HOSPITAL BOARD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 141, 16 May 1941, Page 6

HOSPITAL BOARD

ACTIVITIES REVIEWED

ADDRESS BY MR J. A. NASH.

An extensive review of hospital activities was given last evening in an election address by Mr J. A. Nash, who is a candidate for seats on the Palmcrston North Hospital Board and the ManawatuOroua Electric Power Board. Mr Nash explained that, as chairman of the Hospital Doard, ho felt that he was called upon to meet the ratepayers and make a general statement about hospital affairs. '•The Hospital Board's primary function is to maintain a service lor the .needs of •ihe community as. regards hospital inpatient and out-patient treatment, and tho earing for old or intirm persons who are not fully able to maintain themselves." said Mr Nash. "The old interpretation of these duties was that wo should erect buildings, take people in, look after them when thev are sick, discharge them as scon as possible, and take little or no interest in their welfare between periods of hospital in-patient treatment. Out-patient services were limited to minimum services given to the indigent section of the community. Tn the last 15 years there, has been it gradual recognition of the fact, that these principles were unsound and that the development of our services must be en a much wider plan if we are to cater for the minimum needs of a modern community. Consequently, progressive steps have been taken afong the following lines:— "1. Better classification of patients while under treatment; the erection of separate institutions for incurable cr chronica.ly infirm patients; the better grouping of pa tients within institutions including the subdivision of wards, and the erection of new wards on a subdivided plan. "2. The adoption of sounder methods of preliminary investigations into patients' conditions before their admisison to the General Hospital. This has been done by the establishment of investigating 'clinics.' The system ensures a better service to tho patient and conserves the use of hospital beds. "3. The undertaking of certain types of preventive, work, including very active measures against tuberculosis with the establishment, of free clinics, .free chest X-rays, and the supervision through the district, i nurse and the tuberculosis specialist of all known cases of pulmonary tuberculosis. I Also in this connection our work has been | extended so as to ensure full co-ordina-|tion with the school medical system wherc- : under the district nurse co-operates fully with the school medical officer. •'4. Another special development has been along the lines of recognising that the patient's home condition and matters affecting the general welfare have a great bearing on much sickness. The system of introducing the almoner service to co-oper-ate with the medical servkc of the Hospital, and tho investigation and followup that is done, by such service, apart from the great 'help to the patient concerned, a->ist in ensuring that the. hospital beds available arc used for cases wliieh need them most, and that other services which arc provided are used in a manner which promotes the greatest welfare of the patient and all-round efficiency of the institution.''

Since the introduction of social security legislation the Ijcard had adopted a policy, Mr Nash said, of endeavouring to ensure that as the Government had now increased general taxation and was now devoting a considerable portion of this taxation to hospital and allied social services, th eboard should prevent any increase ill local taxation for this same purpose. This year, for tho fourth in succession, the board bad not made any increases in the hospital rates in the district. Tn fact, during ihc last three years there had been a small decrease in the amounts which tlie beard had demanded from the local bodies, and the speaker thought this was a policy which would prove itself to be sound in the long run. He compared the favourable position of the Palmerslon North board in this respect with that of other boards adjacent to the district.

ARMY REQUIREMENTS. "We have certain building operations in progress at the present tune, but these Jiave been planned so that the necessary loan expenditure is being met over a period ol years and the annual bmden of rates is a very small one, ' Mr Nash continued. "The Hospital Doard at the present time is catering for over 250 patients l'almerston Worth Hospital. "The Government has decided that it is part of our work to cater for the Army, Navy and Air Force patients, including Territorials, und wo frequently have as many as 50 of these classOri under our charge. We receive a total payment of lis per day for each of these patients made up of 6s from Social Security and 5s from the Army Department, but it is the duly of hospital boards to provide building's, equipment,! and to meet other expenses necessary to maintain these patients and which no doubt our ratepayers will cheerfully agree to do. As the cost of hospital treatment at the present time is nearer £1 than lis per day this means that part of the war effort does fall on the local district us far as expenditure in this connection is concerned. Then wc must expect that many returned soldiers will require treatment, and I am sure that all the people in the district will feel that every possible facility must bo provided for our soldiers when tliey return, and this has largely influenced the., board in pushing on with certain parts' of, its_ building programme, despite war conditions. Included in the proposed new building is an extensive mussagc department and the board's advisors have pointed out that such extension of this department will be essential to enable us to cope with the work which we anticipate. Mr Nash went on lo deal with the modernisation and improvement in the past few years of what was formerly the Old Peopic's Home at Awupuui, where there was now a modern hosiUal of between 40 arid 50 beds, and the taking over by the Palinerston North Board of the Otakl Sanatorium. The cost, of this latter institution, he said, had been met from fees received from hospital boards which sent, their patients to Otaki. The board had modernised and greatly improved tho institution since taking control of it. Ho also spoke of tho war emergency situation as it affected hospital boards, saying that it would be realised thai when the boards had to consider the estab.ishnicnl of large temporary hospitals and prepare plans and equipment accordingly a tremendous responsibility was placed on them. HOSPITAL STAFF.

For emergency work, the area from New Plymouth to Wellington city and to the East Cape, including Gisbornc, had been placed under the control of one hospital officer, and the administration of. this work was centred in Palmcrston North, the managing-secretary (Mr A. J. L'hillipps) being . the hospital officer for the whole urea. "The board," Mr Nash said, "is proud of the fact that u large number of our sisters and nurses, administration, and mule domestic slalf arc on active service. Our matron (Mis= Bank*) has been exceptionally busy training aids in ■ case of emergency. Tne following represents the nursing statf: Seventeen sisters, 20 stall' nurses. a;:d 108 nurees in training, making a total of 145, and more will bo required when the present buildings now in course of construction are completed. Wo have 10 district nurses made up as follow : Two each at Palmerston North and one each at Levin, Foxton, Shannon and _ Otaki, one relieving and one part time. With the rapid growth of the hospital it is interesting to note that, apart from the provision made at Awnpuni since 1929. we have only added the Ilornblow Ward of 25 beds. During the same period the bed rate has risen from 201 to 234. This is very satisfactory and in a great measure has been brought ahout by the medical superintendent by the introduction of the outpatient clinic and the introduction of an almoner and had it not been for this new j system we should have had to add to the I hospital a great deal more accommodation. In 1937 the average days' stay was 24.6 rand for 1940 it was reduced to 19.67. I j mention these facts to show the care that is being exercised in keeping down expetcliture. 1 think I am justified in sayI ins that we nave one of the best, if not ' the beat district nurse services in New Zca- ! land, and these women are doing a very

line work. • "Another instance of the increase in work is in the X-ray department. In 1935-39 39 4201 patients were X-rayed, and with war work adiied for 1940 the number had risen to 9002. In the massage department in 1939-40 treatments numbered 15,219, while last year they increased to 20.454. "The total indebtodnc.-s of the hospital is £90,600, but the new buildings in course of erection and to be erected will add another £91,000 by way of loan. They consist of trie Centennial block. morgue kitchen block addition, new Out-patient block, engine-room and boilers. ambulance station, tutorial block, Maternity J lonic additions, and I want to assure you that these additions arc urgently required We have no desire to increase the liabilities of local bodies and havo held these matters up for some time. For the past three years we have been told by the department that we must erect a new five-stotey block to replace a portion of the original part of the hospital and which has been condemned for the past 14 years. However, we are doing our best to avoid this expenditure wnich would mean at least £IOO,OOO. "I consider we have been most fortunate in our executive officers. Mr Phillipp« (the managing secretary) is well qualified anil ranks as one of the best in New Zealand. In Mr North we havo a most capable administrator in charge of the hospital, and Mi»s Banks, sinco her appointment as matron, has made a great, success of her work. Everything possible is being done for patients entering hospital ami if rc-elculed 1 can assure you that 1 shall still endeavour to do my duly to the patients in our institution and to look after the interests of the ratepayers of the district." Dealing with the Power Board, Mr Nash said that its object was to reduce costs of power for lighting and heating for the benefit of consumers and this policy was being faithfully carried out. He hoped to continue assisting the board to give the same service in this respect as in the past. Mr Nash was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence by (hose present on the motion of -the chairman (Mr IT. 1.. Cubitt).