Our Hospital

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 272, 23 April 1914, Page 6

Our Hospital

CHAJitjiAi\ .3 Aa\ a AL IIKPOitT

At the annual meeting of tiie Taranaiii iauopiuiu uuu Aid lioard yusteruiij, lnu uuairuiun (-'if. i\ J. Jieiiruiger; submitted liis annual .report as lollows: —

NEW HOSPITAL. In my last report I fully explained the plans and speoincations lor ilie new liospuai. seven tenders were received lor tlie ereciion oi ti.o building, that of Alessrs. levor .bios., 01 Wellington, for H'Z6,tiob, ueiiig nudity aceepled, and the work is now proeeeuuig as expeditiously as possiDle. 'ilie accepted tender is somewhat lower than tho estimate submitted by tlie architects, and I have every reason to believe that the building will be erected and furnished within tho original estimate of £33,000. Some of the contributory local, authorities have made the necessary arrangements to meet the amount of the levy made upon them for this work, but others liave not yet done so. As progress payments amounting to £3200 Have already oeen made it is essential that those local bodies, who have not yet done so, should make immediate arrangements to meet their liability to the board. Only two of the contributory local authorities have made payments on account of tho building levy and the consequence is that the board has had to make the progress payments out of overdraft. If there were any doubts as to the necessity for the erection of the new hospital they should be completely set at rest by the various reports which have been received from tlje medical staff from time to time during the year. The following are a few extracts from the reports in question;— Dr. Walker reported in June, 1913: "The hospital is now full, and extra beds have been placed in four out of the five wards. Only necessitous cases are being at present admitted, and several cases which in the usual courso would have been received have had to be declined." Mr. Wylie reported in July, 1913: "The number of admissions is the largest of any individual month within the recollection of the matron, and the hospital has again had its capacity taxed to the uttermost." Mr. Wylie reported in August, 1913: "The hospital has again been very _full, and on more than one occasion during the month the accommodation has been taxed to the uttermost and the wards uncomfortably full," Dr. Walker reported in September, 1913: "Another busy month has to be reported, with a high average number of patients under treatment. As a result the wards have boon more or less overcrowded and the stnff has been fully occupied." Dr. Walker reported in October, 1913: "The hospital has been very full during the month, and considerable difficulty has been experienced in meeting necessary work with lack of accommodation and facilities."

MEDICAL STAFF. There have been no changes in the personnel of the medical staff during the period under review. The staff is as follows: —Medical superintendent, Dr. Wa,lker; assistant superintendent, Mr. Wylie, F.R.G.S.; ratliooranhor. Dr. Leathaih. Mr. Hall lias artrd for Dr. Leatham during his absence from the Dominion. NURSING STAFF. Miss Browne, who has been in charge 1 of the hospital during the past 17 years, still retains control, and has under her one sub-matron, 6 sisters, 3 charge nurses, and 16 probationers. Tho. number ol nurses trained in our hospital is increasing yearly. During the year 6 probationers were appointed and 3 were admitted to registration as certilicated nurses. The training by the matron and the course of lectures delivered by the medical staff has resulted in increased efficiency in the nursing staff, and is entirely in the interest of the board. The question of having a uniform scale of salaries for hospital probationers and staff nurses in the primary hospitals will in the near future engage the attention of boards. The present system of each board fixing its own scale of salaries does not in all cases deal justly with the nursing profession. The total number of patients under treatment for the year was 584 (353 males and 231 females), an increase of 85 on the previous year. The individual average stay of patients was 29.16 days, compared with 31.10 days the previous year, and the daily average number of patients was 46.62 against 42.59. The daily average cost per patient was 6s 9Jd, as compared with tho previous year of 7s 4d. Owing jto the large number of patients and the overtaxing of the accommodation the work of the nursing staff was even greater than that of the previous year. OLD PEOPLE'S HOME. Mrs. Bayly is still in charge of the home, with Dr. Home as medical officer. At the beginning of the year there were 38 inmates, during the year 30 were admitted, 20 left the institution, 15 died, and 33 remained at the end of the year. Tho individual average stay

was 189.76 days, the daily average was 35.34 inmates, and the collective days were 12,904. The daily average cost per inmate in the home was 2s 4Jd, as compared with 2s 2d the previous year. The total expenditure at the home for the year amounted to £1536 18s 9d, against which the sum of £777 Is 7d was collected from old age pensions' contributions by friends of the inmates and refunds from the Stratford and Hawera boards. The farming operations at the home are still in charge of Mr. W. Sadler, and as shown by the accounts has proved as successful this year as in the past. The farm not only gives the more able-bodies of the inmates a healthy occupation, but the profits are sufficient to provide the interest on the cost of the land and to leave, a margin to go towards the maintenance of the home itself.

SUPPLIES TO HOSPITAL AND OLD PEOPLE'S HOME.

During the year the various contractors have carried out their contracts in an entirely satisfactory _ manner. Per the purpose of comparison I set out the quantities of the principal items for the current year and tor the previous year:

Milk supplied from the Home farm, current year 10,883 gallons, previous year 7635 gallons.

CHARITABLE AID. It speaks well for the prosperity of the district that the distribution of charitable aid has again been so small. Several temporary cases have been relieved during the year. At the present time rent is being paid for one case at Opunake, one at Inglevvood, and provisions are being supplied in one case in New Plymouth, at a total cost of 2 Is per week. DESTITUTE CHILDREN. We havo at present four destitute children boarded out under tho board's eare at New Plymouth ns against six for tho previous year. We have also to provide for the maintenance of one child in tho Industrial School and one in the Blind Asylum in Auckland. The system adopted by tho board and referred to in a previous report whereby good homes have been provided for destitute children at no cost to the board is still being continued. I am moro than ever satisfied that the system is a good one and that the'groat majority of these children will grow up to be good citizens and useful members of the community.

MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.

During the past year the department initiated a system of medical inspection of school children, and from reports received a greater number of children require treatment than was anticipated. I trust that this work will bo continued in a systematic manner, for the health of the children is of tho first importance to the community.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES. One hundred and eleven cases of infectious diseases were reported to the office during the year, as against 60 caaes for the previous year: Enteric

fliver 11, diphtheria 0, scarlet fever 24, chicken pox 43, tuberculosis 13, infantile paralysis 8, puerperal fever 6—• total 111. Medical practitioners generally have been prompt in their notification of cases, and no neglect to comply with the requirements of the Public Health Act in this particular has come under the notice of the board during tho year. Immediate attention 1 has been paid by the Health Inspector to all notifications received, tho necessary disinfections being made as soon as each particular case permitted. The most serious outbreak of infectious diseases took place in tho St. Aubyn district, whore eight cases of enteric fever were removed to the Hospital. Prompt measures v?cre taken by the New Plymouth Borough Council, tho local authority concerned, to remedy conditions in tho locality which might lead to the spread of the disease. Improved conditions have been introduced for the removal of nightsoil both in the St. Aubyn and Fitzroy districts, and I understand that the council will shortly consider a scheme for the extension of the sewers to both these districts. Mr. Kendall performed the duties of Health Inspector in an efficient manner until December 31 last, when hj" was temporarily relieved of his duties in order to act for the board as clerk of works for the new hospital, in which position he is also giving every satisfaction. Mr. Sinclair acted as Health Inspector (luring January and February last until the appointment of Mr. Fielder on March 6.

ANNEXE FOR CONSUMPTIVES

Out of the thirteon cases of tuber-' culosis notified only ton eases wero treated in the annexe. Tho Medical Superintendent recommends that, pending tho erection of tho new hospital, the annexe should be used as an auxiliary to tho general hospital, thus to some small extent relieving tho congestion there. This matter will require your immediate attention. j

SALE OF FOOD AND DRUGS. Tho supervision of food supplies has received tho continuous attention of the Health Inspectors throughout thy year, and quantities of foodstuii's havo been seized from time to tinny as unfit for human consumption and destroyed under the provisions of the Public Health Act.

BACKBLOCK NURSES.

Uruti.—Nurse Kelly, who reliever! Nurse Kennedy in July, 1912. resigned her position on March 16, 1914. Nurse Weaver was then appointed, but, not finding tho position what she anticipated, resigned as from the 18th of the present month. At present we have no one in view to take up the position. The duties of a nurse for the Lackblocks "calls for a considerable amount of ,'lf-siicrifiee on the part of tho n:: \ and I feel that we will have

;.iie difficulty in suitably Idling the position. Uruti has now'a nurse's cottage with ward accommodation attached for two The cost of land, huilding, and furniture amounted to £402 16s lOd, the settlers contributing tho greater portion of this sum. Opunake.—Tho County of Egmont Nursing Association having taken the matter in hand and guaranteed her salary, the board has appointed a district nurse (Nurse M'Kinven) for Opunake. The nurse took up her duties towards the end of the year, and should he of great assistance to tho people of the district. From the enterprise and energy displayed by the residents of Opunake on the occasion of the visit of the Inspector-General of Hospitals and myself, I feel Bure that a cottage hospital suitable for the work of tbis

muse will soon be erected. The distance of the headquarters of these nurses from the mam hospital fully warrants tlie appointments and will prove a great boon to the settlors in the districts in question. The settlers have proved their interest in the scheme by the substantial contributions they have made and are making, 'i'he thanks of the board are due to all those who have assisted in the promotion of this scheme, more especially to Mrs. Larson and Mr. Old (secretary and chairman respectively of the Uruti Committee), and Mr. Maclleynolds (secretary of Egmont Nursing Association). This excellent system of nursing is appealing to other parts of the province, and another application for a nurse has been received from the settlers of the Mokau and Awakino districts, and providing that satisfactory arrangements can be made with the department in regard to receiving patients from part of this district, which is under the control of the Waikato Hospital Bsard. the request Rhould receive your favourable consideration, for undoubtedly the conditions prevailing are not as satisfactory as one would wish.

. NATIVE NURSE. I referred iu my last report to the greater interest which the Natives are now taking in the health of their race and to the influential deputation headed by Rua Bishop and the Rev. Mr. Hammond, which waited upon the board. Since then a Native nurse (Miss Muir) has been appointed by the Health Department, who pays her salary, the board providing all incidental expenses. The nurse lias been very busy, and the nature of her reports shows that the appointment was made none too soon, and that her services are much appreciated by the Natives.

FINANCE. Tho statement of receipts and expenditure show that tho hoard had a debit balance at the Hank of Xc\v South Wales on March 31, 1013, of £785 4s 2d, but subsidy from Government owing was £B3O 2s lid. thus leaving a credit balance of £•!•! 18s Od. and against this were March accounts owing £1244 7s 9d, outstanding accounts, sav. £4OO 0s Id, the approximate dobii being £lOl4 7s lOd on March'Hl, 1!)1.1. The receipts for 1913-14 were £11,112 12s lid. Of this patients' payments received amounted lo .''231)5 19s 3d, the average per paiient being £3 19s as against £-1 last vear and £4 2s the year before. Donations fur the year were £4OO, as against £260 last year. The expenditure for the year was £9780 10s 2d: ITospi'al £6266 14s lid, home £1530 18s 9d. charitable aid £499 6s, farm COM2 15s lid. health £279 13s 9d. Urnti TTosoital £"> os 6s lOd. On March 31, 1914. the. board's balance nt tho bank wes a credit of £546 12s 7d : subsidy owing, £6-'-' *; total credit £1.190 12s 7d; but against this are March accnurils and outstanding accounts £IOSO. thus leaving a small credit of £l4O 12s 7d.

ESTIMATES FOR THE COMING 1

YEAR

A staten)«!il of I he estimated receipts 'and expenditure for the coming year,', as prepared hv the secretary, are sub-, mitted herewith. The total receipts are estimated at £10.240. and the total expenditure at £10,750. leaving an estimated deficiency of £514. It. will be noticed that in the estimated ljpceipts tho lew is calculated at a shilling in tho £IOO. This lew will, even at a Is, produce onlv £3206. barely sufficient to pay the salaries of the 53 employees of the board, which amount to £9267, In

addition, it must bo .borne in mind that i the board, in October, 1915, have to provide £2OOO to pay off the mortgage\ on the Old People's Home property. v Under the circumstances 1 would strongly recommend that the levy should remain at Is; any reduction in the lev; would mean financial embarrassment to the board at a later period.

THANKS.

I have again the pleasure of ptticing _ on record my appreciation of the man- jt. ner in which the board's staff hare discharged their duties. The secretary (Mr. C. M. Lcpper) has displayed th* greatest energy and enthusiasm in his work, and his wide experience of hospital administration has proved a valuable aid to the board and to myself during the year. The medical staff, th« matron and her staff, and the matron of the Old People's Home have all rendered good and faithful service, and have shown the utmost devotion in their attention to the patients and to th« institutions.

Finally, I wish to again placo oil record my appreciation of the very valuable assistance rendered to the board by the Inspector-General of Hospitals, Dr. Valintine. and my thanks for th© un« failing courtesy and support which has been- extended to me throughout my term of office by the members of th* board and for the manner in which they have devoted themselves to the consideration of the numerous matters which have claimed their attention.

Current Previous Year. Year. Tonscwt, qr. lb. Tonscwt. qr. lb. Meat ... 12 0 2 12 8 11 2 5 Butter 2 2 3 20 1 13 2 27 Bread... 11 10 0 22 9 1 1 0 Potatoes 8 11 3 13 6 15 3 19 Eggs .... 1507 dozen 1164 dozen