HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 October 1940, Page 7

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

MEETING OF WAIRARAPA BOARD MANY SOLDIER PATIENTS. USEFUL SERVICE BY V.A.D.'S. At the monthly meeting of the Wairarapa Hospital Board held in Masterton today, the following reports were received: — The managing secretary. Mr Norman Lee submitted a report on the financial position of the Board for the half-year ending September 30. For the period maintenance receipts were in excess of expenditure by £2273. The bank balance was £3693 less outstanding cheques totalling £990. Patients’ fees were in excess of the amount estimated, the aggregate collections for all the hospitals being £3609 more than those for last year. From April-September. 1940 fees received from the Social Security Department totalled £10,034, compared "•ith £3609 for the same period in 1939. The cost per occupied bed throughout the board’s hospitals showed increases, with the exception of Pahiatua. The present cost at Masterton was £328 Bs. The average occupied bed was lower than estimated at Masterton hospital. Mr Lee also submitted comprehensive comparative tables analysing matters of a domestic nature. The report was adopted, and arising out of the report it was decided to make application to the Department of Health for an advance, on account of subsidy, of £5OOO. The medical superintendent of Masterton Hospital. Dr T. L. Parr reported that 113 patients remained in hospital at September 30. During the month 51 operations were performed, 96 Xray investigations made, 147 pathological examinations made, and 3.67 massage treatments given. In addition 34 recruits were X-rayed for the military authorities. The figures for the month were again abnormal, stated Dr Parr. Fifty-five men were admitted from Tauherenikau camp, mainly cases of influenza or measles. The pressure on the main wards has been continuous. "During the busiest weeks of the month when the soldiers’ wards were full we had the services of two V.A.D.’s who did excellent work and were satisfactory in every way," stated the Matron of Masterton Hospital, Miss M. F. Barnett in her report. The ambulance answered 24 calls covering 1451 miles. "During the month there were 44 patients admitted to hospital, 46 of the total were discharged and one death occurred, leaving a total of 25 patients remaining in hospital at September 30,” reported Miss L. Higginson, matron ‘of Greytown Hospital. The ambulance answered 25 calls, covering 853 miles. In the Buchanan wards 59 patients remained at September 30. Miss N. Ockenden, matron of Pahiatua Hospital reported that the ambulance answered four calls, covering 250 miles. The daily average occupied beds was 20.4.