H.—3.

Inspection. I inspected this hospital on the 18th August, 1888, and found that here, as in Greymouth and Hokitika, a large proportion of the cases were chronics who ought not to be in a hospital at all. One of these cases who was blind and paralysed had relatives who ought to be made to pay. As many as six out of fourteen cases in the male-ward were, properly, refuge-cases. This hospital possesses ample accommodation for a much larger population. The wards are beautifully large and airy, but, especially on the female side, the small number of patients could be accommodated in a space one-third of the size. The hospital-arrangements and appliances, and the attention of the doctor and nurses, are all that could be reasonably desired.

NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL. Number of patients remaining, 31st March, 1888 ... ... 13 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 112 Total under treatment ... ... ... 125 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 103 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... 9 Eemaining, 31st March, 1889 ... ... ... ... 13 Localities from tvhich Patients came. —Taranaki County, 43; Hawera, 40; New Plymouth Borough, 21; Patea, 2; Wanganui, 2; Wellington, 1; Marton, 1; Napier, 1; Kawhia, 1. Sex. —BB males, 24 females. Country. —England, 19; Ireland, 18; Scotland, 11; New Zealand, 17; Germany, 8; Poland, 1; Jersey, 1; Cape de Verde Islands, 1 ; Victoria, 1; Switzerland, 1; Denmark, 1 ; Natives, 3. Total collective days' hospital stay, 4,824 ; individual average days' stay, 38-5. The average daily cost per head was 7s. 2f d.; less repayments by patients, ss. 9-J-d. No record of out-patients. Be venue and Expendituee. Bevenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government (approximately) 964 1 11-J- Eations ... ... ... 312 12 1 From local bodies (approximately) 964 1 11| Wines, spirits, &c. ... ... 69 8 2 Donations and subscriptions ... 19 12 9 Surgery and dispensary... ... 220 0 9 Bents ... ... ... 3 5 0 Fuel and light... ... ... 136 7 8 Patients' payments ... ... 342 16 9 Furniture and earthenware .. 35 12 10 Other sources ... ... ... 13 15 0 Salaries and wages ... ... 695 5 4 Water ... ... ... 10 0 0 Funerals ... ... ... 7 19 0 Bepairs ... ... ... 44 12 3 Printing, stationery, &c. ... 42 12 0 Interest ..." ... 8 3 8 Insurance ... ... ... 24 3 9 Travelling-expenses ... ... 55 8 6 Other expenses ... ... 76146 Total ... £2,307 13 5 Total ... £1,739 0 6 Inspection. This hospital is absurdly large for the requirements of the district, and the consequence is, over and above the great waste of money, that the patients are less comfortable than they would be in a smaller building, and that the staff are not able to keep it properly clean. Nothing will ever make it anything else than a great windy series of wide corridors and empty spaces with a few patients scattered over it at wide distances. The labour of keeping it clean, and the distances to be travelled by the nurses, will always be a cause of expense and trouble. The amount of badlylaid linoleum of poor quality that is laid on the passages and wards is something enormous. The circulating boiler in the kitchen is so small for the work it has to do, and the distance from the baths is so great, that no hot water can be got till the cooking is over for the day. Of the thirteen patients resident on the day of my visit (27th March, 1889), four were cases not suitable for hospital treatment.

PICTON HOSPITAL. Number of patients remaining, 31st March, 1888 ... 7 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 42 Total under treatment ... ... ... 49 Discharged ... ... ' ... ... ... ... 39 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 Remaining, 31sf March, 1889 ... ... ... ... 5 Localities from which Patients came. —Sounds County, 44; Australia, 2; Wellington, 1; Canterbury, 2 ; Dunedin, 1. Sex. —45 males, 4 females.

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