HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 July 1938, Page 7

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

MEETING OF WAIRARAPA BOARD. FINANCIAL AND OTHER REPORTS. The chairman, Mr H. H. Mawley, presided at the monthly meeting of the Wairarapa Hospital Board, held this morning. Others present were: Messrs F. E. Bolton, I. McLeod, F. Court, D. McGregor, W. I. Armstrong, W. Thomas, W. Britland, C. T. Richardson, A. Forsberg, Arch Clark, W. B. Martin, P. R. Welch, J. F. Thompson and Trevor Beetham, Misses H. Card, E. McKenny, Mesdames S. Fletcher and J. Robertson. The return of patients at the institutions controlled by the board for June was as follows, the figures for the corresponding month'last year being given in parentheses:— Masterton Hospital: In hospital on May 31, 124 (130); admitted during month, 109 (118); total under treatment, 233 (248); discharged during month, 120 (114); in hospital on June 30, 113 (134); daily average, 118.5 (134.9). Greytown Hospital: In hospital on May 31, 25 (13); admitted during June, 44 (29); total under treatment, 69 (42); discharged during month, 45 (30); in hospital on June 30, 24 (12); daily average, 24.2. There were 54 inmates in the Buchanan Home at the end of June as compared with 53 last year. Pahiatua Hospital: In hospital on May 31, 16 (16); admitted during month, 22 (18); total under treatment, 38 (34); discharged during month, 22 (16); in hospital on June 30, 16 (18); daily average, 15 (18). Routine staff matters were dealt with by the Matron of the Masterton Hospital in her monthly report. The maximum number of diphtheria cases during June had been 19. The Matron of the Greytown Hospital reported that on June 18 Mrs Lowel and Miss Card brought a party of children from Featherston and entertained the patients, of Buchanan Home to tea and with a concert. The St Vincent de Paul Society, Masterton, visited the Buchanan Home on June 20 and entertained the patients with a concert and left cakes for the next day’s afternoon tea. The Masterton League of Mothers visited the Buchanan Home on June 23 and entertained the patients at afternoon tea and with a concert. The entertainments and teas brightened the lives of the old people and were much appreciated by all. Reporting on the financial position of ’ the board, the managing-secretary (Mr Norman Lee) stated that for the period April 1 to June 30 expenditure was £2416 16s 5d in excess of receipts. The bank overdraft was £1517 8s sd. The proportionate amount of local contributing authorities levies for maintenance and subsidy for the period under review was £11,294 and of that amount, £7590 17s 7d had been received, leaving a balance of £3703 2s 5d unpaid. Levies from three local bodies were outstanding. Patients’ fees collected for the period were as follow, the corresponding figures for last year being given in parentheses: Masterton Hospital, £1053 (£1033); Greytown Hospital, £1097 (£973); Pahiatua Hospital, £284 (£302); other hospitals, £77 (£76); District Nurse, £3O (£l6). So far as hospital maintenance was concerned, actual expenditure was equivalent to or lower than the amount estimated. The costs for the present year were high in comparison with the previous year but that was anticipated when the estimates were being prepared. The position, however, would improve as the year advanced as some items of expenditure represented annual payments.