HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 April 1941, Page 7

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

MEETING OF WAIRARAPA BOARD FINANCIAL REPORT FOR YEAR. TRAINING OF VOLUNTARY AIDS. A financial report for the year ended March 31 was submitted by the mana-ging-secretary, Mr Norman Lee, at today’s meeting of the Wairarapa Hospital Board. The year had finished with a credit balance on Maintenance Account of £2,225 Os lOd and on Capital Account of £1,356 9s 9d. The bank balance was £3,704 Ils lOd. Fees collected exceeded the estimate by £1.206. The obtaining of hospital supplies during the year had been difficult at times but requirements had been obtained and reserve stocks were being built up. The average occupied beds were:— Masterton, 105.9; Greytown, 24.68; Buchanan Wards, 56.8; Pahiatua, 20.1. A total of 2,880 patients were treated, as compared with 2,716 in 1939-40. The medical superintendent, Dr. T. L. Parr, reported that the Masterton Hospital had been moderately busy during the month. “In my report of last year’s work,” he said, “I referred to difficulties in attaining regularity of medical ward rounds. The medical staff has conferred earnestly on the matter, and I think I can state that some of the difficulties have been smoothed out. I therefore recommend that visiting staff appointments be continued this year on the same basis of agreement as last year.” The Matron of Masterton Hospital, Miss M. F. Barnett, reported, inter alia: Since the end of 1939, 83 Voluntary Aids had completed their training, fifty-nine in Masterton Hospital, fourteen in Greytown Hospital, and seven in Pahiatua Hospital. Six Aids were in training here now, five more were waiting to start, and a further group should be ready in two months time. By the end of the year it was hoped to have at least one hundred trained Aids ready for any emergency. Since the outbreak of war several members of the staff had joined the Army Nursing Service. Sister Stewart had left for overseas, Staff Nurse Enid Smith joined up at-the end of 1940, Sister Bakewell left in January, and two other staff nurses, Nurses Wills and Perry, were waiting to be called up at any time.

Fifty-two patients were admitted to the Greytown Hospital in the month and 53 were discharged, leaving 25 patients, the Matron, Miss L. Higginson, reported. Forty-one operations were performed. At Pahiatua Hospital, 63 patients were treated and 23 operations performed, according to the report 'of the Matron, Miss N. Ockenden.