WORK AT HOSPITAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 118, 20 April 1931, Page 2

WORK AT HOSPITAL

THE YEAR IN RETROSPECT. MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. The annual report of the medical superintendent of the Palmerston North Hospital (Dr. F. Ward), which reviews operations for the year ended March 31, is as follows: Statistics.—Patients in hospital April 1, 1930, 199; patients admitted during year 2700, t0ta1.2899; patients discharged during year 2556, patients died during year 140, total 2696; patients remaining in hospital March 31, 1931. 203; daily average number of occupied beds, 192.09; individual average days’ stay, 25.93. The individual average days’ stay may at first sight appear high, but from figures taken.out over a period of six months, it will be seen that the increased stay is entirely due to the presence in hospital of patients the nature of whose illness requires them to stay for a period of more than three months. Thus the average days’ stay of acute medical and surgical cases for a period of six months works out at an average davs stay of 15.65. Deaths.—One hundred and forty deaths occurred during the year. Of these, 23 occurred within 24 hours of admission. The general rate was therefore 4.82, with an adjusted death rate of 4.03, making allowance for deaths occurring within 24 hours of admission.

General.—During the latter part of 1930, from the point of view of economy, it was found necessary to close the upstairs Wilson ward. This remained closed up until February 4. 1931, when it was.re-opened for the admission •of patients from Hawke’s Bay. No further' opportunity of closing it has arisen. The alterations to the Princess Mary-ward, particularly the alterations to the sterilising and duty room, has improved the administration of the ward. It is to be hoped that as soon as finance permits, the sterilising room in the Prince of Wales ward will be altered likewise. The casualty and admission room continues to give excellent service, and admission of patients from the ambulance being made very much easier. While referring to this, the admission of patients from cars still presents a problem. These patients have to be brought up an asphalt ramp to the main entrance, in wheel chairs. This in itself is no easy task, and the ramp becomes extremely slippery at times. I .should like to recommend that one side of the ramp be re-graded, and that the other side be made into steps, as numbers of people have fallen, some rather heavily. Theatre work. —The total number of operations is approximately the same as last year, and is composed as follows. The total operations performed for the year ending March 31, 1931, were 1223, as under:—General operations, including minor operations, teeth extractions, etc.. 596; operations for tonsils and adenoids, 266; gynaecological operations, 137; operations for appendicitis, 162; operations for hernia, 38; operations for cancer, 14: operations for goitre. 10. The management of the theatre for the last twelve months has been most satisfactory.

Infectious diseases. —lnfectious disease admissions can be classified as under:—Scarlet fever 37, diphtheria 33, pneumonia 6, phthisis 15, puerperal sepsis 8, hydatid disease 2, erysipelas 3. The number of infectious cases has been very much lower this year. This is entirely seasonal, and no indication of what we may expect this coming year or succeeding years.

Maternity Home.—Great credit is due to Sister Henderson, for. the way in which the home has been managed, and it will be seen that it has been managed most economically. Patients admitted during the year totalled 282, births totalled 262, while the number of attendances at the ante-natal clinic was 513. Resident staff.—Miss’ McGhie was compelled to go off duty for some weeks towards the end of 1930, through illness, but I am pleased to state that she is now well and on duty again. It is my pleasure to record the excellent work of the two house surgeons, Dr. Gillies and Dr. Heycock, during a very busy year, in which our average number of occupied beds has been greater than at any time in the bistort of the hospital. In reporting to you the resignation of Dr. Gillies, I should like to express my appreciation of her excellent .work during the three years she has been on the staff. T have nothing but praise for her. She has at all times acted in the best interests of the patients and of the hospital. In conclusion I would like to record my appreciation of the help received from the honorary staff, and their co-opera-tion in all matters.