MORE PATIENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 142, 17 June 1936, Page 11

MORE PATIENTS.

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL. ACTIVITIES DURING YEAR. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. "The impression gained during the latter part of the past year leads us to hope, that while the pressure of work may continue in the coming year, the conditions under which we are all working will be materially relieved, and it is in this spirit that we view the future with confidence," concluded a lengthy report covering the activities of the Auckland Hospital Board for the year ended March 31 last, and presented by Dr. J. W. Craven, medical superintendent, at the ineeting of the Auckland Hospital Board yesterday. TJie report stated that the volume -of work had in no way decreased, and the strain on the staff had been steadily increasing, due perhaps, partly to the unrelieved economic position, as well as other casual factors. The most noticeable feature was the increase in patients admitted to hospital. This had risen by 490 fyom 11,713 for the year ending March 31, 1935, to 12,203 for the present year. Of the cases admitted (>74 came from areas administered by other boards. Many of these cases were urgent admissions owing to accidents or serious illness, but a very large proportion were cases sent to hospital for special forms of treatment, not available in their own hospitals. As more precise methods of diagnosis were becoming in greater demand and more intricate methods of treatment adopted, it followed that the Auckland Hospital would increasingly become the base hospital for a large area, and no immediate diminution of such admissions could be seen. Infectious Diseases. During the past year there had been no epidemic or increase of infectious diseases; on the other hand, the decline of infectious disease, noted in previous years, continued. The increase in general admissions was more than ever due to the economic position causing so many of the population to be near the bread lino for years now, and the sharpened appreciation by patients for the necessity of seeking medical advice and help at an earlier stage of their illnesses, coupled with a realisation that the care and attention they would receive at the hospital was not excelled in any other institution to which they could possibly be sent, whatever their financial position might be. Overcrowding. e The accommodation at the hospital had not been increased, with ihe result that there was still overcrowding, especially as all available space on the verandahs had been utilised to the fullest capacity. This had been the subject of special investigation and report by a medical committee set Tip by the board. Every advantage had been taken of the facilities offered by the Infirmary, Knox Home, Alexandra Home, district home nursing service and sanatoria. Dealing with the work being done by tlio Patients' District Home Nursing Service, Dr. Craven said the nurses had paid 13,250 visits and travelled 33,059 miles in the hospital cars in the course of their duties. It was estimated that the bed state of the hospital and infirmary was relieved to the extent of some 00 to 70 .beds daily at least. During the course of the year he had not had a single complaint against these nurses and he wished to record his appreciation of their work.