HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 18, 16 January 1929, Page 2

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

NINE MONTHS’ WORKING, TAX ON ACCOMMODATION. “At tliQ beginning of a new year, ’ said tho chairman (Mr W, D. Kennedy) at yesterday’s meeting of the . Hospital Board, “it may be of inter- - est to members if I submit aj few ) facts .and figures as to the state ol _ tho institution, and show a compan- , son as regards number of patients and cost of maintenance between the past nine months and previous i period's. Notwithstanding the increased number of patients and attunes the overcrowded state of tho * hospital, the staff has given loyal ' service, and there has been no fricL tion. At times the accommodation ’ has been seriously inadequate. The average number of occupied beds for ! 1927-8 was 31.9 and for the past nine • months it hag averaged 39. At the 1 same time the expenditure in gen- ■ cral maintenance has very considers ably decreased. | efficiency maintained. “The general efficiency of the hoe- ’ pital has been well maintained, while the ratepayers’ interests have been carefully conserved. The number of patients dealt with during the time was 531 or approximately 708 for the year, as against 571 for the previous year. A very considerable improvei ment has been made in the appearance of the ground's, while a larger ' area of garden has been planted. The o-.f-nt addition to the laundry has been greatly appreciated. On Christmas Eve the Matron and staff (who deserve the thanks of the Board for their efforts) had a very beautiful Christmas tree erected, from which Father Christmas delighted old and young with gifts. On the previous Sunday, St. Andrew’s Sunday School Choir rendered some beautiful Christmas carols, which were much appreciated. The number of. patients in the Annexe was 99, about the same average as last year. There we*e 42 in the isolation ward for the past nine months, an increase above the usual. The Chairman went on to say that in 1928 the cost of drugs per head was £8 10s, but in some hospitals this cost was a 8 high as £2U ot Mr O’Neill said he thought the Stratford Board’s, levy was tho lowest of any in the Wellington province. ~ , , . i The Chairman: The patients fees are the lowest. The report was adopted.