TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 May 1919, Page 7

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

CHAIRMAN'S ANNUAL REPORT. |At the monthly meeting of the Hospital Board pa Wednesday Mr. M. Fraser (chairman) submitted a summary of the operations of the board for the twelve months ended March 31 last. Hospital.—The work at the hospital, he said, had been carried on smoothly and pleasantly, and complete harmony now existed between the board and the medical and nursing staff throughout year, notwithstanding the very trying period of the epidemic. All previous records as to the number of patients treated had been exceeded, the number for the year being 1732, as against 1170 for the previous year. This increase was accounted for, to a very great extent, by the outbreak of the influenza epidemic, and in this connection he acknowledged that the board was under the deepest obligation to all those who worked so willingly in fighting the disease. Regret was expressed at the death of three nurses and one hospital V.A.D.. who lost their lives in the exercise of their duties. Towards the end of the year the medical superintendent contracted an illness which necessitated his giving up work for a short time. Meanwhile, Dr. E. F. Fpokes, the assistantmedical superintendent, had been in charge of the hospital. After very extended negotiations, the new Nurses' Home is now in course of erection, and the board is to be congratulated on the very satisfactory arrangements made re the financing of this undertaking, and also on the reasonable price for which the contract was accepted. The chairman also stated that plans and estimates had been prepared and submitted for the Minister's approval, for the necessary alterations and up-to-date equipment of the laundry, and alao a properly constructed incinerator. This, he said, was a most necessary work, and it was anticipated that the new laundry would not only give entire satisfaction, but also result in a considerable rwjnrtion in the expense. The average daily cost per patient during the year was «8 9.7 d, as against 7s 3d last year. This reduction wjas accounted for by the closer supervision of the issuing of necessary stctfes, etc., fthe amount of stock carried over from the previous year, and the increased number of patients and voluntary workers. The total amount of patients' fees collected amounted to £0515 19s sd, which represented 47.1 per cent, of the total amount receivable for the year. Both the amounts collected anil the percentage were easily a record for the past seven years.

B&ngiatea Home.—The work at the hpme had been very satisfactory indeed. During the past year the important work in connection with this institution included the painting and general repair of the building. A sum of £350 was placed on the, estimates for the painting, a contract for the work bsing accepted for £3lB 15s, but a further sum of £l4l <is 2d had to be paid for repairs, making a total of £461 Is 2d. The number of inmates in the home on March 31 was: Males 35, females 8, total 43; total number of inmates during the year, 64; average number of occupied beds per day, 44.97. Considering that the total number of beds available is only 47, members would readily understand that the position needed serious consideration, and with this end in view a conference between the Taranaki, Stratford, and Hawera boards had been arranged. The total expenditure of the home was £2615 19s lOd, and the total including pensions, was £1877 15$ IQd.

Farm.—During the past year the operations at the term were carried out supceßef iilly under the supervision of Mr. J. Andrews (chairman of the farm committee), with Mr. Noble as manager. A cottage was removed from the site of th* new nurses' home to the farm, and was put into good order as a residence for the farm manager. A silo and, poultry house were also erected from the timber of another old building which had to be removed. The keeping of poultry was a new departure in farming operations, anil, bo far, appeared to warrant the hope that it would be a thorough success. The silo should fill a long-felt want in the feeding of cows for milk during the winter months. The manager reported that he now considered the supply of milk during these months was assured. The farm had supplied the institutions with all the milk required without having to purchase from outside sources, with the exception of during a very short period at the height of the influenza epidemic. In addition

to the supply of milk, the hospital and home received a large amount of poultry, eggs, and vegetables. In consequence of the growth of the board's institutions, and to obviate the necessity of purchasing milk from outside sources, the board decided upon acquiring more farming land, and, after lengthy negotiations, Mrs. Francis* property of 25 acres was seemed. It was certain that, with this additional land, the requirements of the board would be met for some years. During the year a gift of the owner's interest in a property of 257 acres, situated on the Mangorei Road, was given to the board, and it was hoped to sell this and apply the proceeds to capital expenditure. Office.—One of the difficulties that had troubled every member of the board during the year had been the inadequacy of the office, its discomfort to the staff, and the great danger of the loss of the books by. fire. After considerable inquiries and discussions as to site, ways and means, etc., it was finally decided to lease Mr. E. Griffith's suite of offices for a period of two years; meanwhile, inquiries are to be made with a view

to building a suite of offices in the town for the board's use. Finance.—On April 1, 1918, the board began with a debit balance of £4B 2s lid. The total expenditure for the year was £20,943 2s 2d. The total receipts were £18,740 17s 2d, leaving an apparent debit balance of £2,242 7s lid. As against this debit balance there was a sum of £1,829 13s 8d owing by way of Government subsidy, which reduced the balance to £412 14s 3d. It was also to be noted that an amount of £1,002 was actually due to the revenue account from the building account, which amount had been spent on capital expenditure previously, in anticipation of the building of the new nurses' home. Although 1 the finances of the board appeared to be

I somewhat strained, the committee was satisfied that when the amount still . outstanding on the epidemic account was received the position would be quite satisfactory. Fending the Minister's ■ consent, therefore, the amount of rate on the contributory local bodies had been struck the same as for last year, plus the specie,! rate of interest and sinking fund for the nurses' home. I Conclusion.—ln conclusion, the ehairt man said he had pleasure in placing on I record hia appreciation of the manner ) in which the whole of the board's staff ) bad discharged their duties during what

had been the most trying and strenuous time experienced since the inception of the hospital. He also expressed hia thanks for the unfailing courtesy and support which had been extended to him throughout his term of office by members of the board, and for the careful manner in which they ha 4 considered the numerous matters which claimed their attention. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the chairman for his report.