WESTLAND HOSPITAL

Hokitika Guardian, 21 March 1922, Page 3

WESTLAND HOSPITAL

REPORT FOR YEAR 1921

The following report was submitted by Dr Baird, surgeon-superintendent of Westland Hospital to the Board at its last meeting:— [ bieg to forward niy report for the vear ending December 31st, 1921. PATIENTS, The number of patieUts treated nS indoor cases was as follows:: Treated—lst quarter 98 ; 2nd qr, 111 ; 3r qr., 113; 4th qr., 101 ; total 42(5. Recovered—lst quarter, 41; 2nd qr., 60 ; 3rd qr., 52 ; 4th qr., 63 ; total 216. Relieved—lst quarter 14; 2nd qr. 10; 3rd qr., 10; 4th qr., 8; total 42. Died—lst quarter, 13; 2nd qr., 3; 3rd qr. t 10; 4th qr., 5; total 31. Unrelieved—lst quarter, 1 ; 2nd,, nil: 3rd qr., nil; 4th qr., 1; total 2. The number remaining in hospital at the end of each quarter being respectively, 29, 38, 41, 27. The Dumber of Operations performed was 145. Great improvements have this year been effected in the hospital, or are now in course of accomplishment, namely: ESTABLISHMENT OF STEAM

LAUNDRY. This is an up-to-date plant obtained from Greymoutli, and it lias worked very satisfactorily. Tliie Mental Hospital share it with us, having the use o! it for the greater part of each week, to do their large wash in- The arrangement of which is, we supply the machine, the engineers to work it, the materials required for washing, and they supply the labour for the actual washing, etc.,, of their clothes is working satisfactorily ; and it is hoped that the revenue from them will make the establishment of the laundry a non-expensiv'e outlay for us. DRAINAGE. The drainage scheme existing was very inefficient, ami dangerous, and a r.cw scheme is now being pushed through in accordance with the Public Health requirements. The need lor t-ois was urgent. The Hospital drainage will henceforward be carried by pipes undef- the railway, and be discharged in the sea at a point beyond low water mark. ELECTRIC LIGHT. Electric light was installed early m the year throughout the whole ot the Hospital, except the old wooden block shortly to he taken down. It hits proved a great economy and is superior to was in every way. GARDEN. Both the flower and vegetable gardens have been greatly improved. The flower-beds in part give a pleasant aspect to the hospital, and the supply of vegetables obtained has been excellent for the patients, and an economy. DAIRY. Arrangements have been mad? for the hospital to supply itself wth milk. Tds has involved considerable expenditure: Purchase of 5 t-ows, erection ol cow-byre on the land between the railway an 1 the road, clearing ground there for pasture, erection of gates and femes, purchase of ground on the hill between Mental hospital and us, purchase of and doing up of a dairyman’s cottage adjoining our tennis court, ft is hoped that better milk will soon bo' supplied and at a cheaper rate than formerly. OPERATING THEATRE.

Dr Wylie’s suggestion that glasstopped tables should he got for Hie t!Ratio has been given client to. The thing most required in the theatre now is a supply of running hot water. This will he effected when the laundry-h- ilers will In used to supply the whole hospital with hot water.

WARDS. Certain improvements in ‘tlio wards will accrue from the building ol tl>o new wine;. The radiators in .Munson Maul are to lie replaced with now, minus the clumsy covers at present there, and the fireplaces m Tills Mhird will he done a wav with, and radiators installed thhrc. This will pive Itllis Mard capacitv for two more hods. Arrangements are to made also in froth "aids for erection of small steam-sterilisers for ward work, and for cisterns in the diitv room for rapid supply ol lu.t waf|>r for various purposes.

REQUIREMENTS FOP TIIF FUTURE.

Our two greatest requirements are:—

H) Some suitable arrangement for dealing with tubereuhir phthisis eases of a type too advanced to go to a

sanatorium. (2) Some suitable provision for infectious eases. With regard to tl b first. Or \\ vim | does not recommend shelters, but I thought that Ward 3 might he adopted I for them as a temporary measure. This i would eneroaeh on our priosent accomi modation for infectious cases, hut at the j present time, when the New \\ ing is i on the eve of erection, is, I think the | oulv thing possible, j STAFF, j In eonelusiomi, let me state T have ; received every assistance from the staff. ' We are now trying to give each member ! of the nursing staff fi weeks’ holiday pel ! annum instead of the week day ofl. j This arrangement is preferred by the ' nurses, and in a hospital ol 0111 size, i seems ’to he the l.bst solution of the i holiday question. It has been a busy year for every member of the nursing i staff, (life to depletion of tbe stall ; through illness etc. on several oeca- , sinus, and 1 would like to record the j ungrudging manner in which e\ei.\ 1 mein bo r lias given devoted and efficient i service, in order to keep up the stand- • ard of the institution.