HOSPITAL YEAR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16842, 28 April 1915, Page 13

HOSPITAL YEAR.

REPORTS OF ALL DEPARTMENTS.

DECREASE IN CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.

LOCAL BODIES' LEVIES REDUCED.

Reports covering the past year of the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board's activities were received at the monthly meeting yesterday, and the estimates for the following year were adopted by the board, the effect of which is to require from the local bodies the sum of £28,691 15s 9d, a reduction of £4.821 on the levy of 1914-15. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT.

In introducing tho-annual reports of the officers, the chairman (Mr F. Horrell) said that by the completion and occupation of tho administration buildings and the Coronation hospital, the big drain on the pockets of the ratepayers had, he hoped, come to an end. The neglect of the thirty years prior to the coming into force of the Act of 1909 had had to bo paid for. Now, although the replacement of old buildings by new ones must be continued, it need not be carried on at the same speed as had been essential during tho past n>e years. This year the proposals laid before the hoard with regard to capital expenditure meant a reduction in the lew and subsidy of £12,000. That was not all saved, as the levy for maintenance was somewhat higher owing to the growth of the institutions and the increased cost of commodities.

One particular feature of the board's expenditure for the past year was the low cost of outdoor relief, wliieh was less than at anytime since 1885. The committee in charge of that branch of work had always aimed at assisting the distressed, but not at wholly maintaining those who should be able to help themselves, the most harmful form of charity being that which was so bountiful as to remove the need for effort on the part of the recipient. He. did not pretend to suggest that the committee was altogether responsible for the low expenditure, as several causes had contributed in that respect, namely, the bountiful seasons and beneficent legislation in the form of old age and widows' pensions. With regard to the institutions, he felt that they were fulfilling the functions for which they were founded. The board's work was now both curative and preventive, and every effort was being made to give effect to the intention of the legislators who framed the Acts under which the hoard works. It had been most gratifying to learn from the Inspector-General that the institutions compared more .than favourably with those of the old countries, and ho was much pleased •*n particular when Dr Valintino, at the last meeting, expressed his pleasure a.t the manner in which the board had carried out its duties. INCREASED HOSPITAL WORK.

Dr F. 0. Scott, medical superintendont of the Christchwch Hospital, in his annual report for the year 1914-15, presented to the board yesterday, said the work in the hospital had increased during the year. Although the pa--tiente from Ward 1. were removed to tho Coronation Hospital early in the year, the daily average number of patients had risen from 69G.78 to 204.7, but the average stay in hospital per paitient had dropped' from 28.45 days to 24.V} days. The percentage mortality had dropped from &l per cent to Hi per cent. Nearly 500 mir'j operations wire performed during the year thim in the previous year. 'iher' v was an unusually number of diphtheria cases. (102), with only two deaths. The previous largest number of diphtheria cases was sixty-four. During the year 3380 in-patients wore treated, as against 2714 in the previous year. in spite of the increased cost of drugs, duo to the war, the cost per patient for drugs, surgical appliances and dressings, had decreased from 12s 4d to 12s 2d. Tho new administration block was proving most satisfactory aud it greatly facilitated the work of the hospital. Ho would Jiko to record his appreciation of the officers in charge, of the various departments: they had all done their best to make their departments as efficient as possible, and at times had had to deal with great increases of work.

DENTAL DEPARTMENT. The report of tho dental department stated that tho work of the department, under tho direction of the Dental Advisory Committee, has been carried out on similar lines to those of tho previous year. Until March 9, 191.5, the rooms occupied were the "filling and ansesthetic'"' rooms, originally provided. On March 9 the department was transferred to a suite of rooms in tho new administration buildings. Tho suite comprised a "filling" or conversation room, an anaesthetic room, two recovery rooms, a staff room and a room suitable for equipment as a prosthetic laboratory The new filling room was large enough to accommodate three operating choirs and tho necessary apparatus for their use. The work of the department had been conservative dentistry, extractions and prosthetic work. In all branches of the work there had been a steady and substantial increase throughout' the year. '.Pile increase had been due to several reasons. In the first place there was evidently a growing popularity for dental perfection so fnr as dentistry can supply. Amongst the poorer classes this end was to bo reached by tho dental department of tho hospital, the function of which was to treat the teeth of those unable to pay a private practitioner for treatment.. Towards the end of 1914 a medical inspection was being made of school children and, where necessary, dental treatment was recommended. Obviously, dental treatment was most necessary in patients eligible for hospital treatment. In consequence the dental department was to meet the demauds upon it.. About the same time, that is, at the outbreak of war, and during the enlistment of members of the Now Zealand Expeditionary Forces, it was decided by the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board to treat members of the force requiring dental attention : the members of tho dental honorary staff agreeing; to treat the "pvorflow" from the department in their own surgeries for the dental department. Since August, 3915, 164 volunteers for active service had been treated, whoso treatment might be considered extra, to the original purpose, equipment and staffing of the department. Instructions were given by the board that Expeditionary r orce members should receive priority, and in consequence a great deal of the regular work had to stand over. So much was asked of the department that it was decided to apooint an assistant. The average condition of patients presenting themselves for treatment was such as to require, for complete treatment, tho work of a dental surgeon lor two whole days. Since tho time had to bo slmred amongst the patients tho proportion of patients being discharged ■with completed work was out of proportion to the number applying tor treatment. The fees charged for the operations undertaken ware the

samfe as originally arranged except that for dentures. The fee for a full sot of dentures had been raised from £2 15s to £3. For partial dentures the fees was 7s 6d for the first tooth and 2s for each additional tooth, plus 5 per cent of the total of that amount. The accounts outstanding since the dental department was commenced amounted to £lB7 10s. They included a considerable sum covered by orders on the pay of New Zealand Expeditionary Force members and which would be duly paid through the Defence Department. FIGHTING CONSUMPTION.

Dr G. J. Blackmore, in his report of the work in the tuberculosis department during the year, stated that the Sanatorium contained sixty-two hods, four being observation beds in the main building. On March 31, 1914, there were fifty-six patients in the hospital and fifty-three were admitted during the year, making a total of 109 treated. There were discharged sixty-one, and forty-five remained in the Sanatorium on March 31 of this year, three patients having died. Forty-three were discharged with the disease arrested, five much improved and five improved. Through the dispensary he had been able to keep in touch with the patients discharged, and no deaths other than the three mentioned had taken place. At the Coronation Hospital eightythree were admitted, and of these eighteen were discharged, three were transferred to the general Hospital, six were transferred to the Sanatorium and nineteen died, leaving thirty-seven remaining under treatment. "Of the sixteen with advanced disease who wore discharged with the disease unarrested," continued the report," ;t two wcro sent to tiie Hospital for treatment for diseases other than tuberculosis, and have since been readmitted, one was sent to the Cambridge Sanatorium as ho did not belong to tho Canterbury district, two were transferred to * the Sanatorium and are doing well, one left to go to hor home in Australia and ten were discharged at their own request. Of these ten, two have since died, one has left the district, five arc remaining fairly well and two are getting worse. The fact that eighty-three patif.r.ts have sought admission in ton months proves conclusively how great the need was for such aii institution, and the heavy death roll shows in what a desperate condition most of the patients were when they came in. Several died within a few days of admission.

"During the year the waiting and dressing-room accommodation at the tuberculosis dispensary " as ,lpen much improved, and. one of the old lumber rooms has been converted into a second consulting room. During the year there wcro 2819 attendances at the dispensary. .458 of these l*>ing persons who called to make inquiries. The new patients seen numbered 295. There were seventy-eight houses notified for disinfection.' eighty-five new cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were, notified. The sister-in-eharge paid 1124 visits to patients in their own homes, including seventy-five visits to patients in the country. There are at present 180 persons on the, nurse's visiting list, 130 in Christchvirch and suburbs and fifty in the country. Fourteen tents lielonging to' the hoard nro on loan through the dispensary.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES. Following are the number of _ infectious diseases reported in the district, and also the figures for the corresponding period last year:

HOSPITAL STATISTICS:

The statistics of tho General Hospital showed that in 1914-15 3380 patients' were treated as against 2714 in the previous year and 2388 in 1912-13, and on April 1 there remained in the institution 224 patients as against 230 in 1918-14 and 190 in 1912-13. The daily average number of patients in the'Hospital was 204.7 as against 196.78 in 1913-14 and 167.6 in 1912-13, while the average stay was 24.9 days compared with 28.45 days and 29.9 days, in the two previous years. The rate of mortality was 6.26 per cent as against 8.75 per cent and 9.25 per cent in the two previous years. There were performed 2421 operations as against 1932 and 1527. and 2891 out-patients received attention as against 2870 and 2330. Tho department for venereal diseases treated 110 patients. Tn drugs, dressing and surgical instruments, etc.. the cost per patient had been 14s 2<i in 1912-13, 12s 4d in 1913-14 and 12s '2d in 1914-15. The cost per occupied bed in 1912-13 was £lO, in 1013-14 £8 10s and in 1914-15 £lO ls,-4d r ESTIMATES FOR NEW ZEALAND. Following were the estimates adopted bv the board :

The net requirement, was £54,660 for mniutenanoe. The estimated revenue tv as: Rents £2OO. recoveries £IO.TOO, bequests £2OOO. a total of £13.000, 'leaving the amount, required by the board £45.480, divided as follows: Local bodies levies—Capital £lOl4 10s, maintenances £21.777 os Od : total. £23,301 Ids 9d. Subsidy --Capital £lOl4 10s. maintenance £19.882 14s 3d; total, £'21.707 Is 3d. Last year the amount required from the local bodies was £28,512 15s 3d. The population of the board s dlst.it: was 130.277 as against 136.78-1 in the previous year, and the ratable capital value was £43.104,538, against £40,152.910 in the previous year. INCREASED SALARIES. < The following increases in salaries were granted:— Hospital l —Dr Scott, from £6OO to £7U) per annum ; Miss Thurston, from £225 to £250 per annum ; senior house surgeon, from £175 to £2OO per num : junior house surgeo i. froin £IOO to £l5O per annum: acting junior house burgeon, from £75 to £IOO per annum : sisters after fourth year, from .£'Bs to £IOO per annum : dental assistant, from £65 to £7B per annum: two gardeners, from 8s 6d to 9s nor day; one senior gardener, from 9s (3d to 10s per day. Memorial Home—Two gardeners, from 8s 6d to 9s per day; one gardener, from £132 12s to £l-10 Ss per annum; head gardener, from £l4O to £l5O per annum. Ttia-rangi—Attendant, etc., from £9O to £IOO per annum. Sanatorium —Nur.se Yospor, from £45 to £3O per annum ; typist, from £26 to £52 per annum ; gardener, 9s Od to 10s per day. Office —Mr Warsaw, from £2OO to £2OB per annum: Miss Norris, from £l4O to £156 per annum: .Mips Main, from £lO4 to £ll7 per annum: Miss M’Pbail, from £7B to £9l p>>r annum.

1915 1911 Scarlet fever 284 .179 Diphtheric . 148 ' UJ Enteric fever 11 V in Tubercolosis . 18fi 2fi8 Blood Poisoning •14 84 Chicken-pox 108 85 Infantile paralysis . . 11 25 Miscellaneous • , 4 0 Total 79fi 0(2

. CAPITAL. 1914-15 191.>-16. Voted. Spent. Required. £ £ £ Hospital . . . 16,460 16.10.5 7.10 Bot-tlo Lake Hospital 2. TOo 2.26.3 260 Tree planting — — 350 Sanatorium and Coronation Hospital a,.ton 4.309 2,000 Taura.net 500 474 — Orphanage l.OG) 1.231 — Contingency — — 5(0 Total 23.180 23,458 '3.850 Allowing for £23 in hand. the net requirement was £3S2P. MAIXTEXANCE. £ £ e Hospital 21.500 20.000 21.500 Denial Department fi(K» 925 1.000 Pathological Depart meat 1,200 1,126 1.200 Akarea Hospital 50b 271 301 Kaikoura Hospital 450 38,7 450 Lyttelton Casualty Ward wst 275 300 Sanatorium 6.000 5,338 6.000 Coronation Hospital 3.003 5.055 4.030 .Bottle Lake Hospital 1,500 1.601 1.750 Pnblir Health Depart meat. 1,000 923 1.000 Tuberculosis Dispensars 650 C07 500 Taurangi 3.T5(i 3.876 ■1.100 Female Refuge I'.SW 1.175 1.300 Memorial Home 3.250 3.456 3,500 Orphanage 1.030 1.0 >6 i ,200 Armitgh Street Depot 2SO 165 250 Outdoor relief 3.750 3,203 4.0(41 Industrial and Special Schools 2,500 2,196 2,300 Medical Subsidies 100 110 150 General Expenses. 2.750 •2,6) J 3.000 Accident Insurance Fum ... 400 Contingencies 250 39 500 Total 55,550 53,570 58.700