HOSPITAL BOARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 July 1939, Page 7

HOSPITAL BOARD

REPORTS FOR JUNE. CONTROL OVER HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS At the meeting of the Wairarapa Hospital Board today the following reports for June were submitted:— The Medical Superintendent, Dr T. L. Parr, reported that the number of patients remaining in the hospital on May 31 was 106. During June 122 were admitted, while 110 were discharged. At the end of the month 118 remained. The daily average of beds occupied was 107.6. Of the HO patients discharged. 80 were classified as cured, 24 as relieved and six died. Of the 118 remaining 32 had been in hospital over two months and of these 15 were cases of pulmonary tuberculosis; 11 were chronic medical cases and six were long surgical cases. Sixty-one operations were performed and 105 X-ray investigations were made. Four hundred and thirty-three massage treatments were also given. ”We are attempting to gain some control over admissions with the double object of making the best use of the available beds and avoiding the irregularity, uncertainty and disorganisation that is unavoidable with an uncontrolled admission system,” he stated. “This needs the co-operation of the doctors in the district. They have been written to about it and it is hoped to get the admission arrangements running more smoothly in the course of the next few months.” For the period, maintenance expenditure was in excess of receipts by the sum of £2,360 19s 4d, stated the managing-secretary, Mr N Lee. In the capital account there was a credit balance of £1,710 Ils 6d. The bank pass book showed ’a credit balance of £291 Ils 4d and cheques outstanding totalled £833 15s 2d, leaving a net overdraft of £542 3s lOd. The proportionate amount of local contributing authorities levies for maintenance and the subsidy thereon for the period was £12,047. The amount received to date for levy and subsidy was £12,810 15s. The first quarterly instalment had been paid by all local authorities. The aggregate collection of fees from patients were greater by £5BB than for the same period last year.

One sister and seven nurses were •absent during the month through sickness, reported the Matron of the Masterton Hospital. Nurses Pownall. Rowlands and Walker passed the junior State examination. Nurse Ancell gained a partial pass. Nurses Croal, Brunton and Groves had commenced their maternity training. The ambulance answered 18 calls covering a distance of 201 miles. During the month there were thirtythree patients admitted, thirty-two discharged and no deaths, leaving a total of twenty-five patients remaining in hospital as at June 30, reported the Matron of the Greytown Hospital. Thirteen major and ten minor operations had been performed by the superintendent during the month. Dr Sharp had visited the hospital five times and X-rayed 15 cases. In the Buchanan Ward there was one admission, two discharges and one death, leaving 59 persons remaining in the ward. Mr Duncan Stout and Sir Donald McGavin had visited the hospital to inspect the surgical work. The ambulance had answered six calls, covering a distance of 247 miles. Beds occupied during the month averaged 14.5, reported the Matron of the Pahiatua Hospital. Thirteen opera tions were performed, six major and seven minor. The health of the nurs ing and domestic staffs had been good —no members reporting sick. A general inspection of the hospital was made by Sir Donald McGra /in and Mr D. Stout.