MORE EFFICIENT HOSPITAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 93, 21 April 1939, Page 6

MORE EFFICIENT HOSPITAL

EFFORTS AT WANGANUI STAFF MEETINGS AND TEAM WORK Meetings of the combined medical staffs at regular intervals, the appointment of specialists in various c branches of medical service, and the c introduction of team work to the full- c est extent to improve the efficiency of f the Wanganui Public Hospital were r reported to the board yesterday by the 1 medical superintendent, Dr. H. L. Widdowson. ( Nursing Staff Important He said that in indicating to the J board what was being done, he would , mention the more important depart- f ments, and because any department was not mentioned it did not mean ] any reflection on it. “After all,” he c said, “without the nursing staff, we } could not hope to carry out the work j of the hospital to the best advantage.” ( Dr. Widdowson mentioned first the s radiologist's department, pointing out J that in Dr. B. T. Hooper the board { had an outstanding specialist who was ‘ keen on his work. A graph was placed before the board, showing that the j number of cases in the diagnostic de- f partment had grown from 1519 in Q 1930 to 2237 in 1938. In the therapy department the average number of ■ treatments a year, from 1930 to 1937. ( was 740, and in 1938, 1958. Addition to X-ray Plant On Dr. Widdowson’s recommenda- ’ tion the board decided to purchase im- ’ mediately a new generator for the i X-ray department. Last year lhe cost 1 would have been £1075, this year it would be £1255, and he felt that with so much world unrest the price would rise each year. A five-year scheme , for extension of the X-ray department j had been decided on, and the pur- f chase of a generator now was really a year ahead of programme. Because of the outbreak of infan- ' tile paralysis the massage department , staff had been increased from two to five. In 1938 the Wanganui Crippled Children’s Society came to full func- , tion and many deformed children were brought to the hospital for treat- , ment. The bath installed in this de- ' partment had been of great value and j the consulting orthopedic surgeon, Dr. ( A. Gillies, of Wellington, had kindly , assisted the hospital by overlooking all the cases last year. The obtaining of splints had been a ( difficulty to begin with. They were made at Christchurch and the measuring and fitting was both difficult and slow’. One of the board’s own plumbers, Mr. C. Davies, had since gone to Wellington and had made a study of the making of splints, and they were now being made very efficiently by him at the hospital. An Orthopedic Team Formation of an orthopedic team had been decided on. It comprised Dr. Kenrick Christie, Dr. G. P. Adams, and the senior house surgeon. That team dealt with all fractures and with crippled children. “We have a staff meeting monthly at which the combined staffs attend,” Dr. Widdowson added, dealing with the phases of work in hand, “and at that we pass in review all deaths and deal with diagnosis of cases and generally discuss the work of the hospital.” He said that the idea had been fostered hi America, where there were some of the bst hospitals in the world and some of the worst. It had been found that such meetings had done much to improve the standard of efficiency in that country. In addition, the Wanganui Hospital has a weekly meeting of a clinical nature, open not only to the medical staffs but to every medical practitioner in the district. Specialists in Charge Dr. G. H. Robertson had been appointed specialist in diseases and disorders of the heart, and Dr. G. J. Adams specialist in diseases and troubles of the lungs. Both had made special studies of those branches of medical science. Dr. Adams would be in charge of the tuburculosis block and consultant on all chest cases. Dr. Widdowson said the scheme was being given a trial for six months. Referring to other departments, Dr. Widdowson mentioned the dispenser (Miss C. Batten) who had shown commendable enterprise in the purchase of dressings and other material. The facteriologist (Mr. E. L. Buxton) had attended a refresh?, course at Christchurch “It has been -most interesting to listen to Dr. Widdowson tell the board something of a phase of hospital work we, as members, know very i little about,” said Mr. D. D. Simpson. “It would be a good idea to have an I annual report brought, down with each I yearly set of figures.” Mrs. D. M. Robertson said that I medical men in the city were greatly pleased at the periodic?. l , meetings and team work “I think Dr. Widdowson has mentioned everybody else but himself, said Mr. T. C. Kincaid. “I would like to move that this board expresses its appreciation of what he has done." Mr. R. Farley seconded the motion, and it was carried. - Wreath From Aeroplane. As a mark of respect to the memory of members of the Royal Air Force who lost their lives in the Great War a wreath wil Ibe dropped on to Cook’s Gardens from one the Wanganui Aero Club’s planes during the Anzac D?y service next Tuesday afternoon. This has been a feature of the service in Wanganui for several years - but last year the wreath had to be . dropped into St. Hill Street because - the service was held in the Opera . House. Post Office and Holiday Anzac Day will be observed as a Sunday by the Wanganui Post Office, i all branches being closed except the i telegraph branch, which will be open from 6.30 to 7.30 p.m., and the telephone exchange, at which there will be conlir.ous attendance. Auckland, Wellington. Palmerston Noith, South, s Island and Taranaki mails, letters i only, and air mail correspondence, '< will close at 8.30 p.m.