HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 132, 15 May 1884, Page 2

HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Hospital Committee took place in the Courthouse last night. Present—Jas. Booth Esq., (in the chair), and Messrs. Graham, Brown, Adair, Nolan, Matthewson, Dr. Pollen, and McKay, (Secretary). The minutes of the previous meetings were read and confirmed. Wardsman’s Report. The report stated that the admissions for the month had been 12 ; discharges, 8 ; remaining, 7. Total amount of fees paid, £1 2s. 6d. The Treasurer said that he had received £1 10s. Gd. on account of the prisoner Mrs. Tardieu. The report was then adopted.

Treasurers’ Report. The Treasurers report was read stating that all accounts which bad been passed at the last meeting had been paid, and that a balance of £4O remained. Accounts, On the accounts being brought foiwr. -d, Mr. Nolan enquired whether the Wardsman, (who was present), had satisfied himself that all were correct. Wardsman—They are near about right, as far as I know. The Treasurer asked where the receipt book was, and the Wardsman said he_ had none. In answer to the Treasurer, the Secretary said that he had given the Warder clear orders to produce the pass-book. The Wardsman had not understood such order. Mr. Adair remarked that everything should go through the pass book. If such were not done how could the things be checked. Mr. Matthewson said that the Wardsman was to sign every account, and produce his pass book. Mr. Nolan—Here is one item for £3 18s. odd. How are we to know whether it is correct unless you check it, Everything should be checked. Any private house would certainly do such a thing before paying for it, and so must we. A large account like this must be checked before it is paid. The Secretary remarked that he had given ample instructions. After some further discussion upon this point the following accounts were passed Teat and Friar, £9 18s. 7d.; Aislabie, £3 Is, 6d.; Lawrence, 15s. ; Chrisp, (salary) £8 6s, Bd. ; Wilkinson, £3 ss. ; Birch, £3 Bs.; Erskine, £1 10s. lid.; Sigley, 12s. ; Weston, 10s. 4d. ; Porter and Croft, £1 10s. 6d. (Mr. Nolan : What’s all this about ? What’s this for ?) ; Chrisp and Co., 18s. (Mr. Nolan : Ah, that’s more reasonable I). Visiting Committee. The Secretary said as Mr. Jobson was away the visiting committee for the month would be Messrs. Matthewson, McDay and Nolan. Sub-Committee REPORT. The following report, drawn up in accordance with a resolution passed at the last committee meeting, was then read The sub-committee appointed by the Hoi* pital Committee, at their meeting of the 16th, 1884, beg to report as follows: — After a careful analysis of the accounts, we find the total expenditure for nine months—from 30th June, 1883, to 31st March, 1884— to have been :— Salaries, including medical attendance £2OB 2 8 Medicine 87 14 0 Rations, including medical comforts, coal, and fuel.. .. 215 2 6 Incidental expenses .. .. 15 0 9 ' 19 11 The number of patients treated in the Hos* pital is equal to an average of during thd whole of the above nine months. The total cost of each patient per day has been Ils. 2d. The average cost per day for each patient hrs been 4s. sgd. for attendance, and Is. Bd. for medicine.

The accounts for rations, coal, and fuel for the nine months had amounted to £215 2s, 6d, This, with an average of 3| patients, wards* man, matron, two children, and servant, and extra rations equal to 180 days for special attendants, brings the cost of rations to 2s. |d. per head per day. The board of special attendants has been paid for at the rate of 2s. 6d. per day. For the twelve months ending 30th June, 1883, the average of patients in the Hospital was s|. The total cost for the year was £696 3s. 9d., giving an average cost per patient per day of 6s. 9|d., as against Ils. 2d. for the last nine months. The average cost of medicine per head per day was Is. 3|d. for the year ending June 30th, 18S3, as against Is. Bd. for the last nine months.

The great increase in the cost per head per patient is accounted for to a considerable extent by the fact that the attendance, sala* ries, coal, and fuel have been as great for an average of 3| patients as they were last year for an average of 5| patients.

The average cost of rations per head per day for the year ending 80ih June, 1883, was only Is. 6Jd., as against 2s. Ad. for the past nine months. It is somewhat difficult to account for this extra cost, as the prices at which rations are supplied are quite as low as they were last year. A large number can, of course, be rationed less expensively in proportion than a small number, but the difference should not have been so much.

We would also point out that the receipts from paying patients for the last nine months have only been £32 135., while £125 4s. 6d. was collected during the year ended 80th June, 1883.

Andrew Graham. E. K. Brown. H. MoKay. G. Matthewson, Mr. Nolan said perhaps the doctor could explain this remarkable difference. Dr, Pollen could not explain the reason [of the large increase. Mr. Matthewson said it was a painful fact, but the committee had been compelled to come to the conclusion they had. They had spent much time over the matter, and had taken every pains, but they were compelled to come to the conclusion shown in their report.

Mr. Nolan remarked that a larger number of patients could be kept for the same as a

Mr, Graham pointed out that the number in the Hospital could not affect the matter. The great increase was in medicine and rations, as it could not be accounted for. The matter had been thoroughly gone into.

Mr. Matthewson said the sub-committee had no date to go upon bevond the last nine month. When they went beyond that point they were upon uncertain ground, so they confined themselves to the dates between last June and now.

Dr. Pollen thought there might have been more sickr. 23s during that period. It often happened that more sickness prevailed at one part of the year than at the other. Mr. Matthewson pointed out that they had really taken the very healthiest ison of the year.

Mr. Graham—The Committe had gone into things most carefully. The ration account showed the most increase, and was unaccountable.

Mr. Booth—The difference between the two years is enormous. Mr. Matthewson—We cannot get over the ration account. It is quite unaccountable. Mr. Nolan—Weaver had an attendant looking after him all the while he was in the Hospital. Has that been allowed for. Mr. Graham—Oh, yes, everything has been carefully allowed for. We have simply drawn out the report and made no expression of opinion. This proves the necessity for going into the accounts every month. Mr. Booth—Yes, it is evident that this must be done. Mr. Matthewson said had the increase been slight it would have been different, but it was so great.

In answer to some remarks from Dr. Pollen and Mr. Nolan, Mr. Graham said that the numbers in the Hospital could not make any difference in the increase of rations per head.

Dr. Pollen had seen no apparent waste. Things had been going on for the last nine months the same as usual. He himself had not much else to do other than ordering diet. It was quite impracticable to weigh out each patients rations from a leg of mutton when it was put upon the table. Mr. Graham—lt costs 10a. per day for fuel and rations per head. Mr. Brown said that rationing the Constabulary at Is. 9d. per day paid well.

Mr. Booth remarked that a Benevolent Society with which he had been connected were enabled to ration and fuel at sfd. per head, and the contractor then made Jd. profit, lie had also fed hearty hard working men for 7Ad. per head. Dr. Pollen said it cost £3O per annum per head in the Home hospitals. Mr. Booth—the wages run up in all hospitals. Mr. Graham—Yes; but that does not interfere with the rations. The expenses are increasing every year, but there is no increase patients. Indeed it is the reverse. Mrs. Mitchelson performed the whole of the work with the assistance of a bov.

Dr. Pollen could not see how they could run the Hospital with less people. They < must have assistance and a charwoman.

Mr. Booth—There should be more work done outside. He would like to see the cow subject agitated. Mr. Matthewson—There can be no doubt but what the cost is most excessive. It is more than that paid for any healthy man in the largest hotel in the colony. ‘There is evidently something radically wrong, though it cannot be said where. Three attendants to look after two-and-a-half patients is not necessary. Surely the convalescent patients could do something. Mr. Graham—lf the rations had been in the same proportion as last year, we should have saved fully £5O. Mr. Booth thought they should do all they could to save expenses. There had been much talk about it, and he thought the time had now arrived to do something. Mr. Graham thought it necessary that something should be done as soon as possible. After some further discussion the report was adopted, whereupon the Wardsman immediately handed in the following,—“ As Wardsman and Matron of above institution we respectfully request you to accept our resignation. A. and E. Chbisp.” The resignation was accepted, with a month’s notice. It was resolved to immediately call for applications for a married couple for the position of Matron and Wardsman, applications to be in by June Bth. The Treasurer said that Dr. Grabham had promised to send them a trained nurse in the course of the next six months. Dr. Pollen, in testifying to the able and efficient manner in which the matron had performed her duties, said that, as for the Wardsman, Mr. Chrisp, he seldom saw him, and could only suppose that the outside duties and grounds engaged all his attention. (Loud laughter.) Nearly all the Committee endorsed the above: one remarking that anything in the shape of work was most offensive to Mr. Chrisp. The whole cordially testified to the usefulness and energy displayed on all occasions by Mrs. Chrisp. Funds. The Treasurer called attention to the necessity which existed for collecting subscriptions. Unless something was done they would not be able to pay all the accounts. Mr. McKay said some effort should be made. Mr. Nolan would be answerable for collecting two guineas, but no more. Mr. Graham suggested that the annual subscriptions should be collected. Mr. McKay said he was about to apply to the County Council for its annual donation. Mr. Nolan informed the meeting that the Registrar had returned the mortgage upon which the last portion of the Barker-McDonald endowment had been lent. There seemed to be some doubt as to the power of the native to deal in the matter. The meeting then rose.