WELLINGTON HOSPITAL

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 117, 21 May 1925, Page 9

WELLINGTON HOSPITAL

A YEAR'S REVIEW

BY THE MEDICAL SUPER

INTENDENT

INCREASED SCOPE OF WORK.

What was described by members of the Wellington Hospital Board as "a most valuable report" was presented to the board yesterday afternoon by the Medical Superintendent, Dr. D. Macdonald Wilson. The board passed a. hearty vote of thanks to Dr. Wilson for the report. "Statistics,'' said Dr. Wilson, "will reveal that this year has again been a busy one, not only in the additional number of patients treated, ,but in the general extensions of existing and organisation of new departments. The aim of the hospital must even be not only to have accommodation for patients, but to improve the service to those patients. The past year has seen a decided advance in the. latter direction.

A brief summary of the various depart inents will be of interest

In-Patie'nts.—Thero has been a steady increase yearly in the numbers treated, as may bo seen from the following figures :—Year ending 31st March, 1923 4677; 1924, 5460; 1925, 5816. Average daily number of occupied beds, 427.

Epidemic Diseases.—During the year thero was the epidemic of infantile paralysis. One hundred and twenty-nine cases were treated and 21 cases died. Thirty cases remain in hospital at the end of the year.

Generally speaking, cases of measles and whooping cough are not treated in hospital, but owing to the sever* epidemic of both diseases last winter and spring, more cases with complications than usual were admitted. One hundred and twelve cases of measles, including five fatal cases, were admitted,- and fourteen cases of whooping cough, with five deaths.

Of these ten deaths, nine occurred in children during the first five years of ■life. Thus it cannot be too strongly emphasised that these diseases^ looked upon popularly as _ trivial children's illnesses, are very serious in young children. Of 37 case 3of measles in children at this period of life three died, a mortality rate of 8.1 per cent.

Diphtheria was' endemic, but never became epidemic: One hundred and sev-enty-nine cases were treated with eleven deaths, a mortality rate of 6.15 per cent.. ■ " ■ ■ '

Sixty-two cases of scarlet fever with no fatalities were • treated. Two mild cases only of typhoid fever were treated. This speaks well for the general sanitary conditions-and water supply of the city and suburbs, and general hospital district.

Accident Cases.—Besides the numerous minor injuries attended in the Out-Pati-ents' Department, 578. cases of injury, including 216 fractures, were treated as inpatients.. . . ..'....

With reference to these patients, I trust the question of ambulance service will be early settled. .

BETTER CLASSIFICATION NEEDED.

' Accommodation for Iri-Patients.—Al-though_ the numbers of patients is ever increasing, _yet the • bed • accommodation has-not been increased. This has necessitated a closer control on admissions to avoid overcrowding of wards. However, there is never a lengthy waiting list. The real need is more accommodation for the better classifying of patients, so that certain types of illness can be separated from others. This can only come with the later remodelling of the hospital upon which a start has been made.

There are two aspects of the in-pati-ent accommodation question I desire to bring to your notice.

(a) Re Victoria Hospital.—This pavilion is always filled, and usually there are several patients in the main hospital waiting admission there. As a patient once admitted hero is usually in the board's cave for life I think, there should be a more definite system of admission. At. present most, cases are 'admitted by the hospital medical officers, because relatives state they are unable to look after the patients. Thus the beds are filled on a mere statement. of relatives, without any real knowledge of tho home conditions,, and whether these patients could not bo attended to at home. Many of these patients do not require skilled nursing, but only .the attention any lay person could give.- CouM the bocial Welfare Department decide after due inquiry whether or. not relatives were in a position to look after their aged relatives or not?

(b) With our system of hospital maintenance, more beds are available for 'the sick than is provided in other countries. Hence, many cases are admitted .which do not require all the expensive ward equipment and accessories wfiich are required for other types of. cases. Therefore in extending our accommodation it is essential : to see that elaborate wards, etc., are only provided where necessary. Out-Patients' Department.—The statistics for this department are as follows :—Cases, 1923-24, 12,809; 1924-25, 13,724. This department comprises the general Out-Patients and Special Departments, viz., eye, ear, nose and throat, gynaecological, dental, X-ray, physictherapeutic, diabetic, and tuberculosis clinic. The general •out-patients arc attended to, by the resident staff, and latterly the Medical Superintendent has been able to attend in consultation. TO KKI.IKVK CONGESTION. Eyo, Ear, Nose,' and Throat Depart-ment.-—Wo are under a deep obligation to the honorary staff for attending here twice a week. This clinic grows, and to further-improve-tho service an additional hon. assistant surgeon lias been added to the staff to relievo the congestion. There is always v waiting list for inpatient treatment, but under present conditions it is difficult to sco how further accommodation can be provided. Dental Department.—Growth hero has again been evident—7s77 attendances against 6116 the previous year. An X-ray plant was installed at tho beginning of the year, and 812 X-rays taken. This has been a. great boon in diagnosis, and the discovery of diseased conditions not apparent by other means. There aro now four dental surgeons, and two nieclianii-s fully occupied. Each yc-ir il. become, more evident that the donta! and inc'lica.l professions must work hand in hand, as in many general diseases the euro lies in treatment of dental conditions. Mr. Bender has organised a department of which tho hospital tun bo proud, and which is held in high repute by the dental surgeons of the Dominion.

Tuberculosis Clinic.—This was an additional service added during the year and is proving a valuable adjunct to the hospital. Dr. Short was taken on the staff as a part-time officer, and sees "chest cases" referred to him from all departments of the hospital or attending as out-patients. Also patients on discharge from sanatoria or hospitals can be kept under observation.

V.D. Department.—This is the one dcpiirtment which dues not show' an inrroase in nirtribr.ra treated—the fisurati beiug 522 against 561.