HASTINGS HOSPITAL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 113, 27 April 1933, Page 10

HASTINGS HOSPITAL

MADE FULL USE OF. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Referring to the Hastings Memorial Hospital in his annual report to the board, the superintendent, Dr. Biggs, states:— “Conditions at this hospital remain almost exactly as they were twelve months ago. The institution has continued to serve two purposes, viz., providing accommodation for both general cases and maternity cases. These two groups have continued, as is right and proper, to be completely separated from one another, both as regards the actual accommodation and the staff.

“The general side has been continuously busy and full throughout the year. It will be noticed that with accommodation for 25 beds the daily average number of patients has been 23.71, leaving practically no margin at all. The demands on the beds have been great as evidenced by the waiting list it was impossible to avoid. The statistical report indicates clearly the large amount of work that has been done; this work has been excellent throughout, in spite of difficulties and inconveniences, and the board is indebted to Sister Sellar for the zeal and ability she has displayed. “During the year a rearrangement with the honorary staff was made, one result of which is shown in the increased number of outpatients treated; this will be still more evident when the service is spread over a whole year. The nursing staff there have not been so fortunate as their sisters in Napier, as they are still living in most inadequate quarters, a condition of things that it is hoped the board will see their way to remedy in the near future. “On the maternity side of the hospital the number of cases attended to has been practically the same as in the preceding year. The average days’ stay, and consequently the daily average number of bods occupied, has slightly increased. The work in this department has been maintained at the same high standard as in the past under the supervision of Sister Owen. It has continued to bo a maternity training school, with only fair results, however, in the examinations. Whether this is due to the standard in the examination being raised, or due to local causes, such as inadequate facilities for the lectures and for the necessary reading and preparation by the nurses themselves, it is not easy to say; probably both have influenced tho

result, which has not been so satisfactory as in the past. While maintaining tho maternity training school, the rest of tho hospital has continued throughout the year as a non-training school, so that the nursing staff has been comprised' mostly of trained nurses with a limited number of hospital aids. Immediately the year is closed, however, it is anticipated that the hospital will bo reinstated as a general training school, and approval of this by the Registration Board is the only thing required to put it into force. The majority of the hospital aids will be enrolled a» the first trainees in the new establishment. “In conclusion, I wish to thank the whole staff—medical, nursing and lay staff —for their wholehearted co-opera-tion throughout, the year; in particular, I wish to express my appreciation of the excellent work and great assistance given me by the matron. Miss Croft; also of the services rendered by Miss Birkett, who has borne, single-handed, practically the whole heat and burden of the day in connection with the clerical work in the outpatient department. The amount of work really justifies the existence of a second clerk in that department. Mv thanks are also due to the whole of the honorary staff, both in Hastings and Napier, for tho willing help they have always renderod in coping with the many problems that have arisen.”