NEW ZEALAND HOSPITALS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 746, 18 June 1886, Page 30

NEW ZEALAND HOSPITALS.

DR. GRABHAM’S FINAL REPORT. The final report of the late Inspector of Hospitals was presented to Parliament on Wednesday evening. Of the New Zealand Hospitals generally, Dr Grabham says:—“As to the condition in which I have found, the various establishments upon my visits of inspection, I may remark that I have seldom had to find fault. The comfort and well-being of the patients everywhere receives proper attention at the hands of the resident officers and committees of management; and I have been glad to notice in many places a growing interest taken by the residents in their local hospital, as evidenced by frequent visits, and gifts of flowers, furniture, and ornamental objects. The Charitable Aid Bill passed last session is only yet upon its trial; and it is too early to speak as to its working. I regret to observe, however, that under its provisions the whole of the superfluous hospitals are likely to be maintained at the public expense as ‘ separate institutions.’ The residents in large districts, situated far away from any existing hospital, having hitherto taken care of their sick and injured in private dwellings, are very naturally aggrieved at being called upon . to contribute to the maintenance of a hospital too far off to be of any material value to them. The result will certainly be a demand for the erection in such outlying districs of local hospitals. Thus the new legislation will increase rather than diminish the number of establishments. Some difficulty is already showing itself where a medical school exists in connection .with a hospital. Here certain cases are admitted for operation by specialists, or for illustrating diseases to the students, the patients being often brought from distant places, and in some instances without much hope of benefit. The ratepayers very naturally object to contribute to the cost of a medical school. I have no doubt that under the new Act some check will be put upon the use of hospitals by improper objects of charity, and upon the bestowal of gratuitous treatment upon those who are able to pay a more or less adequate sum for their maintenance. My visits during the year 1885 numbered 27, and would have been more numerous but for impaired health, which prohibited my making long journeys by coach. My work as Inspector of Hospitals being finished, I look back with great satisfaction upon the contrast which is noticeable between the present state of the Hospitals and their condition three and a half years ago. It has all along been evident to me that the officials in charge of these institutions were both ready and willing to learn any thing which I could teach them as the result of an experience of 25 years in the management of large establishments at Home. Everywhere I have been courteously received, my criticisms taken in good part, and acted upon without delay ; and it is my proud boast that I have never had an angry word with either officer or patient.” TKE WELLINGTON HOSPITAL. Reporting specially on the Wellington Hospital, Dr. Grabham says of one inspection “ The wards I found in their usual good order, but the staff of nurses short-handed. It appears that three of their number are incapacitated for duty by illness. I find that the new apparatus for the supply of hot water. to the establishment gives satisfaction. Additional rooms for the nursing-staff are badly required. It is not unreasonable to attribute the prevalent illness tc the insanitary rooms which the nurses now occupy. One of these rooms has a large plunge-bath beneath the floor, and was offensive (at the time of my visit) with the smell from adjoining urinals and earthclosets, which pervaded the whole of the back corridor. These offices were recently remodelled and much improved; but they are badly placed, and it appears, impossible, with the wind in a certain direction, to prevent bad odours from entering the corridor. At the earliest possible opportunity proper water-closets should be provided, and connected with the town sewers.” After the final inspection, Dr Grabham says:—“The patients resident number eighty namely, sixty-one males and nineteen females. There are now a number of empty beds; whereas, a few weeks ago difficulty was experienced in providing the necessary accommodation for cases of urgency. To-day is one of the three days in each week devoted to out-patients,. of whom I saw about twenty in attendance. This number is about the usual one. A large number of the convalescent and other patients were enjoying the beautiful day by sitting or walking in the grounds, which are kept in very good order. To these patients, as well as to those confined to tlieir beds, I addressed various inquiries as to tlieir comfort and treatment, obtaining in every case satisfactory replies. The fever hospital has been occupied until this afternoon by an erysipelas patient (male). A few days ago a female patient, judged to be suffering from infectious disease, was also there, and occupied of necessity the nurse’s room, there being only one ward in this bui’ding. The nurse in charge had to sleep on the floor of the entrancelobby. Here is another proof of the want of a small ward for females, which I have formerl3 T recommended to be added to the building. The whole of the wards I found in excellent order and beautifully clean. If no new articles of furniture or ornament were noticeable, it was because there was no need for them, the wards being already very completely ; provided with such things. Cut flowers, conI tinue to be liberally supplied by lady visitors.

The. earth-closets entered from the back corridor were certainly not free from offensive smell, and they will continue a source of trouble and annoyance until replaced by proper water-closets. The construction of the main drain in the adjacent public road will shortly render this practicable. The bath-rooms are badly fitted, and are used a 3 receptacles for soiled linen. This is an objectionable practice, though perhaps unavoidable while the laundry is occupied as a refuge for old ) women ; but I noticed a great want of tidiness, more particularly in those bath-rooms behind Nos. 1,3, and 4 wards. Old shoes, boards, bottles, rags, and other articles should find a more appropriate home; while a broken thermometer in one, and a ‘ maximum and minimum ’ greenhouse thermometer in another, were useless for ascertaining the temperature of a bath. The kitchen-range appears to work in a very unsatisfactory manner. The ovens are so slo w in their action as to spoil the appearance and tenderness of the meat, while the hot-water supply from the range-boiler is at present a complete failure. This defect ought to be within easy remedy. The general supply of hot water from the large boilers elsewhere continues very satisfactory. I® the small kitchens attached to each ward the ranges have been replaced by ‘ register stoves,’ with a gas arrangement above for heating or boiling water or other fluids. The result is very good. The consumption of alcoholic stimulants, though still very high this last month, is considerably less than was the case in the previous one. My opinion upon this matter is already so well known that I need say no more in this place upon the subject. A great many changes have occurred in the hospital resident staff since my last report. Miss Marsden, the Lady Superintendent, being unable to continue in office through the results of a severe fall, has been succeeded by Mrs Hermansen as matron. Mr Rountree is now the steward, and Mr Good the dispenser. Dr Hassall, as Resident Medical Officer, will, in my opinion, do excellent service in promoting the efficiency and popularity of the institution.”