WESTPORT DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 529, 13 July 1869, Page 2

WESTPORT DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

ANNUA.L REPORT. At the expintion of the first year of the existenc of the Westport District Hospital, under its present system of management, it becomes the duty of the oi(-going Committee to present to the general meeting of the subscribers, as required by the 15th rule, a report »f the condition of the Hospital. At the time when the inhabitants of Westport and the surrounding localities agreed a- a public meeting to accept the inviation made by the Provincial Goverrment to co-operate in the management of the hospital, the reasons for sum a step were laid fully before them. The state of the old hospital was fully and carefully examined, and he results of that examination wee made public. The necessity for some new arrangement was then male abundantly manifest, and there is w occasion for the Committee now totrouble the subscribers with a repetition of the facts which were then elidted.

_ It is sufficent to say that at that time the hosutal accommodation was of a very metgre description, and that while the reeessary provision was made for the reception and treatment of severe aeckents and cases of emergency, little biyond this could be attempted. Tie situation, the building, the appliances, were all very defective, and it was frequently necessary to incur the expense and inconvenience of sending to jS'dson for treatment cases which might *ery well have been dealt with here, hrd the necessary accommodation beei available.

_ When, therefore, the late Commissioner, Mr Eynnersley, on behalf of the Provincial Government, proposed that the same arrangement should be made in Westport winch had already been carried oat at other places on the coast, (an arrangement by which the Government undertook to defray twothirds of the whole expenses of the hospital, by meeting every pound raised by subscriptions, donations, &c, with two pounds out of the sum voted for that purpose by the Provincial Council, whilst at the same time the whole management of the institution should bo placed in the hands of a local committee, with whom should be associated one ex officio member as a representative of the Government,) the public at once responded to this invitation, and took the matter up with a zeal and energy which speedily realised a degree of success at least equal to anything that the most sanguine could have anticipated. In a short time a Committee of Management was elected by the people of Westport, of the Caledonian and adjoining terraces, and of Addison's Plat, by means of a poll, carried on simultaneously in those localities respectively ; the whole district was canvassed for subscriptions ; and tenders for a new hospital were soon called for.

The new hospital was finished and brought into use on the 9th October. It was built by Mr Somner from designs for which the public is indebted to the kindness of Mr Lowe, the late District Engineer. The situation is convenient and healthy, the building is roomy and commodious, being capable of accommodating without any violation of sanitary principles fifteen patients, aud of all the buildings in the town or vicinity of Westport, the new hospital is that which the inhabitants may most reasonably regard with satisfaction as a credit to the district.

The construction of the hospital has been designed with a view to future extension should circumstances render this possible or desirable. At present the institution provides all that can be expected from a single spacious and commodious ward. It is not at all probable that a larger number of male patients than can be thus accommodated will require to be provided for, at all events during the ensuing year. But it well deserves the attention of the public and of the in-coming committee whether some accommodation should not be provided for female patients. Since the opening of the hospital one female patient has been received. The case was that of a severe burn which terminated fatally, and the only means by which it was possible to accommodate this case was by giving up to it the sleeping-room of thesteward,forthesomewhatprotracted period during which this patient remained in the hospital. It is a matter of congratulation that it was not found necessary to close the doors of the hospital against this unfortunate case ; but it is obvious that the relief thus afforded was altogether outside of the range of the present machinery and organization of the institution. It is equally obvious that, had another female patient applied for relief, it must necessarily have been refused, however urgent or painful the nature of the case.

In addition to accommodation for female patients, an extra room or ward for the reception of special cases, which for various reasons it may be inconvenient to admit in to the general ward, would very much promote

the well-working of the institution. Should it appear difficult or impossible, as seems probable, to provide for both of the above-mentioned objects during the ensuing year, the addition of a small extra ward might perhaps be made to answer for a time the purposes of both, by receiving any female case of great emergency, and procuring the temporary services of a female nurse.

Another addition to the hospital, on many accounts most desirable, is a fence around the building. Every one at all acquainted with such matters will at once recognize the extreme inconvenience arising from the want of a fence to isolate a public hospital from the surrounding neighbourhood. VVithout this necessary addition it becomes impossible to carry out with anything like due strictness the rules regulating the admission of visitors to the patients, or to exercise a proper supervision over the conduct of the patients themselves. In addition to these reasons for the construction of a fence, are to be considered the advantages of an enclosure for cultivation, by which means not only may a great saving of expense in the purchase of vegetables be effected, but much benefit to the health of the patients may be expected, as well Irom the greater variety of diet thus afforded, as from the healthful employment which the convalescents might obtain by the cultivation of the garden.

It is to be hoped that, in addition to the maintenance of the hospital, money may be found for the purposes above indicated at an early period. With regard to the probability of this being the case, the Committee do not wish to ignore the fact that some time a<ro a certain amount of dissatisfaction was expressed in some quarters with the management of the hospital. Those who entertained this feeling appeared to think that admission to the hospital in time of sickness was a matter of right in the case of all who had paid their guinea and received a subscriber's ticker, and some even seemed to be of opinion that this right was to be extended not only to subscribers, but also to those who might be recommended by them. The extreme looseness and inaccuracy of thought displayed in such a conception of the ends and objects of a public hospital are made sufficiently manifest by a mere statement of the view referred to, nor would the Committee have thought it necessary to notice the subject, had it not been publicly stated in loiters to the newspapers that the miners would not renew their subscriptions to the hospital. It is believed, however, that time and reason have for the most part dissipated erroneous ideas upon this subject, that the hospital itself has by its steady working and the amount of relief it has afforded, furnished the best possible vindication of its claims to the support of the publie, and that such support will at all events not be withheld by the mining portion of the community, who have had the best opportunities of observing the practical benefits of such an institution in cases of severe accident or illness.

One of the first tasks which presented itself to the Committee was to frame rules for the management of the hospital. It was not long, however, before certain alterations in these appeared desirable, and such alterations as have been made have not jet been printed, but are to be found only in the minute book of the Secretary. The Committee have made it their object so to frame the rules as best to promote the well-working of the hospital, and, whilst providing an orderly system for the management of the institution, to ensure perfect promptness in the admission and treatment of urgent cases without any delay arising form the observance of technical formalities. In this object it is believed that they have fully succeeded, and although an undue facility on the part of subscribers in recommending patients has in some cases necessitated extra vigilance on the part of the Visiting Committee and the Medical Officer, it may yet be confidently asserted that no fit case for admission has ever been unduly or unnecessarily delayed. Desirous of securing to the utmost the cu-operation of the out-districts, the Committee provided, by special regulations, for the election of subcommittees in such localities, a provision which experience seems to show to be not so much objectionable as superfluous, since the inhabitants of the localities in question appear practically to prefer that the management of the institution should be lei't entirely to the Central Committee. The balance sheet of the Treasurer and the report of the Medical Officer will furnish full information as to the funds of the Hospital, the expenditure incurred in its working, and the extent to which it has fulfilled its functions in the supply of medical and surgical relief.

A glance at the balance sheet will show that £554 16s 3d has been received from the public, and from the Government £llO9 12s 6d, a sum equal to double the former amount. £22 5s 8d has also been received from patients towards their maintenance, making a total of £I6S6 14s 5d as receipts from all sources. Westport has contributed £240 14s 9d, Addison's £l6O 9s 6d, Caledonian and locality £l5O 10s, and the "Upper Buller £3 2s Od. The latter district was, however, never canvassed. Theexpenditureshowsatotalof£ls92 19s, as follows : —Building, furniture, and bedding (called the permanent charge) £619 4s sd, and maintenance £973 14s 7d. It will, therefore, be ap-

parent that on the 30th June the Committee had a credit balance of £93 15s sd.

Prom the report of the Medical Officer it will be observed that 98 patients have received indoor treatment. Of this number, Westport represents 19, Addison's 18, Caledonian 41, Upper Buller 14, Mokihinui2, and from outside the district 4, the average number of days of treatment for each patient being 27. 60 out-patients have also received attendance.

To arrive at an approximate cost for each patient, it will be obvious that, after deducting the amount received from patients, something should be added on account of the Permanent charge. If, therefore, in the sum of £B5l 8s lid is included a charge of twenty per cent, on the permanent charge, equal to £124, the average weekly cost of each patient will amount to £2 lis.

It is, therefore, apparent that Westport's charge on the funds of the Hos-pital-reaches an approximate amount of £164 13s, Addison's that of £179 4s 6d, the Caledonian £372 6s 3d, the Upper Buller £133, Mokihinui £56 8s 9d, and from outside the district £69 4s, or in other words Westport's proportion for the cost of its patients is £76 Is 9d less than subscriptions, whilst, on the other hand, Addison's exceeds its subscriptions bv £lB 15s, and the Caledonian £221 15s.

The Hospital has now a credit balance of £3ll 14s sd. If to this is added the Government subsidy oil subscriptions received recently, the incoming Committee will have a sum representing £909 3s 3d to their credit. In conclusion, the Committee are gratified to be able to state that the partnership between the Provincial Government and the public has worked well in the management of the Hospital, and that perfect harmony in promoting the common object has always existed between the members of the Committee and the representative of the Government. The Committee are convinced that, whether the district for the benefit of which the hospital was established, remains under its present form or government, or whether political changes are in store, the hospital will still continue to be a common ground upon which all will unite in promoting a manifestly good object, and to command the cheerful support which has hitherto been extended to it.