DIFFICULT YEAR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 153, 10 April 1933, Page 7

DIFFICULT YEAR

WORK AT THE HOSPITAL. REQUIREMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC, LEVY LOWEST SINCE 1920. CHAIRMAN REVIEWS SITUATION. A comprehensive review of the past twelve months was given by the chairman (Mr W. G. Gallagher) at tne meeting of the Ashburton Hospital Board to-day. "The year which ended March 31 last nas been a tiimcult one for many, and at tne present time tne outlook is not a pleasant one," ne said. • '.During tne year the Boara has had many calls on its resources, and bopn in tne matter of hospital services, and charitable relief, a valuable service has been given to the community. The public hospital has been largely availed of by the sick; the maternity hospitals have adequately fulfilled tneir functions; \ treatment at Christchurch and Han- ' mer Hospitals has' been arranged for those patients requiring special treatment; wnile sanatorium treatment at Waipiata has be?n given to a greater number than ever before. "During the first quarter of the year the Board's funds were utilised' for relief purposes amongst unemployed men, but consequent on the decision arrived at between the Hospital Boards' Association and the Unemployment Board, this relief is not now given. However, there have been many claims for relief where sickness and reasons unconnected with unemployment have made it necessary that help should be given. "Despite the many calls on our purse, it is a great pleasure for me to be able to say that the Board has worked within its budget, and that our requirements from the public funds by way of subsidy and levy have been the lowest for the past 13 years. "So far as hospital taxation for the past year is concerned, I have extracted from the appendix the following figures, which demonstrate the fortunate position of the Ashburton County when compared with the hospital levy per £IOOO of capital value in other South Island districts: — "Marlborough 17s SA, Nelson 24s 2d, Westland 39s 10d, Buller 72s 4d, Inangahua 54s lOd, Grey 96s 9d, North Canterbury 18s 9d,' Ashburton lis 3d, ' South Canterbury 14s 2d, Waitaki 16s, Otago 26s 7d, South Otago 23s 3d, Vincent 18s lOd, Maniotato 18s 3d, Southland 15s Bd, Wallace and Fiord 16s sd. "When worked on a population basis, we find that the cost for the year per head of the population in the Ashburton District was 12s 6d against v au,ayerage. of. 15s..per head for the rest of the South Island. Analysis of Statistics. "Dealing Avith the statistical side of the Board's activities, the following tables indicate what work has been carired out:— "(1) Public Hospital: (a) Patients treated: Remaining at March 31, 1932, 40, admitted during year 1092; total 1132. Discharged during year 1013, died 50, remaining March 31, 1933, 69; 1132; (b) Departmental work: Operations (major) 160, (minor) 508; 668; plaster operations 59, laboratory examinations (hospital) 1615, laboratory examinations for local doctors and health inspectors 120, massage treatments (inpatients) 2979, diathermy treatments (inpatients) 1987, Violet Ray treatments (inpatients) 510, XRay radiograms 700. (c) Outpatients department;, Dressing treatments 1374, massage treatments 939, Violet Ray treatments 28, diathermy treatments 507, consultations 2410; 5258. ■ "(2) Maternity hospitals: Patients treated at the various maternity hospitals have been: Malvern 162; Mefchven, 41; Rakaia, 26. "Finance.—The following analyses have been prepared for the information of members. Might I ask thai ritmbers examine the figures closely, in view of our approaching special estimates meeting. "(a) Receipts.—The only account calling for special attention is patients' fees. These are made up as follows:—Public hospital inpatients £3559 I2s Id, public hospital outpatients £582 lis lOd, public hospital outpatients X-Rajr £B3 17s 6d, public hospital laboratory £57 9s, ambulance £ls 10s, other boards fees £416 6s 2d, Malvern hospital £565 15s, Methven hospital £l7l 7s, Rakaia hospital £146 19s, bad debts recovered £l7 14s; total £5615 Is 7d. Patients' Fees Satisfactory. "It will be noted that we have collected £215 Is 7d in excess of our estimate. Patients' payments have been very satisfactory, and indicate a willingness on the part of those who can to pay for servces given. In connection with fees, I would like to express my appreciation of the work of the Hospital Committee, which has, during the year, kept in close touch with debtors' accounts, and also of tho special fees committee which recently spent 12 hours in a detailed examination of all outstanding accounts. "(b) Payments.—(l) Hospital maintenance.—lt is gratifying to note that the actual payments for tho year are within the estimate. Full details of the item are as follows:

mates have been followed throughout the year. Analysed details of each heading will be submitted at our estimates meeting. Maternity hospitals expenses are greater than shown, as certain supplies are drawn from the Pubfift Hospital and adjusted by book entries prior to the preparation of the income and expenditure account. "(2) Charitable Relief.—Under the three sub-headings of relief we have exceeded the estimate made. However, all expenditure has been carefully waficheeV by the Relief Committee at its weekly meetings. "(3) Administration.—The increase is due to four reasons: (a) Two audit fees being paid in the year (b) increased members expenses, (e) employment of a junior, (d) increased legal costs in connection with accounts, etc. "(4) Other Boards.—The following table shows the disbursements for the year:—Paid to Hanmer Hospital £5lB, paid to Christchurch Hospital £283 4s 6d, jiaid to Waipiata Sanatorium Committee £1742 8s; total, £2543 12s 6d. Our payments both to Hanmer Hospital and Waipiata have advanced. At the present time we are faced with heavy expenditure with Waipiata, there being 22 Ashburton patients in the institution and a waiting list of four. "(5) National Provident Fund.— Two substantial refunds of contributions have brought this account considerably below the estimate. The Gold-Mining Scheme. "General. —As a consequence of information obtained from Mr James Ritchie, of Cromwell, we were able last winter to arrange for a considerable number of young men to go to Otago Central on gold-mining work. The men concerned won the highest praise from the authorities. So far we have sent two parties forward this year, but unfortunately we have received advice not to arrange further .parties meantime. This is, I think, only a temporary cessation. "The thanks of the Board are due to the County Council for the great help afforded last year in providing wood-cutting work during the stand down week for those cases nominated by the Board. The assistance given which represented a payment of £1716, was fully appreciated by the men concerned. "During the year" we were favoured also with various donations of beef and mutton, as a consequence of which we were, able, during the winter, to make weekly distributions to necessitous families. Other donations of groceries, etc., were also received. "The Christinas collection arranged by the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union was a further evidence of the goodwill of the community. The collection which amounted to £ll7 15s 7d was most successful, and the money raised was utilised principally in the purchase of meat and groceries for those in need. "I would like to express my personal thanks to Mr Frampton for his work as chairman of the Hospital Committee, and to Mr Bryant for his work both, as chairman of the Relief Committee and as the Board's representative on the Waipiata Sanatorium Committee, also to members for thenhelp and consideration during the year. Without singling out anyone in particular," Mr Gallagher concluded, "I would Tike to say how much I have appreciated the loyal and efficient service rendered by all members of the staff."

Ashburton Hospital. Estimate £ Provisions ... 1800 Surgical and Dispensary • •• 1300 Domestic ••• 2846 Establishment ... 344 Salaries ... 4979 Grounds ••• 616 Actual . Payments. £ b. d. 1607 6 3 1310 6 10 2924 17 0 331 1 3 4984 2 4 715 9 8 11,885 Malvern hospital 996 Methven hospital 628 Rakaia hospital... 546 11,873 3 4 940 6 1 670 7 0 490 5 11 £14,055 £13,974 2 4 "It will be seen how closely Hie esti-