HAWERA HOSPITAL BOARD

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 22 May 1919, Page 5

HAWERA HOSPITAL BOARD

CHAPMAN'S ANNUAL REPOK.T.

At to-day's meeting ; of the Hawera Mospital Board, the chairman (Mr G W. lager) presented his annual report. He said, inter alia: Ihjs has been the heaviest year that the Loard have passed through since 1 have had the honor to be your chairman This is due to several eauseß. (1) The outbreak of diphtheria which occurred m the early months of the year, and later by the outbreak of the influenza epidemic, which no doubt is still tresh m your mindjs. (2) The ■Board have experienced a considerable amount of inconvenience on account ot the disorganisation of the staff, due more or less directly to the demands made on it by the military situation, (d) lucre has -been considerable increase m the ordinary hospital York clue to increasing numbers of patients admitted to the hospital during the year, and also to the large number of returned soldiers that are being treated at tne hospital, both as in-patiente ana. out-patients, and w.ho are reportwig m rapid.y in reasing numbers. (4) There has been a lot of additional work thrown/ on members of the Board on account of the progressive policy adopts ■ay # m looking forward and providing for the future requirements of the hospital. : In reference to the' diphtheria out break, permit me to say that some 152 cases were treated at the hospital be- : tween the months of April and August (both inclusive), and several cases have been reported during each of the other months' of the year. -V _ In regard to the influenza epidemic, it will be remembered that the outbreak started in Hawera in November, but your Board were not caught unprepared. Representations had previously been made to the Public Health .Department requiring that the utmost should be done in order to prevent a spread of the epidemic to this district, and plans were formed for the best method of handling and combating the disease should jt make its appearance here. As soon, therefore, as it became apparent that the epidemic was likely to assume formidable proportions, organisation was speedily effected, and special relief committees were formed throughout the whole hospital district. In Hawera temporary hospitals for the treatment of influenza cases were established at the Winter Show Buildings and St. Mary's Schoolroom, and a special hospital for the exclusive use of Maoris was also provided. Temporary hospitals were also provided at El- ' tham, Kaponga, and Manaia, and under the supervision of the Board were managed by the committees set up in each district. At Ohangai a temporary hospital was established, but was equipped and supervised by the Hawera Committee. Over 300 cases were treated at Hawera in the temporary and general hospitals (over 70< of these being natives), 85 were treated at Kaponga, 56 at Eltham, and a similar number at Manaia. • (This is, of course, exclusive of the hundreds of cases treated outside of the hospitals.) It will be remembered that a grave danger arose of many persons being left entirely without assistance and unprovided for, owing to the fact that, as did actually occur, whole families were affected and unable to render each other any assistance. Committees therefore organised a house-to-house visitation, and in cases where assistance could be obtained it was sent, arid in other instances the suffering ones were brought to either one or other of the hospitals mentioned. A large number of persons volunteered to, assist the afflicted, and numbers of private cars were placed at the disposal of the committee. In this method assistance and food were sent to persons • requiring same. In this connection the Board's motor ambulance did good work. It conveyed over 350 patients from all parts of the district, and covered nearly 2000 miles, thus proving to have been a sound investment. Considerable work was carried out amongst the Maoris. Investigation was ■ made in the first place by the chairI man of the local committee and the Mayor, who toured the whole district ' investigating the conditions. The natives were- later visited by Dr- Sloan .and a police constable, and assistance rendered, a large number of cases <being conveyed by motor to the special hospital provided at .Hawera. Sister Nellie, the Methodist Native Missioner, also did good work amongst the Maoris in nursing and assisting Our own staff, too, worked admirably in fact, I feel that too much cannotbe said in praise of the manner in which ' the various members responded to every call made upon them. The nurses stuck to their posts in a most self-sacrificing manner. Mention, too, must be made of the admirable way in which voluntary aid was rendered by a large number of persons who responded to the Board's appeal for assistance, and one and all rose, to the occasion in a nianner greatly exceeding all expectations. An unusual number of changes have taken place in the staff during the year. These, however, have been quite unavoidable, and I might here remind members that during the year a committee was set up to enquire into the circumstances. The report. indicated that same was due to the unusual conditions, and were quite beyond , the control of the Board. The Board was unfortunate enough to lose the services temporarily of its medical superintendent, Dr W. M. Thomson, who was called upon for military service. His place was filled by Dr J. B. MacDiarmid, to whom the Board are greatly indebted for the splendid service rendered during the influenza, epidemic. Although himself a victim, he had the responsibility of the emergency hospitals as well as the general hospital and his own private practice. Dr W. F. Buist succeeded him, and is now in charge, doing good work, but we look forward to welcoming Dr Thomson back at an early date. During the year Matron G. E. Broad was given three months' leave of absence on account of ill-health, but 1 am pleased to report that the matron is now quite restored and has resumed. i duties. During her absence the matron's place was filled by Senior Sister G. B. Davies, on whom' fell the responsibili--1 ties of conducting x the temporary and general hospitals during the influenza period. / In December the secretary, Mr C. E. Parrington resigned after 17 years' service, his place being temporarily filled by Mr C. E. Gibson. In February Mr C. M. Haggett, of Stratford, was appointed to tlie position. _ In reference to the increase of work in the hospital, permit me to give you the following figures':—Admissions for the year, 678; discharges, 612; deaths, 63; daily average, 40.4; fotal daily number patients (days), 14,767: average stay of patients (days), approximately, 21." This constitutes a considerable allround increase on last year's returns, as follows:—Admissions, 157. or 30 per cent.; discharges 113,.0r 25 per cent.; deaths, 33; daily average 5.7, or 20 per cent.; total daily numbers, increase of 2452, or 20 per cent., and an increase of approximately one day in the average length of stay. Members would do well to bear an mind that for several years there has been a steady increase in the number of

patiei'.ts admitted, and the work done at this hospital, but during the past year the increase has been much, morn marked than usual. It will also be recognised that the present buildings will not much longer sutfice if the increase continues at its present rate, and this will have an important bearing on the questions that members will be called upon to face during the coming year.

During the year the Board completed several additions to the hospital buildings: the chief of these being additional bedrooms to the nurses' home. Other alterations and improvements have been carried out in thy. X-ray room, staff dining room, kitchen and laundry. The most important, work of the year, ■ I might say for several years, has been i the securing of the hew hospital site.j and I feel that such an important stepj has been taken that I might be per-; mitted to review the circumstances th.u.j led up to it. It had long been recoa-j nised that the present hospital buildings would soon be quite^jnadequate tor the growing needs of the district, and the Board were, from time to time, furnished with reports and plans in connection with proposed extensions. Repeated attempts had, befen made t° evolve a scheme that would meet the j needs of the future, and at the sanif j time comply with the requirements oi: the Health Department, but it became apparent that the present site was not suitable, and if the future needs of the district were to be properly provided for, a site that would allow, for considerable extension must beobtainedWith this object in view several Sites in Hawera were inspected, but thf most favorable was that of , the Hunter estate, and an option over same was obtained. In company with. Messrs Winks and Marx I visited Wellington and waited 011 t&e Minister and explained the positionj and in May la&t Dr. Frengely, of the Public Health Department, inspected the site and reported favorably upon u,.\At the invitation of the Board, the Hon. the Minister of Public Health visited Hawsera and conferred with the Board, and permission to purchase and a promise of £ for £ subsidy were subsequently obtained. Before taking any definite steps in this direction, a conference of the representatives' of all contributing bodies was held, and the Board were gratified to find that its action had the endorsement of all concern- j cd. Th« Board's solicitors were instruct-! Ed to complete the negotiations, and I ! think it is a matter for congratulation: that to-day the Board hold the title-deeds of one of he finest and most suitable; blocks of land in Hawera, and I JOOU forward, gentlemen', to the day when tht Board ( will erect thereon an up-to-date hospital on the most modern and approved lines. In regard to the future, there are one or two things that the Board wil' need to consider. First, there is the matter of utilising the new site to the best advantage., It is proposed, as you are no , doubt aware, to run a small farm as an adjunct to the hospital, and in. that connection permit me to say that members of he Building Committee, together wTth. the Board's architect, have already visited the New Plymouth Board's farm with a view t° studying the best methods. Plans have been completed and. forwarded to Wellington and permission asked to erect a first-class cottage and cowshed, and although no official word has yet been received, I am in a position to assure members that there will he no difficulty (as soon as the plans are approved) in| obtaining the permission or the £ for £ subsidy. •

The matter of securing aecommodaticu for the old and infirm people of the d:strict also requires your attention. I am in hopes that the present hospital buildings will eventually be available for this or a similar purpose, and possibly the Board may see its way to undertake to provide for the surrounding district as well, but this for you to decide.