NO DECLINE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 156, 15 April 1942, Page 5

NO DECLINE

DEMANDS ON THE HOSPITAL. ACTIVITIES IN PAST YEAR REVIEW BY THE CHAIRMAN. There has been no decline in the demands made on the Ashburton Public Hospital in the last 12 months according to the annual review' of activities placed before the Board at a special meeting to-day by the chairman (Mr W, Bryant). Indeed, the statistics show a steady increase in patients treated in all departments. Toward this, Social Security benefits largely contributed, while treatments' of recruits and personnel for the Army w r ere a contributing factor. Patients treated were shown as follows, with those for last year in parentheses: —Remaining at mid of last year 78 (69), admitted during year 1524 (1346), total treated 1602 (1415). Discharged during year 1439 (1279), died during year 65, (SS), remaining .at end of year 98 (78), total 1602 (1415). Average daily occupied beds 97.0 (82.2). Outpatients: Attendances general department. 710.3 (6007). Departmental work: Operations 1028 (897), plaster operations 11S (50). Laboratory: Inpatients 1281 (871), outpatients 482 (227). X-ray department: Inpatients 749 (862), outpatients 1565 (1381). Physio Theraphy: Massage, inpatient 1803 (1471), outpatient 1823 (1184); diathermy, inpatient 146 (281), outpatient 813 (436); violet-ray, inpatients 233 (115), outpatient 117 (74). ’ Malvern Maternity Hospital, remaining at end of la&t year 4 (7), admitted during year 203 (179), total treated 207 (186). Average daily occupied beds ,7.8 (6.44). Ante natal examinations (1006 (742).

“I am afraid the Board cannot regard these figures as representing the maximum demand that will be made on the hospital facilities, and because of this, the provision of additional accommodation has been a problem upon which the Board has been actively engaged,” said the chairman. A decision had been reached to erect two new hospital wings, additions to the present purses’ home, and also to provide additional engineering services. It was hoped that it would be possible to proceed with the buildings early in the next financial year, and that the whole of the work will be completed within 16 months. The additions will make available accommodation for approximately 90 hospital beds, 30 of which will be for children, 21 maternity beds, and quarters foi a further 42 nurses. The Board was well aware of the urgency of tire work and would make every endeavour to hasten the programme to completion. Tlie undertaking would be financed by raising a loan of £BO,OOO for which the authority had been obtained, and also by using a fund of £12,700 which had been put aside over the last few years for building purposes.

Emergency Measures. ! “The Board is giving a great deal of consideration to the protection ol patients and the hospital buildings in the event of an enemy raid being made on Ashburton, the report added. “All steps considered necessary have been taken, and everything within reason lias been done. A hospital emergency reserve corps lias been formed of hospital ’•mployo.es, trained nurses in the district who are not in active practice, voluntary aids, who have undergone hospital training, and a group of workers organised by the Red Cross Society. Hospitals have been surveyed and arrangements made to set them up as subsidiaries. One hall has in fact already been taken /over and equipped as a hospital. “The hospital training of Voluntary Aids is being continued, and it is. gratifying that so many of our womenfolk are undertaking this most important emergency work. Classes for Obstetrical Nursing. Aids have also been commenced, and here also a most important branch of the emergency Service is being created.” Another matter of paramount importance at the present time was that of supplies, the report said. The policy of the Board for the last two years had been to build up stocks of all materials liable to become short in supply, and a great, deal has been done in this direction. Several thousand pounds worth of goods had been purchased, and were being held at the Hospital. Social Security. Benefits uncTer the Social Security Act wore extended during the year so as to make available to the public free outpatient services in the general, physio, therapy, and X-ray departments, and also to provide free medicine. A heavy increase in treatments has resulted. The Arnwa maternity hospital will bo discontinuing practice, at the end of April. The Board had accepted an offer of a lease of the hospital, and would carry it on as at present until such time as I lie new maternity ward at the Ashburton Hospital was ready for occupation. The Board had endeavoured to keep abreast of the times so far as equipment at the Hospital was concerned, and to make all recently-approved treatments available. It could reasonably' he claimed that this had been done. Many useful items of equipment were purchased during the ygar, and the Board has approved of the enlargement of its X-ray plant, and had on order a dual' short-wave generator for use jn its physio therapy department. An arrangement was entered into with Drs. H. P. and Cecily Pickerill for the treatment, of cleft palate and hair-lip babies at their clinic in Wellington. “I wish once again to record the

Board’s appreciation of the voluntary services rendered at the Hospital by ministers of religion, the church choirs, the Silver Band, the Salvation Army Band, the Pipe Band, Toe H and Rotarians,” said the chairman. ' The Board had completed the financial year with a credit balance of £1855. With the increased demand on the Hospital, and rising costs, expenditure had increased, but to offset this to some extent receipts had also increased. A largo sum had been expended on equipment and supplies, which represented very valuable assets and which would assist materially in the future. Altogether the financial position must be regarded as very satisfactory.