HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 December 1939, Page 9

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

MEETING OE WAIRARAPA BOARD MANAGING-SECRETARY'S REPORT PATIENTS’ FEES COLLECTIONS. The monthly, meeting of the Wairarapa Hospital Board was held in the board room, Masterton, this morning. The chairman, Mr H. H. Mawley, presided, there being present: Mesdames S. Fletcher, J. Robertson, Misses C. McKenny, H. Card and Messrs W. I. Armstrong, W. Britland, A. Clark. F. Court, A. Forsberg. D. McGregor, J. A. McLeod. P. R. Welch and H. Thomas. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs F. S. H. Bolton, W. B. Martin, J. F. Thompson and C. T. Richardson.

The Managing-Secretary, Mr Norman Lee, submitted the following report in respect to the financial position of the board for the period April 1 to November 30, 1939: “For the period maintenance expenditure was in excess of receipts by the sum of £6,529. On capital account there was a credit balance of £3.198. The bank passbook showed an overdraft of £2.737 am* cheques cutstanding wtaiied £612. Patients fees collections had nearly reached the proportional estimate and the following comparative statement of fees collections for the period April 1 to November 30. 1939, was submitted, the first-mentioned figure being the actual amount received and the second the estimate, figures for the period 1938-39 being given in parentheses:— Masterton Hospital, £7,667, £7,423 (£4,000, £3,847); Greytown Hospital, £4,333, £4.184 (£2,533, £2,957); Pahiatua Hospital. £1.400, £1,262 (£933, £844); District Nurse (£l7, £61); Masterton, £27, £64 (£l7, £61); Eketahuna, £27, £39 (£ —, £13); other hospitals, £133, £583 (£467, £310). Totals. £13,587, £13,555 (£7,950, £B,032). It would be seen that the aggregate maintenance expenditure on the three hospitals was £1.007 higher than the proportional estimate for the period, the totals being, actual expenditure, £37.376; proportional estimate, £36,369. The aggregate fees collections for the period under review was greater by the sum of £5,523 than for the same period last year. The total amount of fees received to date from the Social Security Department for hospital benefits was as under: —(a) For maternity benefits, £537 10s; (b) For hospital benefits, £6,376 10s; total, £6,914. In connection with capital receipts and payments there was a credit balance of £3.198. The amount of levy and subsidy due for the period was £6,974 and the amount received was £5,954. The unexpended balance of loan funds was £3,791, of which £3,750 was on fixed deposit. Authority for bank overdraft expired on December 31, and it would be necessary to make application to continue authority for an overdraft of £7,000 for the year ending March 31. 1940. “This being my last report for 1939 I desire to convey on behalf of the administration staff seasonal greetings to members of the board,” Mr Lee concluded. The Medical Superintendent, Dr T. L. Parr, submitted the following report for the past month: The daily bed average was 110.46, there being 107 patients remaining from October. 147 patients being admitted in November. Patients discharged during November totalled 142, 112 patients remaining in hospital at November 30. Sixty-eight, operations were performed, 77 X-ray investigations were made, 187 pathological examinations made and 405 massage treatments given during the month. Dr Archer Hosking still took an interest in the X-ray work, and had been acting in the capacity of consulting radiologist. His help had been very valuable and would be especially so during Dr O’Connor's absence. The Matron of Masterton Hospital, Miss M. F. Barnett, stated in the course of her report that every nurse had sat for an end of term examination during the month, and the results had been most satisfactory, showing much improvement in their theoretical standard. All passed except two nurses. A bandaging contest was also held, the nurses competing foi - a special prize offered by Sister Grant. Every nurse took part, and the contest was won by Nurse Ericson (senior) and Nurse Sullivan (junior). The cooking examination results had come to hand, and the following nurses had passed: Nurses Ancell, Boyle. James, Rowlands, Sullivan, Walker (there were no failures). The Final Nurses’ Presentation of Certificates took place on Wednesday afternoon, November 15. Miss C. McKenny, M.8.E.. Dominion President of the Registered Nurses’ Association, presented the diplomas, and also the association's essay prize to Nurse Wilcock, who came third for the Dominion. The nursing auxiliaries commenced their training in the hospital on November 30. The Masterton ambulance had answered 18 calls during the month, covering a distance of 325 miles. The Matron, Pahiatua Hospital Miss N. Ockenden, reported that twelve major and nine minor operations were performed during the month. The ambulance had answered one call and covered a distance of 30 miles. Miss L. Higginson, Matron of Greytown Hospital, stated that during the month there were thirty-nine patients admitted to hospital, thirty-nine were discharged, and two deaths had occurred, leaving a total of twentyfour remaining at November 30. The daily average was 24.83. Twenty-six operations were performed during the month. The ambulance had answered nineteen calls covering a distance of 563.'. miles. There were four admissions one' death and two discharges in the Buchanan Home, leaving a total of fifty-five patients remaining at November 30. The daily average was 53.6. The Greytown Gipsy Choir visited the wards during the month, and entertained the patients. The new ambulance had arrived.