HOSPITAL SERVICE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 126, 27 April 1940, Page 7

HOSPITAL SERVICE

SUPERINTENDENT’S REVIEW. INCREASED ACTIVITIES. “There lias been a marked increase in the activities of the Hospital in neatly every department and the statistics of those treated both as inpatients and out-patients, show a considerable. rise over previous years,’’ stated the medical superintendent of the Palmerston North Hospital (Mr J. H. North) in his report which was received at the annual meeting, of the Hospital Board. The report proceeded: “The full effect of the hospital fienclits under the Social Security Act has not yet been felt, but the increase in our occupied bed status is, at least in part, due to the introduction of these benefits. Owe would anticipate a gradually increasing effect from hospital benefits in the work of the Hospital over the next two or three years. Military hud Air Force .ramps established in the latter half of the year in and around Palmerston North have increased the admissions and the work of most departments of the Hospital. During the past few years an attempt has been made to improve the out-patient department in an effort to reduce admissions to as low a level as possible. 'The marked increase in the number of out-patient attendances is, in large measure, due to this policy. Many patients previously admitted have been able to be treated effectively as out-patients. In addition, /patients have been discharged earlier from flic wards and completed their treatment in the out-patient department. In the coming year, with a reorganisation, of medical staffing, it is hoped to further extend the efficiency of the out-patient department in reducing the number of admissions necessary and the length of stay in hospital. Increased efficiency is possible in this way, and is a very economical method of providing adequate treatment without an unduly large building programme. »

“In general, it may be said that a hospital such as this should be made as much an ‘acute hospital’ as practicable. With extensions at Awapuni Home, increased numbers of sanatorium beds and improvements in the admission system by adequate use of the out-patient department this ideal «is more nearly approached. “The following are the in-patient statistics for the year ending March 31, 1940 Patients in Hospital, April 1, 1939, 207; admitted during year, 3240; discharged, 3058; died, 187 ; remaining in Hospital at March 31, 1940, 202; daily average number of occupied beds, 21(3.49; individual average days’ stay, 21.25.”

RISE IN BED-RATE. After quoting statistics for the past four years, the report says: “The marked rise is in the occupied bed rate. Tho rise in admissions and discharges during the year is relatively not so marked The increased efficiency of the out-patient department in limiting admissions- has kept a rise in this figure to reasonable proportions. The Hospital has really run to capacity almost throughout the year. The individual average days’ stay figure of 21.2-5 is lower than ever previously recorded. This figure gives the average number of days’ treatment afforded each patient discharged during the year. The lower this figure becomes, the nearer the Hospital is to an ‘acute hospital.’ However, there arc fallacies in drawing-inferences from this figure and numerous factors have to bo taken into consideration in studying or comparing these figures. On the whole one may say the present figure is a satisfactory one. “The total of attendances at the casualty and out-patient department lor the year was 7640, an increase of over 1200 on last year’s figure. This department will he considerably reorganised during the coming year and various special clinics conducted by members of the staff. The total number of theatre operations for the year "! ,s 2358. Three hundred more operalions were performed than in the previous year. The number of patients X-rayed was 64,000 (4201 in 1938-39 ami 4133 in the year before'). This department lias had a very steady increase in its work during the past five years. The increase this year is a record one. The number is almost exactly double Ilio number X-raved in 193 G-37. The Hospital Board income Dorn laboratory services has been increased by the work done for other hospital boards, medical practitioners and the Health Department. The total

amount collectable from these during the past year was £1616. In the raas--1 sago department 15.210 treatments were carried out. an increase of 1500 ever the previous year. Prescriptions dispensed totalled 18,309 as against 17,182 a year before. “Awapuni Home and Hospital.— r J he chronic hospital wards at the Awapuni Home have remained full throughout the year. The Home has been run very efficiently and smoothly, and the. matron and staff are to be congratulated on the very satisfactory wav the Home and Hospital are conducted. The district nursing service has functioned satisfactorily. An almoner’s department was established and has already proved itself a most necessary branch of hospital activity. Many problem cases are being investigated and dealt with bv the almoner. “Honorary medical staff.-—I must record my appreciation of the services of the honorary medical staff during Iho past year. This method of staffing is' being changed tnis year, but the Palmerston North Hospital -has pro pressed very rapidly since its inception and during the whole of this period the honorary staff have voluntarily carried out their most important duties with great distinction. It is difficult to pay a sufficient tribute to the services of the various members of flic honorary medical staff of this hospital during the past years. I must also record my appreciation of tlx? support and co-operation I have always received from the heads of the various departments of the hospital, the matron and the resident medical staff.”