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Women's Hospital. —This building has not had an unoccupied bed during the year, and there has been a waiting-list of patients throughout the whole period. The conditions in this block are very satisfactory, and the building has been kept in a good state of repair. This section continues to be under the direct supervision of Sister Trott, the Sub-Matron, and to her energy, interest, and skill the continued successful administration of this section is due. Both hospitals have served a further purpose in dealing with the sick of the village and district, and a fair amount of out-patient service has been rendered by the medical officers. Medical Staff. —During the year I was absent, on the grounds of ill health, for a period of five months, and during that time Dr. Lumsden acted as Medical Superintendent, and the assistance of Dr. Tovey was obtained as locum tenens. Nursing Staff. —There have been few changes in the nursing staff. lam of the opinion that the improved living-conditions in the Nurses' Home are going to assist us in retaining a more stable staff than we have done in the past. Male Staff. —There have been but few changes in the male staff, and we seem at the present moment to have a satisfactory and settled staS. Every endeavour has been made to keep the number of men employed at an absolute minimum. The fact that we have to maintain external services for the benefit of the public, such as water-service and electric-light, rather tends to increase the number of men employed. The hospital is being particularly well served by its clerical and office staff. Farm.—The conduct of the farm has been satisfactory during the year. The supply of milk has been quite adequate, and every endeavour has been made to increase the milk-production. A very close record is now kept of the production from each cow. The new land which was bought some years ago continues to be brought under cultivation. The cattle, the land, the farm buildings, and the fences are in good condition. Tea-kiosk. —The tea-kiosk continues to be satisfactorily conducted, and there is a very definite improvement in the receipts. This section is now entirely self-supporting. During the year it was decided to open the tea-kiosk, tennis-courts, and swimming-pools on Sunday afternoons. This has proved to be an immensely popular innovation with the public. Physiotherapy. —Work in this department has been, sadly handicapped during the year. Owing to the demolition of the old bathhouse and massage block, temporary arrangements had to be made in order to deal with the work. Unfortunately, the period has been more lengthy than was anticipated. The massage staff, under the control of Miss Wilson, has worked well under the greatest inconvenience. Bathhouses. —The bathhouses and swimming-pools are popular with the public. The new bathhouse will be of great value to us when completed, as the old building was in a deplorable state of dilapidation. I consider that possibly the women's swimming-pool will in the near future require renovation and an overhaul. Electric-light Supply. —As was expected, there continues to be grave difficulty with the shortage of the electrical power. Unfortunately, the arrangements made for increasing the amount of power available have been delayed. It was hoped that this might have been completed before the winter, and before the demand for power was so great as it is now. I can only foresee further difficulties during the winter, as I forecast in my last annual report. When further power is available a considerable amount will be sold to the public. At present we are not in a position to supply any further power. Water-service. —This, as usual, is a source of everlasting anxiety. The river from which the water is obtained has a frequently-moving bed and an enormous amount of shingle, and we have continuous trouble at the head of the reservoir when the river is in flood. Grounds.—The public grounds and hospital gardens have been carefully looked after, and are in a fairly satisfactory state. They certainly repay us for the amount of labour which is spent on them. General Maintenance. —The general maintenance of the institution has been carried out fairly well, and the buildings are in a good state of repair. With the general growth of the institution the maintenance staff is very busy, and to some extent find it difficult to overtake the work. New Kitchen Block. —The new kitchen block in the main hospital has not been started. The plans have been completed, and, I understand, the matter is under consideration. This is a very necessary improvement to the hospital. The present kitchen block and equipment is hopelessly inadequate. This has steadily been recommended to be rebuilt for the past seven years, and I am glad that the matter is now settled. Red Cross. —The Red Cross have maintained the recreation-rooms, as in the past, and it gives me great pleasure to express my very great appreciation of their work, especially the work of the Red Cross officer, Mr. R. Hughes, who has so ably conducted the Red Cross rooms for the past ten years. Stores and Equipment. —Stores and equipment have been well kept and cared for. The House Manager, as usual, has been most assiduous in the oversight and care of his particular section. I would wish to express my very keen appreciation of the help I have received from Mr. Chappell in respect to the general administration of the institution. I wish to take this opportunity of expressing to you my appreciation of the work of the staff of the hospital, and to acknowledge my indebtedness for their help. I beg to convey to you my thanks for the ever-sympathetic support, help, and advice which we have received from you during the year.
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