HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143768, 17 April 1912, Page 4

HOSPITAL BOARD.

INTERESTING REVIEW. BY THE CHAIRMAN. At the annual meeting of the naki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board to-day the chairman (Mr. F. C. J. Bellringer) presented the following report; In accordance with what is now an established custom, 1 have the honour to submit for your information the following brief review ot the more noteworthy features of the work and operations of the board for the year just ended. NEW HOSPITAL. In my last annual report I indicated that the board, acting on the recommendation of the Inspector-General, had decided upon the erection of a more commodious and up-to-date hospital, the old hospital, which was erected in 1887, haying outlived its usefulness and being altogether too small to meet the necessities of the district. In addition also the increased area of the hospital district had tended to greatly increase the overcrowding of the institution, rendering new buildings absolutely necessary. The preparation of the plans was entrusted to Messrs, Atkins and Bacon, of Wellington, specialists in the preparation of plans for hospital buildings. The draft plans have been before the board on several occasions, and have received most carefnl consideration. After a conference with the InspectorGeneral of Hospitals, the medical staff and the board, the ground plans were finally approved in January, 1912. In the old hospital provision was made for 28 beds, although for some years, by overcrowding the building, more patients have been accommodated. In the new hospital provision will be made for 100 beds. The building will be of the most modern type, containing four large wards, a children’s ward, single and two-bed wards, with all necessary administrative, medical and sur-. gical accommodation. In the preparation of the plans we have endeavoured both to meet the immediate, needs of the present and to make reasonable provision for those of the future, and at the same time we have endeavoured not to lose sight of the necessity of cutting down the total cost as far ns possible, and ■ not incurring any expenditure that is not absolutely necessary for the efficient working' of the institution. It is anticipated, therefore, that the accommodation provided will be ample for many years, but due consideration has been given to the fact that at some future time additions ami extensions will be necessary, and the building ,is so planned that additional wards can be added as occasion demands. The building will be erected on the site from which the Old People’s Home was recently removed. A portion of Tamar Street was purchased from the Borough Council, thus bringing the land occupied by the hospital into one block and providing ample room for the erection of the building and any future extensions. The site has been prepared at a cost of £7OO, and is now ready for the erection of the building. The final plans will shortly be placed before you for consideration, after which, no doubt, tenders will be invited for the erection of the building, I would recommend that no contributions be asked from the local bodies affected until the tenders have been received and considered, when the board will be in a position to know the exact amount required. 'l'he Hon. Minister for Hospitals on his recent visit gave his assurance that the local bodies concerned would have no difficulty in obtaining the advance from the Government of whatever money may be required on the most advantageous conditions. Both the Prime Minister and the Minister for Hospitals, after a visit to the present buildings, concurred with the view of the board that the present accommodation was totally inadequate and the buildings obsolete, and congratulated the board on its intention to erect modern and up-to-date buildings. OLD PEOPLE’S HOME. The Home is now established on the now site at West own, and although the initial cost may seem heavy, I feel sure that the decision of the board in acquiring this valuable property and removing the Home thereto was a wise one, the wisdom of which will be more and more appreciated in years to come. With the larger area of land now available the institution is largely self-supporting; It is now possible to provide all the milk, vegetables, and poultry required both at the Old People’s Homo and at the Hospital, the more able-bodied of the males of the Home providing the necessary labour. The man in charge of the farming operations at the Homo reports that during the past six months 4322 gallons of milk have boon supplied to the Home and the Hospital. This at Is per gallon would have cost the board .£216, a sum more than sufficient to pay the interest on the land purchased for the Home and the salary of the man in charge of the farming. In addition to this the board has the satisfaction of knowing that the quality of the milk is of the very best. It is satisfactory to note that, as anticipated, the removal of the Home ,to its new site has had an appreciable effect for the better upon the health of the inmates. At the beginning of the year there were 31 inmates; during the year 30 were admitted, 18 discharged, 9 died, and 34 remained at the end of the year. Mrs. Bayly is still in charge of the Home, and has discharged her duties in an eminently satisfactory manner.

MEDICAL STAFF. There has been no permanent change in the personnel of the medical staff during the period under review. The medical superintendent, Dr. Walker, during his visit to the Old Country, purchased several modern surgical appliances, which have been installed in the institution. The thanks of the board are due to him for the trouble ho gave to this matter. During Dr. Walker’s absence the duties of medical superintendent were carried out by Mr. Wylie in a manner highly creditable to himself and to the complete satisfaction of the board. Dr. Home acted as assistant medical officer, and Dr. Blackley in charge of the Old People’s Home and charitable aid. Dr., Leatham still continues in charge of the X-ray department. The year has been a heavy one, but the work has been carried out in the usual efficient manner. It is also desirable to place on record at this stag© the appreciation of the board of the very valuable services of the honorary medical staff during. the j>ast jear.

NDRSING STAFF. Miss Brown is still in charge of the Hospital, and has under her one submatron, five sisters, and fourteen probationers. The total number, of patients under treatment for the year was 444, the individual average stay of patients was 29.63 days, and the daily average number of patients was 35.96. Owing to the large number of patients and the consequent overtaxing of the accommodation of the institution, the work of the nursing staff has been the heaviest yet experienced, and this no doubt was one of the reasons for the large amount of sickness amongst the nursing staff itself. The devotion of the matron and staff to their duties has been highly praiseworthy, and has been much appreciated by the patients, by the medical staff, and by the board. MAINTENANCE OF INCURABLES. A conference between the Hawera, Stratford, and Taranaki Boards was held during the year and an agreement arrived at by which, on the erection of the new hospital, the present building will bo used for the accommodation of incurables from the provincial district of Taranaki. In the meantime, temporary provision is being • made for suitable cases at the Old People’s Home. ; INFECTIOUS DISEASES. I The Hospital and Charitable Institutions Amendment Act, 1910, having placed on the hoard the duty of taking steps for the prevention of the spread of infectious diseases, the board appointed Mr. A. H. Kendall to be Inspector of Infectious Diseases, and he took up his duties in August last, the secretary having carried out the duties temporarily pending the appointment of the inspector. The inspector has been fully occupied, and has performed his duties in a painstaking manner. The outbreak of typhoid amongst tiro Natives at Puniho and the measures taken by the inspector to prevent the spread of the disease were themselves sufficient to demonstrate the absolute necessity for such au appointment. TARANAKI BACK-BLOCKS NURSE. Nurse O’Callaghau,- who had. proved herself a capable and obliging nurse, resigned her position in December last, having held the position for fifteen months. Nurse Kennedy was appointed to fill the vacancy, and, like her predecessor, has given every satisfaction. The appointment of a nurse for the back-blocks was originally hi the nature of an experiment. Her headquarters are at Uruti, but on occasion her duties take her over 30 miles from that centre. The experience and reports of these nurses are. indeed a- revelation of the appalling hardships and sufferings of the women settlers in the back-blocks. It is satisfactory, therefore, to feel that this board was the first to make a move in the direction of relieving to some extent these sufferings. It is to be hoped that the success which has attended the inauguration of this system will bo widely extended in this and other districts. The . great difficulty is in getting to the . homes of the settlers owing to the want of good roads and the bad state of the arterial .roads. The Hon. Minister in Charge of Hospitals, on his recent visit, expressed his sympathy with the back-block settlers, and stated that it was the desire of the Government to assist as far as possible in providing facilities for picdical and nursing attendance for tbjese settlers. In my opinion the real solution of the difficulty is good arterial roads, which would bring the settlers in the most distant part of the district within 2-j hours (by motor) of 'the medical men and of the base hospital at New Plymouth. The experience of one of our medical staff on a visit to Mnkau recently revealed a state ■ of affairs in regard to roads that should not exist in any country which has been so long open to settlement. I trust, therefore, that this phase, of the question will receive the most careful consideration of the Government for the time being of the Dominion. CHARITABLE AID. I am pleased to be able to report that charitable aid is on the! decrease in this district, only one family in Now Plymouth and two in Inglewood being relieved last year. This .must surely show the district to be in a prosperous condition. DESTITUTE CHILDREN. We. have at present only five destitute children under the board’s care at New Plymouth and one in the industrial school in Auckland. The system adopted by' the board whereby good homes have been provided for destitute children at no cost to they board has been continued with the very best results. The system is a splendid one, and there is no doubt that the great majority of these children will grow up to be good citizens and useful members of the community. FINANCE. As will be seen from the statement of receipts and expenditure, the board commenced the year with a credit balance of £1093 11s 3d, but, as I then pointed out. there were outstanding liabilities which reduced this amount to a net credit balance of £l2l. The receipts for the year amounted to £6761 3s 9d, of which payments from patients amounted to £1319 18s lOcf, the average collected per patient amounting to £4 2s, as against £5 8s 8d last year. Even with this decrease the average payment per patient compares more than favourably with any hospital in the Dominion. Tire donations amounted to £479, as against £823 for the previous year, which, however, was an exceptional year in this respect. The general expenditure has not increased to any appreciable extent on the expenditure of the previous year. The cost of administration of the Hospital shows a slight inerca.se, but the cost of administering the' Old People’s Home a decrease. At the beginning of the year I moved that the levy should be 9d per £IOO, pointing out that in view of certain anticipated extraordinary expenditure the Kvy of 8d per £IOO would result in a substantial over-draft. The, levy w-as eventually fixed at 8d per £IOO, and, as anticipated, we have the overdraft. The total expenditure amounted to £9665, leaving a debit balance of £lBlO Ss lOd. In addition there were liabilities amounting to £1349 on general account and £SOO to be paid from the building lory when struck. On the other side, however, there was a sum of £1289 due for the Government subsidy. The extraordinary expenditure, which included renovating the present hospital, preparation of site of new hospital, sheds, fencing, stock, etc., at Old People’s Home, and . salary

of inspector, amounted to £I6OO. Had it mot been for this extraordinary expenditure the levy of 8d would have been nearly sufficient to make both ends meet, and the overdraft at tho end of the year would not have been of any great amount.” THANKS. In conclusion, I desire to place on record my appreciation of the very valuable assistance rendered by the Inspec-tor-General, of Hospitals (Dr. Valintine) 'in connection with the preparation of the plans of the new hospital and in all matters tending to increase the efficiency of the hospital. His assistance and advice have been invaluable, and in all his dealings with the board he has shown the utmost courtesy. I also wish to express my appreciation of the good work performed by the board’s officials and 1 staff during the year. The thanks of tho board are due to the medical staff, the matron and her staff, for their unremitting attention to the patients and to the institution; to the matron of the Old People’s Home, and to the inspector for the manner in which he has discharged his many and, on occasion, unpleasant duties. It is with great pleasure that I again note the excellent manner inn which your secretary (Mr. C. M. Lepper) has at all times discharged his various duties. AVhilst the affairs of the board are administered by such painstaking and careful officials I feel sure that the hospital must continue to give satisfaction and to maintain the high, standard it has attained amongst the hospitals of the Dominion. Lastly, I desire also to tender my personal thanks to my colleagues on the board'for the uniform courtesy and consideration which I have received from them. It has been a. pleasure to preside over their deliberations. Naturally, we have not always been unanimous, but differing opinions have been advocated temperately and fairly, and there has been an entire absence of any personal ill-feeling. I trust that the same spirit will mark our discussions during the coming year, and that, working harmoniously together, we may succeed m discharging the important and responsible duties with which we have been entrusted by our fellow settlers in a manner that shall satisfy both ourselves and them.