9

H.—22

Inspected 23rd September, 1897, and 31st March, 1898. Three of the single private rooms are being converted into one long ward, and there has also been added a room for the use of convalescent patients, with a library attached. These have been erected by local subscriptions subsidised by Government. Mrs. Mackay has had some difficulty in getting a suitable assistant nurse during the past year, but the housekeeping department of this hospital is admirable —managed with economy.

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1897 ... ... ... 138 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 1,300 Total under treatment ... ... ... 1,438 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,181 Died ... 118 Bemaining on 31st March, 1898 ... ... ... ... 139 Sex. —1,006 males, 432 females. Localities from ivhich Patients came. —Auckland City and suburbs, 869; Auckland District, 353 ; North Auckland, 62 ; South of New Zealand, 48; Coromandel, 32 ; Thames, 27 ; shipping, 47. Nationality. —English, 382 ; Scotch, 80 ; Irish, 192 ; New Zealand, 618; Australian, 57 ; Canadian, 10; American, 10; German, 20; Swedish, 18; Indian, 8; Japanese, 4; Belgian, 2; Italian, 1; Maltese, 3; Spanish, 2 ; Portuguese, 4 ; Mauritius, 2 ; Ceylonese, 2 ; Swiss, 1; Newfoundland, 1; South Sea Islands, 7 ; French, 3 ; South African, 3 ; Greek, 1; Dutch, 4; Danish, 3. Beligion. —Church of England, 708 ; Boman Catholic, 329 ; Presbyterian, 188 ; Wesleyan, 115; Baptist, 28; Lutheran, 21; Congregationalist, 10; Salvationist, 11; Church of Christ, 9; Hebrew, 9; Unitarian, 1 ; Plymouth Brethren, 8; Freethinker, 1. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 44,132; individual average days' stay, 30-69. Daily average cost per head, 4s. l|d.; less patients' payments, 2s. lid. Outdoor Patients. —lndividual eases, 389 ; attendances, 5,276. Bevenue and Expenditure. Bevenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 3,085 0 2 Bations ... ... ... 2,258 12 2 Local bodies ... ... ... 3,085 0 2 Nurses' Home maintenance ... 607 1 7 Subscriptions and donations ... 28 11 3 Wines, spirits, ale, and porter ... 43 6 9 Bequests ... ... ... 350 410 Surgery and dispensary ... 963 15 10 Patients'payments ... ... 2,686 18 7 Fuel and light ... ... 745 16 10 Bents ... ... ... 107 17 2 Bedding and clothing ... ... 200 3 5 Furniture and earthenware ... 108 17 7 Washing and laundry ... ... 276 11 10 Salaries and wages ... ... 2,819 15 6 Water-supply ... ... 211 14 9 Funerals ... ... ... 32 2 3 Maintenance of grounds ... 124 6 4 Bepairs ... ... ... 516 0 6 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 107 15 1 Legal expenses ... ... 11 11 9 Insurance ... ... ... 21 18 9 Proportion of office expenses ... 227 15 0 Interest .. ... ... 7 5 9 Other expenses ... ... 59 0 6 Total ... ... £9,343 12 2 Total ... ... £9,343 12 2 This hospital has been inspected by me three times during the year. The turmoil among the nursing staff which had prevailed for a considerable time seems to have settled down. On my last visit it appeared as if a feeling of good-will between the nurses and the matron was beginning to emerge, and that the vexed question of the proper authorities to appoint probationers would gradually settle itself. Some years ago, when the present system of having a medical superintendent to take charge of the hospital was being discussed, I was obliged to express my doubts of the wisdom of the plan. Ever since I have been actuated by a desire to indulge in no criticism that I could avoid, in order to give every opportunity of proving itself successful to the new method of government; and I call attention to the matter now simply in order to urge the necessity for caution regarding the recent proposal to have two resident assistants to Dr. Baldwin. What with attempts to limit the nursing staff to eight hours' work a day, and a well-paid medical superintendent with two assistants, there is a great danger that the organization will break down of its own weight. The alarming prevalence of typhoid fever in this district ought to cause great searchings of heart to those who are responsible for the water-supply and the sanitary arrangements of Auckland and its suburbs. The actual working of the hospital, apart from the problems arising from the organization of the medical and nursing staff, is satisfactory. The greatest credit is due to the Board for the careful way in which the patients' payments for maintenance is looked after. In this respect their example is a credit to the district and a guide to the colony. 2—H. 22.