5

H.—7

Charleston Hospital is another of those institutions that are left high and dry by the receding tide of a goldfield's population. The main object of the Hospital has come to be that it is a means of enabling the people to induce a doctor to remain in the place, and it is apparent that having got a man who is professionally capable, they ars content to wink at his conduct in certain respects. The Hospital, with the exception indicated, is well managed, and the patients are made very comfortable.

CHBISTCHUBCH HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1890 ... ... ... 91 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 1,058 Total under treatment ... ... ... 1,149 Discharged ... ... ... ... ... ... 979 Died ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 74 Eemaining on 31st March, 1891 ... ... ... ... 96 Sex. —764 males, 385 females. Localities from which Patients came. — Christchurch and suburbs, 835; Lyttelton, 66; Amuri, 10; Kaikoura, 12 ; Akaroa, 22; Ashburton, 12 ; Greymouth, 2 ; Wellington, '2; Auckland, 2 ; Waimate, 1; Ashley County, 71; North Canterbury District and no home, 108 ; Hokitika, 1; Westport, 2 ; Napier, 1; unknown, 2. Country. —England, 401; New Zealand, 373 ; Ireland, 206; Scotland, 78; Germany, 21; Australia, 12 ; Wales, 12; Sweden, 8; Tasmania, 7 ; India, 7 ; America, 6; Norway, 4 ; Italy, 3 ; Denmark, 3; Holland, 2; Switzerland, 2; Austria, 2; Eussia, 1; unknown, 1. Beligion. —Church of England, 560; Eoman Catholic, 223 ; non-episcopal, 366. Total collective days' stay in hospital, 39,657; individual average days' stay, 34-51. Daily average cost per head, 3s. 5-J-d.; less patients' payments, 3s. Of-d. Outdoor Patients. —lndividual cases, 922; attendances, 2,840. Bevenue and Expenditure. Revenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 3,050 7 2 Eations ... ... ... 1,622 2 6 Local bodies and Hospital Board 2,318 1 3 Wines, spirits, ale, &c... ... 280 0 2 Subscriptions and donations ... 71 7 6 Surgery and dispensary ... 674 18 8 Patients'payments ... ... 796 1 3 Fuel and light "... ... 688 16 0 Other sources ... ... 24 1 0 Bedding and clothing ... ... 151 4 4 Balance from last year ... 1,367 9 6 Furniture and earthenware ... 150 13 5 Salaries and wages (including washing and laundry) ... 2,673 0 0 Funerals ... ... ... 17 17 6 Eepairs ... ... ... 251 10 10 Additions to buildings ... ... 18818 4 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 64 12 7 Interest ... ... ... 10 18 10 Insurance ... ... ... 54 7 6 Casual ward, Lyttelton ... 35 13 7 Other expenses ■ ... ... 216 19 10 Total ... ... £7,627 7 8 Total ... ... £7,081 14 1 I have inspected this Hospital several times in the course of the year, and have always found it in good order. The large wards are patterns of comfort and freshness. At every visit, however, I am more and more impressed with the fact that, while the matron and most of the nurses are efficient, the nursing-staff is inferior as a whole to that of Auckland, and especially of Wellington. The House Surgeon ought to insist on all vacancies being filled with well-educated young women, capable of profiting by such special training as every modern hospital of this size ought to impart to its nurses. A nurses' home is very much required, and a separate sitting-room is a matter of great urgency. By this year's returns an increase of 215 is shown in the total number of patients under treatment, giving an increase of 6,228 in the total collective days' stay in the Hospital, and yet the total expenditure was £125 less than last year. This gives a decided reduction in the average daily cost per patient. It will be observed that the percentage of cost of administration on the total expenditure is comparatively high, being 38-66, while in Dunedin, where like Christchurch all the washing is done in their own laundry, it is only 34-50.

COEOMANDEL HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1890 ... ... Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 11 Total under treatment ... ... ... 11 Discharged ... ... ... „ ... ... ... 9 Died ... ... ... ... ... .... ... 1 Eemaining on 31st March, 1891 ... ... ... ■ 1 Sex. —11 males.