MEDICAL OFFICER'S REPORT

Manawatu Times, Volume XLII, Issue 1809, 6 May 1921, Page 6

MEDICAL OFFICER'S REPORT

TO PALMERSTON NORTH HOSPITAL BOARD.

The annual medical report submitted by Dr. G. A. Forrest, medical superintendent to the Palmerston North Hospital Board yesterday, states that the tolal number of cases .treated in the hospital during the year Was 1011. Of these 74 died, giving a death rate of 5.6 per cent. The average number of days stay in the hospital was 25.7 and the daily average of buds occupied, 70.5. There were 524 operations performed, with a death rate of 23 —4.3 per cent. Of these appendicitis accounted for 101 cases with two deaths. Many of these cases were desperately ill when they/reached hospital after a long journey, and owed their recovery to the prompt treatment of the honorary staff and subsequent careful nursing. There Were 113 operations for the removal of tonsils and adenoids and 2d operations for the cure of hernia. Four of these cases were strangulated and required immediate operation; one of the four died. There were nine operations for cancer with one deatn. Of the infectious diseases treated, cases of dipthena were much the most numerous, although little more than half of the number for the previous year. There were 51 cases and two subsequently died. Six cases ot typhoid fever were admitted and all recovered. Other cases were: —Scarlet fever, 21 cases, no deaths; consumption, 13 cases; other tubercular diseases, 23. Twenty-six cases of can. cer were admitted, nine being operated on, with one death.*

The Martin Memorial Block was now occupied by'the radiologist and bacteriologist. It added very materially to the comfort ot the patients and the convenience of the staff to have the X-ray plant under the same roof instead of having to transport the patient on a stretcher in all sorts of weather to an outbuilding. The bacteriological laboratory had already proved to be very useful, and should stimulate interest in the medical side of the hospital by providing facilities for clearing up the diagnosis in doubtful cases. To take the case of diptheria, only a bacteriological examination could distinguish it from other throat affections. Before the laboratory was established throat swabs sent to Wellington, in a great many cases were negative, owing to the time that elapsed in transit. Now most of the reports were positive, and were received within twelve hours of admission instead of three or four days later. This should tend to shorten the stay in hospital, and also to make certain that the disease is-not being carried away to the patient's home. During the past year there had been a great deal of over-crowd-ing in both the women's and men's wards. Extra beds on the verandahs and down the middle of the wards had caused much inconvenience and overwork to the nursing staff. Many patients also had had to.be refused admission for lack of accommodation It was hoped that this would shortly be remedied by the opening of the new wards. The Board had sustained a great loss in Dr. Whitaker who had built up a special department for eye, ear, nose and throat cases, and who was most assiduous in looking after his cases. The training and supervision of the nursing staff had been carried out by the matron and deputymatron with their usual thoroughness, resulting in a high standard of efficiency.