HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 June 1939, Page 6

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

MEETING OF WAIRARAPA BOARD MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. FINANCIAL. AND OTHER DETAILS. The monthly meeting of the Wairarapa Hospital Board was held today. Those present were Messrs H. H. Mawley (chairman), W. I. Armstrong, N. T. B. W. Beetham, F. S. H. Bolton, W. Britland, A. Clark, F. Court, A. Forsberg, W. B. Martin, D. McGregor, C. T. Richardson, J. F. Thompson. P. R. Welch, Mesdames J. Robertson and S. Fletcher, and Misses H. Card and E. Mc-Kenny.

The Medical Superintendent, Dr T. Parr, reported that the patients remaining on April 30 were 107. During May 154 were admitted while 155 were discharged. At the end'd! the month 106 remained. The daily average of beds occupied was. 114.03. Of the 155 patients discharged 115 were classified as cured, 34 as relieved and six died. Of the 106 remaining, 32 had been in hospital over two months and of these 12 were cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, 7 were long surgical cases and 13 long medical cases. Sixty-one operations were performed under general anaesthesia and 79 X-ray investigations were also made.. In the early part of the month a form of epidemic of enteritis affected a good many of the nursing staff and some of the patients. It seemed to b.e part of a general epidemic in the district, but was particularly severe at the hospital. There were five cases of diphtheria coming from a common source, the report stated, and some four or five suspected cases were also admitted, but proved negative. Ward 8 was opened when it seemed likely that an epidemic was starting. However it was not necessary to keep the ward open. The number of patients in hospital fell rapidly towards the end of the month mainly owing to a lull in surgical admissions. The surgical work was very heavy in April and early in May, but results throughout were very satisfactory and almost all the patients in question had been discharged. For a period maintenance expenditure was in excess of receipts by the sum of £6,257, stated the ManagingSecretary, Mr N. Lee. On capital account there was a credit balance of £1,803 12s Bd. The bank overdraft as shown in the pass book was £3,331 6s 10s and cheques outstanding totalled £1,098 Is lOd.

The proportionate amount of local contributing authorities’ levies for maintenance and subsidy thereon for the period was £8,031. Of that amount only £4,364 had been received, leaving £3,667 unpaid. All local authorities had been asked to pay the first instalment. Until such time as the estimates were returned approved, a claim for subsidy could not be made. Applica’tion had been made for an advance of £4,000 on account of subsidy ■ and it was anticipated that this amount would be lodged to the credit of the board’s account before the end of the month.

The aggregate collection of fees from patients were greater by £504 than for the same period last year.

One sister and 13 nurses were absent during the month through sickness, reported the Matron. This was due to the epidemic of gastro-enteritis and to a mild form of influenza. Nurses Brann, Holmes, Harkness and Thom passed the Hospital Final Examination. There were no failures. Miss Allen had commenced her duties as teacher to any children of school age who were fit for work in hospital.