"NOTED ECONOMY"

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 222, 18 April 1933, Page 5

"NOTED ECONOMY"

STRATFORD HOSPITAL BOARD Annua! Meeting Held FINANCES WITHIN THE ESTIMATES The annual meeting of the Stratford Hospital Board was held today, the chairman, Mr. W. L. Kennedy, presiding. Frescnt: Messrs. E. S. Rutherfurd, L. Bunn, G. P. Harkness, J. O'Neill, M. Gernh'oefer, Mesdames D. Shannon and M. T. Phillips, and the secretary, Mr. T. H. Penn.

Reviewing the year's operations, Mr. Kennedy said: "There have been no outstanding features to report. The working of the institution has been carried out smoothly, and notwithstanding the period of continued deprosion we have been able to keep within our estimates. Our noted economy of management has been favourably commented on by the Di-rector-General and others, but we cannot hope to live on the reputation of the past, seeing that we are passing through abnormal times and the prospect lor the coining year is one fraught with concern in view of the very low prices we are receiving for our primary products and the consequent inability of many of our patients through unemployment and lack of income to pay the fees. Amendments to Act

During the year amendments to ; the Hospital Act had been made, in '. which it is gratifying to note that j the spirit of the resolutions of the i Conference of Hospital Boards was ; not departed from, and that the Min- j ister of Health favoured a mutual , agreement between Boards, as i against the drastic proposals of the . Economy Commission. One of the j most important clauses of the Am- I ending Act was no doubt brought | about by the repeated requests of j Hospital Boards for protection from j the gross evasion of payment of fees i in accident cases, when damages are j awarded the patient. During the ' past year the health of the district j has been good in that there has been , an absence of any epidemic of in- ; fections diseases. The number of ; occupied beds has been falling from .; 39 last year to 35, and the admissions j to the inoculation wards from 72 In j 41 this year, with only 4 remaining I at the end of the month. I Costs Contrasted It may be interesting <o members • and the public to contrast the cost per occupied bed with the average i of all the hospital beds in the Do I minion as at March, 1932, Stratford , figures first in all cases—Provisions j £27 2s, £34 ss; surgery and <Js- l pensary £7 4s, £ls Is; domostice j £2l 2s, £3l ss; salaries and wages j £66 7s, £BS 7s; miscellaneous, nil, , £2 Ss; establishment d;i3 Is, £l2O. ; Totals: Stratford £135 6s, against j the Dominion average of £ISL lis. As ; anticipated at the beginning of the j year, an increase ".kis taken place j in the cost per occupied bed from j £135 Gs to £146 Bs. This no doubt { can be accounted for to an extent, by j the drop in admissions from 671 m 616, the overhead cost remaining th-2 same. So that by the most careful \ investigating, the levy will have to I be increased by about 2id. In this ! connection it should be pointed out j that the maternity wards are includ- . ed in tho general hospital, which j helps to increase the general cost, j Babies born ar<j not counted as ;-.!- j missions, but require a lot of atten- j tion, and the anti-natal clinic occu- I pies a great deal of the staff's time, j

In regard to the working of the j Annexe there have been 163 admis- , sions and 155 babies born during the j year. We are fortunate in that there , has still been no maternal mortality j and to date there have been alto- j gethe'r 1365 admissions. A great deal ] of responsibility has been thrown j on the matron owing to changes in j the nurses in charge. ,'

Tangarakau Medical Association Since the completion of the Stratford Main Trunk the membership of this Association has of necessty I decreased so that in the near future i it is anticipated that now arrange j raenta will have to be entered into. , Steps are now being taken as to the possibility of combining with the I Whangamomona Association. In the : meantime arrangements have been j made between the Board and the ; Association to continue the services, of the doctor for another six months j on the present lines. We have to t thank the Assciation for the loyal j manner in which they have met their j obligations and lor the friendly re- j lations between the Association and., the Board. j

The Whangamomona Association The Whangamomona Association has continued to function to the satisfaction of the Board. For some time Nurse McCarrol has been indisposed and her place has been tilled for some time by nurses from the hospital and at present Nurse Robertson is filling the vacancy with satisfaction. The present arrangements will continue for another six months when th'j whole position at Whangamomona and Tangarakau will have to be reviewed. The withdrawal of the subsidy by the Department towards the support of these associations has been a heavy drain on the Board's finances, and representations should be made requesting a reinstatement. Relations with the Friendly Socio ties have been of a most cordial and satisfactory nature, and our thanks are due to Mr. Ewing, the secretary and treasurer, for his promptness in rendering his accounts during the past your. There have been larger number.-; of Friendly Societies' patients than usual in the hospital. During the coming year there will need to be a good deal of improvement made to the older parts of the hospital by way of painting and general repairs that have too long been neglected in order that the Board might economise, which cannot Longer be overlooked. This will msd to be provided for in this yeni s estimate d.

During the past, year changes have taken place in the personnel of the Board by the retirement of Mr. J. F. Belcher and the appointment of Mrs D. Shannon ir his place, and later the sudden death of an old and valued member, Mr. E. Marfell, whose

place has been taken by the appointment of Mr. L. Luun. la conclusion, our thanks are duo to uie Mecucal Superintendent, Matron and stau tor tneir uiuainng courtesy and loyalty to the Board and myseii, ana also to Mr. T. H. Penn ior the caretui and emcient manner with which ins work is carried our. To all members of the Board 1 uo sire to tender my thanks tor their consideration and courtesy to mo as miiiirmaii during tne past year, and r,n- the interest taken in all unit yortuins to the institution.

Superintendent's Annual Report 'rue report tor warded by the Medical Superintendent, (Dv. J». Steven; slated unit Lorine year ending March ;u ine admission tigures showed a decrease ((«V r last year to Glti), which was largely due to the lessened number of admissions from Tuugarakau. Tue cost per occupied bed will bo higner this year.

j Specialist cases: Three cases i were sent, to other hospitals and two i cases for special out-patient trouti men:. j Mortality: 23 deaths, senility and i its complications S. heart, disease o i cancer :'., diphtheria ~, motor accij dents ~, pneumonia, laryngitis, spina ; : niiid.-i. mogalacolon, phthisis and lysol j poisoning, one each. There have been ; L 9-1 operations performed, Wo adniis- ! sions to the maternity ward and :.V) j births. There has been no mortality i during Ihe year or since the Annexe : was opened. Visits lor the year mini ! bored 526.

I Tell the neighbours here and now, j Phone them and impel them, j Tell tho neighbours why ami how 1 You feel urged to tell them, Tell the neighbours one by one, Till your talc is told and done. Tell Ihe neighbours scon and sure—- " Colds need Woods' Great Peppermint Cure." . —5