THE WAIKATO HOSPITAL

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 123, 25 May 1923, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE WAIKATO HOSPITAL

A SPLENDID INSTITUTION. THE YEAR'S WORK. EXTENSION , OF BUILDINGS. Situated in high and healthy su--oundings, just a slinvt distanr'o frora tamilton. o;i the road to Te Awamuru. s the Waikato Hospital, which servos he largest hospital district in NVw -Tealand. Tho district extends from iforoer to Waimiha on the Main Trunk jine, west to Kawhia. Rnplan and Waicato Heads, and oast to Miranda on the Fliamos (iiilf. through thn Hauraki Plains to To Aroha, on to Rotoru.-i nnd Faupo, and hack again 1" Wnimiha. Tim topulation totals Sii.lJS. and Ihe rnpital .alue of thn district is £30.(100.000. N"o :e-s than 27 10,-al bodies contribute to he Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. From tho hospital can he obtained splendid views of the surrounding oonn:ry, while tho ffrounda themselves, soni" ■)0 acres in extent, have boon tastefully laid out. and provide a healthful reereiiiion ground for patients well enough m make use of them. The buildings have hoen orcctod on most, modern lines, and though substantial are of a very hand--somp appearance. Tho Isolation Ward and Nurses' Home are situated a little way from the main buildings. They are practically now, and contain the latest ideas in comfort and hygiene. Tho now consumptive shelter ha-; accommodation for 25 patients, and is fulfilling a useful purpose. The. Old Men's Ifoine has lieen comfortably furnished, and the old men aie very contented. i'he kitohen'is a large airy room, tiled in green and brown, and with every modern convenience for rooking on a large, scale. In the adjoining bakery bread and small goods are made for the institution. The hospital is in charpo of Dr. G. W. Gower. and his assistants aro T)r=. Hocking, Graham, Gray and Valentino. Some interesting details of the work of tho hospital are given in thn superintendent's annual report recently presented to the board. On April 1, 1022. there were 170 patients in the hospital. and during the. year ending March :i I. 1923, 244H patients wore admitted. 13G1 were discharged as cured. SO4 as relieved, 125 as unrelieved, and 123 dird, leaving 170 patients still in hospital. The average daily number of patients treated was 187. and 11">1 operations were conducted during the year. Tho increase in the number of admissions during the year was 230. or 10 per cont more than last year. There was no serious epidemic," though the number of \ diphtheria cases increased from 153 to 174. During the year the opening of t be new Sunshine Ward (children's) greatly eased the position as regards accommodation. The new ward proved a great success, and owing to the abundance of fresh air and sunshine patients seemed to recover much more quickly than was formerly the case. r l ho extension, during the year, of the Bailey Ward, had also been of groat benefit in the matter of relieving tho congested accommodation. The report refers to tho fact that. except at the Kawhia Cottage Hospital. no provision is made for dealing with maternity cases, and the superintendent suggests'that the. hoard should undertake this responsibility, adding that the importance of tho matter does not need fhiy emphasis, and that it is to bo hoped it "will be given serious consideration in tho very near future. Tho bacteriological department proved of great assistance in determining the nature of diseases, and no loss than till) specimens were examined in the twelve months. ]t is interesting to note Unit this department is financially scK-sup-porting. In the course of the year imprnve- | ments to the already very line operating I theatre were carried out, and gave groat ! satisfaction, while the steam slerili.-er j proved most, benelicial. The work of the I X-ray department advanced in quality and quantity: 1172 X-ray photograph" were taken, and 100 treatments given. The plant was enlarged and improved. but the doctor considers a few move additions necessary. In thn nias>fl<:« department, 231 patients wore (real ■■!. During tho period .mentioned the nn pcaranoG of tho ground* «m« well him in Itained. while a croone. lawn w. : - _'•';' down in front of Iho Haili'V \\:in. Over ten lons of p..'.i'..-- i>l varum" kinds were grown, and hnH » ' '" " : vegetables. '! Matters fit the 0'! M" i-" Hon- continued to ~,n xer\ smoothly. Then 'were M admitted "during the }>■■<-■ discharged, and four do,th,. ~„,„-;;-- --' one man who had nin the .μ-mii.'..■ , I2J ™aw. inospiial. the doe)or >:ivf Him l.a- ■••••" improved. It is viy popu ar, and a \,,,,'. 1t . aw t in malen.ily v...,!,. and book-; wore 5..p;.1i.-l. «I; ■• ;■■'•■ ■;"■.• Wl .re cheercl l.y r i-= •■ n■ 11 .-■" |( '." |~|Uipmcul of :m „;.<■■ l.i- ■>• ■■■- ; ' ]i!avgio:ind was !. -.■■;. ii ■ -_ i\» .w...,-,.:.,- »<-} |~.ie to the stair, n-liii w>r'k< d , ■■'>-'■■ ' tiou-ly and clli.-i-n. l> . 1 1,,- .-xl. :i '■■■'■■ ■' ; l,ei,,p pn-allv nppn-iale-l I 1 •; »•'■ . lOf „ leclun- hall ua.« -'. :'v l<■'• ■; '■ ,„, |~,,,e,l this would 1- en-.;!..-! ' iv „..«■ horn.- wan cc..,,! The Waiktito Ilos;.itiil hold- :■ ; high po.iilion i" 1 1< ,1 .';■"■""' ■ : ! public, the superintendent nnd st.-,:i ■.■ Jloservedly popular. h-I |-ti™| V'"': „,„! old. Bpi-nk v.-.y ln-.-l.lt -.1 l>- -1 .:1 Itrmtmrnt nii-l -~„.]:,.,,- !.,„.!„.■.. (<„,( . ,jjm- liave reroivo,! tvhil •■.;,.,.,!> of l.hvtiVni;:.!.. l!-.-I-it:,l.