding period in 1879. Canterbury Orphanage.—Number of children in the institution on 30th June, 1880—Boys, 60 ;

girls, 45 ; total, 105. Number admitted during half-year—Boyn, 3 ; girls, 7 ; total, 10—Boys, 63; girls, 53; total, 115. Apprenticed during half-year—Boys, 7 ; girls, 4 ; withdrawn during half-year—Boys, 3 ; girls, 3—Boys, 10 ; girls, 7 : total, 17. Remaining in the institution on the Slat December, 1830 —Boys, 53; girls, 45; total, 98. Average for the half-year, 101.6. The receipts for the half-year amount to £BO Is Bd, as against .£lls 14s for the corresponding period of last year. The expenditure was £964 13s Bd, as against £IOO4 14s 6d for the corresponding period of last year. The average cost of each child was 7s 2}d per week, hut repayments reduce this to 6s 7Jd. Ashburton Home.—Number of inmates in the Home on 30th Juno, 42 ; admitted from July Ist to 3lst December, 1880, 12; total, 54. Discharged during that period, 23; deaths, 3; total, 25. Remaining in Home on 31st December, 1880, 29. The expenditure was £470 5a 7d, as

1 against .£463 9a lOd tor the corresponding period of last year. C heritable Aid—The receipt’ have amounted to £}>.' 10b, and the expenditure has been .£3265 17s 4d as against £14268 3s 7d for the corresponding |> “riod of last year. The actual cost, after deducting receipts of thn hospitals and charitable institutions under the control of the Hoard, for the ..half-year coding 3Ut December, 1880, was JSB7S.3, as against £lB2Ol for the ormsponcing peril"! of last year, thus showing a redaction uf' £THV* for this term. I hove. &c . J. hi. March.

Thy Chairman Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Christchurch. Thy report ot tbe hospital cottage at Akaroa was read, stating that three patients bad been l admitted during the fortnight and one discharged, leaving two remaining. The report of the Orphanage was read, and the subj'ect of the salary of an employe referred to the committee to deal with. The Board then adjourned till tbe Bth February,