MASTERTON HOSPITAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8468, 19 June 1907, Page 5

MASTERTON HOSPITAL.

ANNUAL REPORT OF I TRUSTEES. I The following is the annual report of the Masterton Hospital Trustees for the year ended March 31st, 1907; The Financial Statement this year will be found mora interesting than usual owing to the expenditure that has hid to be incurred on new buildings. The grants made by the District Board for this purpose have extended over a number of years. At first it was proposed to renew the Hospital by a process of re-building, and in March, 1901, the Board voted £I,OOO for a new Ward, and .£2OO for outbuildings and drainage. In the following year a further sum of .£SOO was voted. Subsequently new buildings on an entirely new site were resolved upon, and £2,800 has since been voted, bringing up the total amount to £4,500. Of this, however, the local bodies contribute only £2,250, a corresponding amount being Government subsidy paid out of Consolidated Revenue. The Government grants amount to £2,000. This, to- \ gether with the money contributed by the public, and the proceeds of the Floral Fete and other entertainments will, it is hoped, cover the outlay required in connection with the new structure. Several designs of the proposed buildings, prepared by Messrs Crichton and McKay, architects, were submitted to the Trustees, and, after examination by the Departmental and medical experts, plans were selected and adopted of a Hospital which, it is believed, will prove the most thoroughly up-to-date in the colony. Tenders were then invited, and out of five received, that of Messrs Coradine and Whittaker, at £8.233, was accented;; the otheis ranged from £9,234 "to £11,171. Good progress has been made with the contract, the buildings are approaching completion, and the new Hospital, suitably equipped, will shortly be opened. Although the cost of the undertaking is unavoidably heavy, every care has been taken tc keep clown expenditure as far as practicable. The Masterton St. John's Ambulance Corps having raised nearly £IOO by subscription and otherwise, i on which the usual subsidy is payable, steps have been taken to procure from the manufactures an Ambulance Brougham of the latest and best design. Increase of population is producing an increase of patients. The number treated this" year is 191, an increase of 33 over 1905-06, and 75 over 1904-05. That economy in the management is being practised is proved by the reduction made in the average daily cost per patient from 5s 7fd to 5s 3d. Following a wise reform that is being carried out in various hospitals in the colony, the time on duty for nurses has been reduced, the eight hours system being adopted. Arrangements have been made for giving probationers the training and lectures necessary to enable them to pass their examinations and obtain certificates and registration as nurses. In December last, the Local Bodies contributing to the funds of the Hospital appointed Messrs J. C. Ewington, Wm. Fisher, Walter Harris, Thos. Hodgins, M. J. H. Jackson, J. B. Keith and F. W. H. Kumrner, as their representatives on the Trust. The voluntary contributors re-elected Messrs A. W. Hogg, M.H.R., and J. A. Renall Trustees at the statutory meeting in January. Mr Hogg was re-elected Chairman. Following are particulars as to patients treated at the Hospital: —Number under treatment at beginning of year, 1906-7, 9; 1905-6, 1?. Admitted during vear, 19067, IS-2; ,1905-6, 146. Total treated, 1906-7 finales 131, females 60), 191; 1905-6, 158. Discharged—Cured or relieved, 1906-7, IG4, 1905-6. 134; deaths, 1906-7, 14, 1905-6, 15. Totals. 1906-7, 178; 1905-6. 149. Remaining at end of year, 1906-7, 13; 1905-6, 9. Total collective days stay in Hospital, 1906-7, 5,053; 1905-6, 4,432. Individual average stay in Plospital, 1906-7, 26.87; 1905-6, 28.8. Daily average cost per patient, 1906-7, *ss 3d: 1905-6, 5s 7|d. Localities from which patients came (1906-07)—Masterton 99, Suburbs 15, Mauriceville 7. Eketahuna 6, Alfredton 9, Pahiatua 3, Dannevirke 3, Carterton 5. Wairarapa South County 6, East Coast 11, Tinui District 5, Brancepeth and Te Parae 8, Taueru and Blairlogie 4, Wellington 2, Auckland 1. Christchurch 1, Picton 1, Sydney 1, Queensland 2, Feilding 1, Featherston 1. Birthplace— New Zealand 86. England 45, Ireland 19, Scotland 14, Australia 7, Germany 5. Denmark 2, Wales 3, New South Wales 3. Victoria 4, Tasmania 1, Queensland 1, America 1. Religion Church of England 81, Roman Catholic 42, Presbyterian 30, Wesleyan 20. Salvation Army 5, Lutheran 4. Methodist 3, Baptist 1, Plymouth Brethren 1, Seventh Rule of Jehovah 1. Nil 3.