THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1921, Page 3

THE PUBLIC HOSPITAL.

REVIEW OF YEAR'S WORK. ANNUAL REPORT BEFORE BOARD. . Matters in connection with the administration and general management of the New Plymouth Public Hospital are referred to by the secretary to the board (Mr. E. Holden) in the course of a report for the year ended March 31, which was presented at the monthly meeting yesterday. The report states, inter alia :*-Tlie internal administration has worked as smoothly as an institution of this nature could be expected to, and thanks and appreciation for the good results achieved ate due to the medical superintendent and i tire matron. / The nuiqber of patients admitted to hospital duiing the year was 1113—an increase of Mi over last year’s figures. The cost per day per occupied bed was Ils, being 1« 8d more than last year. The total cost of hospital maintenance during this period amounted to £17,614, an increase of £1677 over last year’s figures. the cost per patient being £l5 16s lid, as against £l5 Is b’d last year. The increase of salaries as compared with the previous year accounts for more than the increase In the cost per patient. The Increase in salaries amounted to £1063, whilst the Increase in cost per patient (viz., 1113 at 15s each), equals £834 15s. IT is means the gratifying fact that the actual cost of admin- . istration was less than last year, apart from salaries paid. Owing to various delays, which the board had no control over, the Installation of the steam system for heating and cooking, ’find steam machinery at the laundry Is not in working order yet. When it is realised that fuel, light, and water cost £1655 for the year, it need not be pointed out how urgent this matter is. Tte hospital building has now been In occupation for some five years, ana although much imoney has been spent on repairing defects, little has been spent on the general maintenance. I think the board would be wise in mapping out a programme of expenditure towards keeping the buildings in thorough repair. The old building also needs patching up adiy, and !s a gool example of not putting in a stitch in time. It Is false economy to let things gu too far before repairing them. Another position which must be provided for almost immediately, is adequate accommodation for the X-Ray department. I understand tha| infectious isolation wards are receiving the attention of the board. The laundry ought shortly to be on better lines than In the past, but before It Is too late I should like the hoard to consider the advisability of Installing a steam engine to drive the laundry maclrfnery. In preference to the proposed two electric motors. RANGIATEA HOME. The cost has increased gradually in most of the departments, and a certain proportion of tliis increase can be explained by the fact that for the last year or two, In consequence of the high cost, we have refrained from buying except absolutely necessary articles, with the natural consequence that a time came when we could hold but no longer, and had to replenish. Although we do not propose or claim to keep the home in a luxurious manner, yet we have aimed at giving the inmates something better than what would be found in a poor house, and from remarks which have been made to me, I believe that the inmates are getting better treatment than obtained at one time. The home was supplied with vegetables to the value of £55, and the grounds account of the home closes for. the year with a credit balance of £l6.

As tinted before, the board must be prepared for a heavier expenditure at c.he home for renewals than has keen the case during the past two or, three years. The most Important work needed at present is the painting of the inside of the building. THE BOARD’S FARM. In regard to the board’s fanm the report states: Farming operations show a debit balance for the year of £52, after crediting the farm for milk supplied at 2s per gallon, and debiting it with £lOO for Interest on capital Invested. Tie position really is that after allowing the interest on capital, the milk supplied to the hospital and home has cost the board approximately 2s Id per gallon. l This price is cheaper than the board could purchase from outside sources, and we have the satisfaction of knowing that the quality is beyond dispute. Taking the acreage as 70 acres, it Is Interesting to know that the total amount of milk produced works out at approximately 210 gallons per acre. I need scarcely point out ttat this result Is something for the board to be proud of. I am still of opinion that the board is losing money in attempting to supply its needs from the acreage under occupation. We got some 210 gallons of milk from each acre of land. When it is realised that the avef. age production per cow from the herds of the Dominion does not probably reach 420 gallons, it seems almost incredible that we have reached the quantity as stated. This has been done by the expenditure of £561 last I year in the purchase of artificial food. Vifs is the most expensive way of producing milk, and if we had a bigger farm, the manager ought to be able to produce more milk at a lesser cost than he is able to do under present conditions. There are other and equally good reasons in favour of a larger acreage. In view of the trouble the manager has had in tie past with getting suitable labor, 1 would suggest that he board .should consider. the installation of milking machines. The report refers in detail to the general management of the institution, and contains a number of suggestions for the consideration of the board. When the report was received a motion was carried thanking the secretary for the able manner in which he had presented tte statement of the board's affairs.