20

H.—22

6. NAPIER HOSPITAL. Governing body : Napier Hospital Trustees. Honorary medical staff: Drs. Bernau, Moore, Leahy, and Edgar. Stipendiary medical staff : Drs. Moore and Brett. Nursing staff: Matron, Miss Edwards; 3 registered nurses and* 13 probationers. Domestic staff : 1 cook, 3 wardsmaids, 2 housemaids, 2 laundresses, 1 porter, 1 gardener. Number of beds available for males, 40; for females, 14: total 54 (and 9 beds in scarlet-fever ward). Number of patients under treatment during year: In-patients- —males 377, females 196 - total 573; out-patients, 360. In-patients : Average days' stay, 25; average daily cost per head, 6s. lid. (cost after deducting patients' payments, 6s. 4|d.). Percentage of cost of administration on maintenance expenditure, 39'5. Localities from which patients came : Hawke's Bay and surrounding districts. Nationality of patients: New-Zealanders, 294; English, 131; Scotch, 40; Irish, 57; Australian, 25; German, 3; Scandinavian, 8; Tasmanian, 4; various (under 2 each), 11. Religion: Church of England, 322; Roman Catholic, 115; Presbyterian, 84; Wesleyan, 21; Lutheran, 7; Salvation Army, 6; Baptist, 7; Congregationalist, 3; Seventh-day Adventists, 4; various, 4. Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ended 31sc March, 19u8. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d" Balance from last year ... ... 7,650 3 10 Rations ... ... ... 1,465 17 5 From Government ... ... 3,715 15 11 Wines, spirits, ale, and porter ... 65 15 6 Local bodies .. ... ... 1,475 0 0 Surgery and dispensary ... 664 14 10 Subscriptions and donations ... 1,194 5 3 Fuel and light ... ... 459 13 5 Bequest ... ... ... 200 Equipment ... ... ... 224 9 2 Rents ... ... ... 77 5 6 Salaries and wages ... ... 1,977 11 7 Patients' payments ... ... 375 15 6 Water-supply ... ... ... 81 11 3 Drugs, charitable aid ... ... 77 16 0 Additions to buildings ... ... 467 5 6 Deposit charges ... ... 200 0 0 New buildings... ... ... 411 13 6 Interest, borough debentures ... 216 0 0 -Printing, advertising, postage, and „ Post-office Savings-bank 316 8 stationery ... ... ... 70 1 9 Deposit „ ... 1,420 0 0 Insurance ... ... ... 55 6 4 Treasury (extra attendance) ... 10 0 Commission .... ... ... 10 0 0 Balance, Bequest Account ... 31 6 7 Removal of rubbish ... ... 10 0 0 House-rent (doctor) ... ... 25 0 0 Aerated waters ... ... 11 13 0 Contingencies ... ... ... 47 19 10 Total ... £16,440 5 3 Total ... ...£6,048 13 1 Visited 13th and 14th February, 1908.—A great many changes have been brought about at this Hospital during the year. Dr. Moore has succeeded Dr. Wilson, and Dr. Brett has also been appointed Assistant Superintendent to help Dr. Moore to attend to the patients in the Hospital, and also to attend those in the establishment at Park Island. lam not confident that there was any special need for two resident medical men, but the Trustees stated that they had at times some difficulty in getting members of the honorary staff to attend emergency cases. When I visited the Hospital there were thirty-nine acute cases under treatment, and ten patients, mostly cases of senility, in a cottage adjoining the Hospital. Such cases will only be so accommodated until the ward for chronic cases is available, when those who do not require special hospital treatment will be transferred to the " Home "at Park Island. Owing to the unsuitability of some of the wards, those in use were somewhat overcrowded, and there is no doubt that there is justification for the considerable extensions that the Trustees have in view. The ward for chronic cases should be available for patients within the next six months, but as regards this care must be taken that none but suitable cases are to be admitted, otherwise it may become the resting-place for hospital loafers. On the completion of this ward the other extensions will be placed in hand on the "bit-by-bit " principle. I was glad to see that the Trustees had taken my recommendation with regard to acquiring a public road adjoining the Hospital, and levelling the site recently occupied by the Old Men's Home. This site is an ideal one for a hospital. I found everything in connection with the institution working harmoniously: there is no sign' of any friction between the Hospital staff and the Trustees, who observe a broad-minded superintendence over the institution. I was glad to hear from Dr. Moore that he is well satisfied with the work of Miss Agnes Hei, a Maori nurse, and that he had decided, therefore, to put her in charge of the operating-room.

7. WAIKATO HOSPITAL (HAMILTON). Governing body : Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Resident medical staff : Dr. Douglas. Nursing staff : Matron, Miss Rothwell; 2 registered nurses and 13 probationers. Domestic staff: 3 cooks, 1 housemaid, 3 laundresses, 1 charwoman, 1 porter, 1 gardener. Number of beds available for males, 42; for females, 22 : total, 64.