NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 268, 22 April 1915, Page 6

NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL.

A YEAR'S PROGRESS. REVIEW BY THE CHAIRMAN. The following review of the work of the New Plymouth Hospital during the 'past year was given By Mr. F. C. J. Bellringer (chairman of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board) at yesterday's meeting of the Board:— NEW HOSPITAL. In my last report it was set out that seven tenders hud been received for the erection of the new hospital, and that the tender of Messrs, Trevor Bros., of Wellington, amounting to £25,G34 ; had l)een accepted. The work is. now well under way and is expected to be completed within the next six months. Progress payments amounting to £18,989 lis Id have been made to date. As the architect is reporting fully in regard to the work effected it is unnecessary for ine to deal further witli the matter except to say that the InspectorGeneral of Hospitals (Dr. Valintine) visited the works on the 13th inst. and expressed himself well pleased with the progress made and with the completeness of the facilities provided. Most of the contributory local authorities aire paying their contributions fairly well, enabling the Board to meet its liabilities in due course.

' MEDICAL STAFF. There has been no permanent change in the personnel of the medical staff during the period under review. Dr. Home, the medical officer in charge of the Old (People's Home and charitable aid, joined the Expeditionary Force and is now on active service. Dr. Wade is acting as locum tenens for Dr. Home and has been most assiduous in carrying but his duties. Dr. Leatham, radiographer, returned from England and resumed his duties. Mr. F. W. Hall, who ably carried out these duties during Dr. Leatham's absence, has been appointed honorary radiographer. The staff is as follows: Medical superintendent, Dr. Walker; assistant, Mr. Wylic, F.R.C.S. (London); radiographer, Dr. Leatham. 'NURSING. Miss Browne, who has been in charge of the hospital for the past 18 years, still remains in eontrof, and has underlie one sub-matron (Sister Campbell, 15 years' service), four sisters, one charge nurse and 23 probationers. There have been considerable changes during the year, many of the nurses having retired after receiving their certificates. The difficulty in obtaining certificated nurses to fill the vacancies is rendered acute owing to so many nurses having gone to the war. Sisters Barnitt, Harris and Sisley to the front and Nurse Sinclair goes to Samoa. All these nurses have been trained in our insti- j tution. It is noticeable that there iias been a great falling-oil' in the number of those taking up the nursing profes-1 Bion and offering themselves for training as probationers. The salaries of the nurses have been adjusted during the year and now compare mare than favorably with other hospitals in the Dominion.

The total number of patients under treatment for the year was 708 (402 males and 300 females), last year there] were 584 patients, and the year before ■ 499 f showing that the admissions are j steadily increasing. The following statement sets out a comparison with others years in regard to stay of patients and the aTerage cost as at March 31 in each year referred to: < 1915 1914 1913 Individual average daily stay of patients, days ..., 27.57 29.16 31.10 Daily average Mo. of patients 53.49 40,65 42.59 Daily average cost per patient 6/5J 0/9J 7/4 Patients' payments' per day 2/10J 2/8f 2/6J The larger number of patients shows how inadequate the present hospital is, and the nursing staff has had a more strenuous year than ever, for this-rea-son emergency nurrM have had to be engaged from time ',<> time. Owing to this large increase some difficulty has been experienced by th» medical staff im giving the necessary lectures to probationers, and it is now proposed to appoint an official lecturer or lecturers. OLD PEOPLE'S HOME. Mrs. Bayly is still in charge of the Home, and Dr. Wade is relieving Dr. | Home as medical officer. At the beginning of the year there were.33 inmates; during the year 35 were admitted, 14 died and 21 left the institution, S3 remaining on March 31, 1915. The individual average stay was 188.91 days, against 189.76 (1913-1914). The collective days were 12,846; last year 12,904. The average cost per inmate per day was 2s as against 2s 4 J / a d last year. Patients' payments per day were Is 3%d; last year Is 2VJd. The total expenditure of the home was £1517 ss, compared with £1530 18s 9d for last .year. The sum of £B4B 19s was received from inmates, being old age pensions, friends and refunds from Stratford and Hawera Boards, as against £777 U 7d for the previous year. FARM. The farming operations are still in charge of Mr. VT. Sadler, and as shown by the accounts the year has again been a successful one, inasmuch as after providing for the interast en the land, wages, etc., a small profit is shown. The wages bill has been small, owing to the fact that suck of thn inmates as are able give what assistance they can. SUPPLIES TO HOSPITAL. During the year the contractors have carried eut their contracts in a satisfactory manner. In a few instances an allowance has been made owing to the

•price of goods having risen on account i of the war. For the purpose of comparison I set out the quantities of the items for this year and the previous year. 1914-1915 19KM914 | ' Tons cwt. qr. lb. Torn* cwt qr lb I Meat .. 9 10 2 31 12 I) 2 12' I'.utter ..2 3 3 25 22 3 20 Bread and ! Flour 12 lfl 3 12 11 10 0 22, Potatoes 7 12 2 7 811 3 13 Eggs 1872 doz. :507d0z. MilK supplied from farm 11,375 gal. 10.853 gal. CONTRACTS. In view of the unsettled state of the prices of foodstuffs owing to the European war the contracts for this year have been continued with last year's contractors instead of inviting fresh tenders. There lias been little change : n the prices; spirits and fuel are the same; bread has risen from l%d per lb to 2d; meat, 4%d .to S'/jd. In regard to groceries the prices are the same as last year except in the case of a few lines affected by the war. All contracts are liable to be terminated by one month's notice on either side.

CHARITABLE AID. It is extremely satisfactory to note that charitable aid has again been small, showing plainly that there has been very little, distress in the district. Several temporary cases have been relieved. At present rations are being paid at Inglewood amounting to: Provisions 25s and rent lis fid. Some of these cases are only till the widows' pensions are arranged for; rent in Waitara 10s, and one in Opunake 10s.

DESTITUTE CHILDREN. We have under the care of the Board four children, the same number as at March 31, 1914, three of these are paid for by the Stratford Hospital Board, and the other having been born in Wellington is a charge on that Board. The Board is also providing for the maintenance of one child in an industrial school in Auckland. Although the Board has found a good home for the child in New Plymouth, the Education Department prefer to have her under their control; also a child in the Blind Institute, but as the father is in a position to pay, the Board declines to recognise the accounts sent by the Education Department. The system adopted by this Board of boarding out destitute children still continues, and the result speaks for itself, as the children are all growing up to be good and useful members of the community. INFECTIOUS DISEASE., One hundred and six cases of infectious disease have been reported to the office during the year, against ill last vear,' including: Enteric fever 9 (11 iii 1913-14); diphtheria, 19 (6); scarlet fever, 21 (24); chickenpox, 38 (■43); tuberculosis, 5 (13); infantile paralysis, 1 (8); puerpecal fever; 1 (6): hydatids, 2 (0); cerebro-spinal fever, 4 (0); anterior poliomyelities, 6 (0). There have been several changes in the personnel of the inspecting officers. During Mr. Kendall's absence at the new hospital "as clerk of works, Mr. Sinclair .acted for a short period. He was followed by Mr. Fielder, who acted until the end of July, since when the secretary has carriecT-out the duties, Mr. Kendall having given valuable assistance. The medical practitioners have, as a rule, been prompt in notifying cases and the requirements of the Public Health Act have been complied with. Immediate attention has been paid by the health inspectors to all disinfections except chickenpox, which is practically not notifiable since the smallpox scare has disappeared.

Tho most serious outbreak lia3 been that of diphtheria in the Waitara district, and assumed serious proportions, 10 cases having been notified. The services of the Health Department wer,e requisitioned by the Board to assist tho local health inspector. Only one death occurred: no medical man attended this <mse. There is no doubt the business part of Waitara requires a proper drainage system, and the Health Department, who are cognisant of the fact, should take stops to insist on the proper authorities attending to this matter at once.

Whilst dealing with the question of infectious diseases, there is a matter to which I wish to direct pointed attention. Whilst the Health Department apparently has power to prevent any person suffering from any infectious or contagious disease from serving in a hairdressing saloon, there is apparently no power to prevent a person suffering from any such disease from acting as a teacher in a public school where the risk of spreading the disease is certainly much greater. The matter is one which calls for the attention of the Department. SALE OF FOODS AND DRUGS. The supervision of milk vendors has received the attention of the inspectors, and several have been fined for watering milk. Other food vendors have been warned that they must oompiy with the Public Health Act.

URUTI NURSE. Nurse Sullivan was appointed on May 28 and resigned on July 9, when Mrs. Longley was appointed, and has given satisfaction. The cottage is now connected with tho local office by telephone. This has proved very convenient during the day, but when- the local office is closed it is difficult to find anyone to open the office to get into communication with New Plymouth. The difficulty could be overcome if when the office at Uruti closed the telephone at the cottage hospital could ba switched on to New Plymouth. This is objected to by the Telephone Department, as they advise that the wire is overloaded, and that representation should be made to the head office at Wellington. CAPE EG MONT DISTRICT ' NURSE. ciation has been in existence good work has been done. Owing to the difficulty in obtaining a suitable site the proposed cottage hospital has not yet been erected, but I trust that this will be done in the near future. The settlers take

a great interest in this work, which is proved by their substantial contributions. Miss McKinvcn was the first nurse appointed, but only remained a .short time. Nurse Sullivan ac.te.l as ■•plicving nurse until the appointment of N'urse Kelly on August 7, 11)14. The atter is still in charge, and fro::i reorts is doing splendid work.

MOKAU NURSE. The residents of Mokau during the Year took up the nursing scheme very keenly, Nurse Roberts was appointed on July 22, 1914, and resigned on November 21. So«far no suitable nurse has been procurable to take her place. The thanks of the Board and ratepayers are due to the committees in the different centres referred to for the great interest they have taken in the work. Special nuntion must be made of the work of Mrs. Larson and Mr. Old, secretary and chairman respectively of the Uruti committee; Mr. Macßeynolds, secretary of the Cape Egmont Nursing Association, and Mr. Jacob (chairman) and Mr. Carr (secretary) of the Mokau-Awakino Association, besides many others too numerous to mention. The duties of the nurses in these outlying centres call for a considerable amount of self-sacri-fice on the part of the nurse, and it has been found difficult to obtain suitable nurses to fill the positions.

NATIVE NURSE. Nurse Muir was appointed by the Government as native health nurse, they paying her salary and the Board her incidental expenses. Her services were, from report, much appreciated. She. however, resigned in October, and since then, although the Department has been asked to fill the vacancy, no suitable nurse has been found. As the natives live within a very short distance of the main road and a doctor and dentist visit as far as Eahotu weekly and many of the natives have their own motor-cars they arc within easy reach of the main institution. The position, therefore, is not as bad as it looks at first sight.

FINANCE. Full details of the receipts and expenditure for the year will' be submitted to you by the secretary, so that it is not necessary that I should deal at any length with this matter. We began the year with a credit balance of £546 12s 7d. The receipts amounted to £ll,llß 19s 2d, and the total expenditure to £0459 lis 2d leaving a credit balance at the end of the year of £2201) Os Id. In regard to the receipts it is interesting to note that payments from patients amounted to £'2874 12s lid, as against £2305 19s 3d for the preceding year. The average amount received from each patient was £4 is 3d, against £3 19s, the average for last last year. Although this compares more than favorab'.y with the average received per patient at any other hospital in the Dominion, it must not on the other hand be overlooked that it costs the Board no less than 3s 6%d per day per patient over and above the amounts received from the patients. Donations for the year amounted to £'247 13s 4d, the greater proportion of this beihg contributions made by the settlers towards the salaries of the district nurses. The total expenditure was made up as follows: Jiospital, £<1314 19s lid; home, £1517 as; charitable aid, £409 Is 8d; public health, £143 Is 6d; Uruti nurse, £l6B 6s; Cape Egmont District Association, £230 7s Id; Opnake native nurse, £44 2s 3d; Mokau nurse. £SO: farm, £578 8s 9d; total, £9459 lis 2d. ESTIMATES FOR COMING YEAH. A statement of the approximate estimated receipts and expenditure for the coming year is submitted herewith. The total receipts are estimated at: Credit balance bank, £2208; subsidy on contributions paid, £800; total £3008; maintenance, £I9OO, X-ray, £3O; donations, £150; rents, £2O; refund pensions, £450; Stratford and Hawera Boards, £110; board's children, £00; farm sales!, £SO; land agents' liencse fees, £9O; miscellaneous, £57 8s 7d; total, £5933 8s 7d; Is rate, £3700 9s; subsidy at 19s 9d, £3060 2s Sd; total, £13,'350. Expenditure:—Land 0.P.H., £2600; painting 0.P.H., £150; hospital, £7000; O.P. Home, £1500; C. aid, £500; farm, £400; health, £200; accounts to pay, £1000; total, £13,350. You will notice in the estimated receipts the levy is calculated at a Is in the £IOO, the amount collected from the local bodies £3706, and the amount paid in salaries £3504 16s 2d —a very small amount when we consider that the number of employees ij about 60. Notwithstanding that the amounts for last year show that the receipts amounted to £1659 8s more than the expenditure, I am unable to recommend any reduction in the levy. During the coming year we will have several fairly heavy special calls to meet, the principal being the removal qf the, Nurses' Home, which will probably amouni' to £ISOO. It is also quite probable that the special building fund may not be sufficient to provide the whole of the | expenditure necessary to furnish the

new hospital, and a very heavy call may thus be made upon the general funds of the board.

Under the circumstances, therefore, any reduction in the levy would, in my opinion, result in financial embarrrassment to the board. Even in the ordinary working of the different institutions unexpected expenditure, as you are aware, often arises, and in view of the fact that it is illegal for hospital boards to have overdrafts the AuditorGeneral takes more than usual interest in the board's account at the end of each year.

THANKS. In conclusion, I desire to place on record my appreciation of. the very valuable assistance rendered by the Inspce-, tor-General of Hospitals (Dr. Valintine). His assistance and advice have been invaluable, and in all his dealings with the board he has shown the utmost courtesy. I aiso wish to express my appreciation of the good work performed by the board's officials and staff during the year. The thanks of the hoard are due to the medical staff, th«. matron and her staff, and to the matron of the Old People's Homo for their unremitting attention to the patients and to the institution. I have also to congratulate the assistant medical superintendent, Mr. Wylie, on being offered the position of major at the Stationary Hospital at the front, which has been offered by the New Zealand Government to the Imperial authorities. Personally, I consider the department fortunate in having a man of Mr. Wylie's attainments and experiences willing to accept the position. His absence will be veiy much felt in New Plymouth and the surrounding districts. It is with great pleasure that I aeain note the excellent manner 'in which your secretary (Mr. C. M. Lonper) has at all times discharged his various duties. Whilst the affairg of the board are administered by sue'painstaking and careful officials I feel sure that the hospital must continue to give satisfaction, and to maintain the high standard it has attained amongst the hospitals of the Dominion. Lastly, I desire to tender my personal thanks to my colleagues on the board for the uniform courtesy and consideration which I have received from them. x It has been a pleasure to preside over their deliberations. Naturally, we have not always been unanimous, but differing opinions have been advocated temperately and fairly, and there has been an entire absence of any personal ill-feeling, and in this connection I feel sure that the past year is one to which both myself and the members may lool< back v'th feelings 0/ both pleasure and satisfaction.

FARM.. During the year sixteen cows were milked, four sold, and just prior to the end of the year three were purchased, and are included in the total of sixteen cows above referred to. Only nine, therefore, were milked throughout the year, and these gave a total of 9805 gallons 41b', which at Is per gallon (less than the market price) works out at £490 5s 4d, an average of £54 9s fld per cow. The other seven eows, of which three were strippers, were only milked for a short period, amounting to twenty-four months in all. The total yield from these seven cow for the period was 1509 gallons filb, at In per gallon, amounting to £7B 9a 7d, or an average of £ll 4s 2d per cowl The hospital was supplied with 60f13 gallons at Is, £348 3s; the home, 4412 gallons at Is £220 12s; total, £S«B 15a. which will compare favorably with any farm in the Dominion.