HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 August 1938, Page 7

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

MEETING OF WAIRARAPA BOARD. RETURN OF PATIENTS. 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, J. F. Thompson, F. Court, W. Britland, W. B. Martin, W. I. Armstrong, W. Thomas, C. T. Richardson, A. Forsberg, D. McGregor, Trevor Beetham, Arch. Clark, P. R. Welch, Mesdames J. Robertson, S. Fletcher and Miss H. Card. The return of patients at the institutions controlled by the board for July was as follows, the figures for the corresponding month last year .being given in parentheses:— Masterton Hospital: In hospital on July 30, 113 (134); admitted during July, 126 (133); total under treatment, 239 (267); discharged, 117 (127); remaining in hospital at July 31, 122 (140). Daily average, 117.45 (135.32). Greytown Hospital: In hospital on June 30, 24 (12); admitted during July, 42 '(21); total under treatment, 66 (33); discharged, 47 (24); remaining in hospital on July 31, ,19 (9). Daily average, 21.12 (9.9). At the end of July there were 55 inmates in the Buchanan Home as compared with 50 at the corresponding date last year. Pahiatua Hospital: In hospital on June 30, 16 (18); admitted during July, 29 (28); total under treatment, 45 (46); discharged during month, 27 (25); remaining in hospital on July 31, 18 (21). Daily average, 20 (19). “The month of July has been a heavy one,” stated the Matron of the Masterton Hospital in her report. “Though the daily average was considerably less than the previous July the work has been heavy on account of the unusual number of acute cases. In addition to fifteen cases in the diphtheria and scarlet fever wards we have from 12 to 14 cases distributed in wards 2,3, B and 7. Nurses Turner, Pearson, Macdonald, Thom, Roberts, Perry and Hamilton have passed the invalid cookery examination, and all passed with honours except one and the exception was only one mark below honours. The Mothers’ League visited the hospital and gave a concert which was much enjoyed by the patients and staff. The new adult cot beds are unsatisfactory. The objective of an adult cot bed is to keep a restless patient in bed. The bars of the new beds are sufficiently far apart to allow a patient to pass between them.”

The Matron of the Greytown Hospital reported that seventeen major and eleven minor operations were performed by the superintendent during the month. Though the daily average was less the wards had been busy owing to heavy serious cases. The ambulance answered eleven calls covering a distance of 281 J miles. Sister Ockenden was appointed Matron of the Pahiatua Hospital on March 20 and Miss Thodey, trained nurse, was relieving her. The Masterton Mothers’ League visited Buchanan Home on July 14 and the Martinborough Women's Institute on ' July 19, both parties entertaining the old folk to afternoon tea and with a concert. Owing to the back fence being removed, cows came and ate the spring cabbages. The'Matron of the Pahiatua Hospital reported that the Hospital had been fairly busy during the month, the daily average occupied beds being 20. There were 9 major and 3 minor operations performed. Miss G. Berry relinquished her duties as Matron of the hospital on July 20. Capes which had been provided for the nursing staff had arrived and were much appreciated. They should help considerably to reduce the frequency of colds amongst the staff. The Nurses’ Home was at present overcrowded, the cook sleeping in the Maids’ Sitting Room. Should an increase in staff be granted, she suggested that the isolation block be used for sleeping quarters for three maids. The block was clean and convenient and could be very easily utilised for the purpose. Fees amounting to £2,234 19s 4d were written off.

Conditions and terms of the appointment of the new Matron for the Masterton Hospital were discussed at some length. Her salary is to be £2BO a year, rising by such increases as the board may from time to time decide. Her retiring age is to be 55. years. The Managing-Secretary, Mr Norman Lee, reporting on the financial oosition of the board for the period April 1 to July 31, stated that expenditure was in excess of .receipts for the period by £2,607 10s 2d. Bank overdraft on the general account was shown at £1,712 10s 2d and outstanding cheques totalled £763 16s 9d. The proportionate amount of local contributing authorities levies for maintenance and subsidy for the period under review was £15,068. The amount received, including an advance of £3,000 was £13,820, leaving the sum of £1,248 due and unpaid. The position regarding patients’ fees for the period was as : follows, the amounts for the corresponding period of last year being given in parentheses: Masterton Hospital, £1,477 (£1,495); Grey town, £1,403 (£1,296); Pahiatua, £346 (£369); other hospitals, £lO2 (£111); District Nurse, £3O (£24); totals, £3,358 (£3,295). So far as hospital maintenance was concerned all appropriations, except for Masterton Hospital, were practically within the amount estimated. As regarded the Masterton Hospital, no adjustments had been made for laundry charges or goods sent to other institutions and when those adjustments were completed the expenditure would approximate the amount estimated.