THE HOSPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1920, Page 4

THE HOSPITAL.

THE PAST YEAR'S WORK. A SPLENDID RECORD. The record of work done by the New, Plymouth Hospital for the year 1919 is a very creditable one, and shows that the medical and nursing staff lave been fully occupied during the. whole time, while those who have the control of the institution in their care hare not been ln« active.

The number of admissions was 1041, compared with 1690 for the previous year. The number of operations for the two periods was 572 and 008, while the deaths were 69 and 164. In comparing the figures for the two years, the influx enza epidemic of 1918 must not be forgotten. That acoounted for the large number of patients admitted to hospital during November and Decern* ber of that year, the figures being 428 and 167. The same scourge raised the death roll for the year, and in the same two months again the deaths in hospital were 89 (81 due to influen«a) and 3L The daily average number of patients is the hospital for 1919 was slightly over 89. No record of the year's work would M complete without reference to the) splendid work done by the medical ant nursing staff, to whom the best thank* of the community are due. The nurseel too, have done themselves and the hospl< tal credit in the matter of their examilt> ations. It may be mentioned that quit, a number of nurses sit for the hospital , and State examinations each six months, and that for more than tw4 years there has not been a failure! Though the nurses give the credit fot this to Dr. Leatham, who has coacheqt them, the result speaks well for thi manner in which they have applied the instruction given. ' The most important works undertake! by the Hospital Board during the yea* were the commencement of the erectio* of the new nurses' home, in which also h included a memorial hall for rereatfoS purposes, and the letting of a ooatwu* for the installation of the latest macfc* inery procurable for the equipment of the laundry. The Board has also extended its farm* ing operations during the year by lea* ing a further 25 acres of land almost on posite its own farm at Weatown, and this has proved of immense benefit it helping to keep up the milk production by which the hospital and the RaagtotS Home have been supplied. Work contemplated in the immedlat*. future includes the establishment of » cottage hospital at Opunake, which it |g expected will be proceeded with la tfcft course of a few keeks. The Board fcaa also under consideration the question <f using a .specially designed process for heating and cooking by steam. Another matter which is receiving the attention of the Board is that of muoh-needed *dditional accommodation for the Xw work. This department hat quite outgrown the provision made for it, and It|» hoped that when the new nurses* |toa» fe completed some of the space now oeett* pied by what is known as the domestfc block may become available for *M X-ray department,