HOSPITAL STATISTICS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1691, 27 March 1917, Page 3

HOSPITAL STATISTICS.

IN TE RESTIN' G (DMPARISON S. Interesting particulars dealing with the increase in the cost of hospital administration were given by the Hon. G. A. Russell, Minister for Public Health, in the course of a speech on Wednesday at the laying of the foundation-stone of the Auckland Hospital Board's new oflices. The Minister stated that in 1800 the total expenditure under the heading of hospital and charitable aid was £IOO,OOO. In 11)05 it had risen to £250,0(10, and for it reached a total of £578,000, representing over IDs a. head for the entire population of the Dominion. New Zealand, compared with any other country in the world, held pride of place for the extension of hospitals and the work dune in them. At present there were sixtylive general hospitals in the Dominion, with no less than 3,832 beds, representing 3.48 beds for every .1,000 of the population. The capital expenditure had increased during the last ten years from £31,000 to £75,000, and was steadily rising as the older type of hospital gave place to the more modern institution. In 1000-07 there were 17,000 persons under treatment in the hospitals of New Zealand, or 10 to every 1,000 of the population. In 1010 the number hud more than doubled, being 30,000, or 33 fur every 1,000. The average number of tieds rose from 1,505 in 1000 to 2,017 in 1010. “This is a fine record,"’ added the Minister, “and indicates the progress made in this direction in New Zealand in recent years.”