OPOTIKI HOSPITAL BOARD

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 256, 8 November 1939, Page 2

OPOTIKI HOSPITAL BOARD

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT ■ ArE-' ] - <i.'; ■ -• v-V' MT

The following report- for the of October, .was, presented at the monthly meeting of the Opotiki Hospital Board- by the medical superintendent, Dr. Clifford James:—

Number of patients in hospital, September 30th., 19, admitted) during October 31, discharged (including two deaths) 33, remaining in hospital October 31st. 17, average number of occupied beds per day for the month 21. The newly appointed) superintendent Commenced duties on the first of October. '

Sister Edwards, the acting-matron, left hospital mu ,21st. October. Sister Stewart took over the position of act-ing-matron.

During the month, the accommodation at the hospital has been taxed to the. utmost . .Patients have had to he deferred because of lack of accommodation. The women’s ward is especially needing increased accommodation. Three extra reserve beds can easily be accommodated! as follows:—One in the side-room next to the women’s ward; in the ward between the two glass doors; one on the verandah.

J. recommend that three beds be secured immediately to serve as reserve accommodation in times of necessity.

Operations have increased in number (19) as compared with the same month last year (11). Those figures do not include dental extractions. 'The operations done have included more major operations than before. It is apparent that Opotiki people have been going to other districts for their bigger operations. Indications are that, if cur hospital offers them these facilities, they will have* their operations done here in their own hospital. To do this we need a theatre nurse. She will he responsible for the theatre and X-ray rooms, and will relieve in the wards when free from theatre work. At present, the acting-matron is heting as assistant at the operation, and as theatre sister also. Jn major work she cannot do both jobs. The result is that the operation takes longer than it should do, and becomes more difficult. The usual staffing of a theatre consists in the follows:—(1) Anaestheti,2) Surgeon; C 3) Assistant to surgeon ; (-1) Theatre Sister in. charge ol instruments; (5) A Ward Sister to help witli the patient or to get things required. The matron has in the past assisted the surgeon. , The theatre sister’s work has been done by one of the ward sisters. The disadvantage of this is that the sister may he away from the ward for the greater part of the morning, and also there is no one sister responsible for the theatre, its preparation, nor its equipment. .1 recommend that a theatre sister be appointed as soon as ever possible. Owing to the collapse of one of the beds used by the nurses, I beg to suggest that a now bed he secured to replace it, and that a further bed bo bought which will serve as an emergency reserve bed], or "ill he used b\ the above sister, it appointed. A dressing table also is badly needed for one of the rooms in the nurse’s quarters.