7

H.—3l

19. The increase in institutions and beds available is as follows : —

During the past year considerable extensions have been effected at the -following hospitals : Wellington, Greytown, Whangarei, Christchuroh, Dunedin, Wanganui, Hamilton, Waipukurau, Auckland ; and a new cottage hospital will shortly be opened at Tapanui. The Cook and Taranaki Boards have decided to erect new hospitals, the former having accepted a tender approximating £46,000. A special report on the probable expenditure on new hospitals during the next five years is attached as an appendix. Hospital Maintenance Expenditure. 20. The gross cost of hospital " maintenance" —including special hospitals —last year was £225,796, as against £199,573 the previous year. For the increase in the expenditure on maintenance may be shown that there were 1,369 more patients under treatment in our hospitals, and an increase of 53 in the number of patients under daily treatment, as compared to the previous year.

General Hospitals. —The expenditure on "maintenance" of general hospitals was £203,010, or, in other words, £106.3 per occupied bed, similar expenditure for the previous year being £178,715 and £97 respectively —an increase of £9 in the cost per bed.

21. Surgery and Dispensary. —A further reduction may well be looked for in this item ; but it can only be brought about by combined action on the part of Boards with regard to the purchase of drugs, dressings, &c, which was unanimously approved by the delegates attending the recent Hospitals Conference. Nevertheless some Boards are reluctant to give effect to the substance of the resolution. The decision of the Government to allow vaccines and sera to be imported duty-free should bring about a substantial reduction in the expenditure under this item. Salaries and Wages. —There is little or no hope of a reduction under this item ; on the contrary, a steady increase in expenditure must be anticipated. During the past year there has been a considerable increase in the domestic staff, which has increased from 437 to 532. On the other hand, the proportion of nurses to occupied beds has slightly decreased, viz. : —

1908-9. 1909-10. 1910-11. 1911-12. umber of institutions — General hospitals Special hospitals "umber of beds available— General hospitals Special hospitals 53 6 2,502 110 56 11 57 14 60 13 2,689 278 2,863 359 3,057 338

Patients under Treatment. Average fumber undei treatment. Daily General Special ™ t i Hospitals. Hospitals. x a ' General Hospitals. Special Hospitals Total. 1908-9 .. 1909-10 1910-11 1911-12 19,653 21,108 23,584 24,681 1.042 1,420 . 1,607 1,879 20,695 22,528 25,191 26.560 1,566 1,709 1,839 1.900 77 138 186 178 1,643 1,847 2,025 2,078

Provisions. Surgery and Dispensary. Domestic and Establishment. Salaries and Wages. Total Maintenance. 1908-9 • 1909-10 1910-11 1911-12 £ 27-1 23-7 22-8 24-2 £ 10-8 9-8 8-7 10-3 £ 26-2 25-9 26-7 29-5 £ 4:2-9 40-9 38-8 42-3 £ 1070 100-3 97-0 106-3

Nurses. Occupied Beds. Proportion of Nurses to Beds occupied. 1908-9 .. 1909-10 1910-11 1911-12 621 662 736 777 1,566 1,709 1,839 1,900 1-2-5 1-2-6 1-2-3 1-2-5