36

H.—22

WELLINGTON HOSPITAL. Number of patients on 31st March, 1906 ... ... 201 Admitted during the year ... ... ... ... 2,192 Total under treatment ... ... 2,393 Discharged ... ... ... ... ••■ 1,999 ■ Died ... ... ... ... ••• ••• 156 Eemaining on 31st March, 1907 ... 238 Sex. —1,466 males, 927 females. Localities from which Patients came. —Wellington Hospital District : Wellington City, 1,643; Wellington Suburbs, 239; Petone, 130; Lower Hutt, 50; Upper Hutt, 30; Levin, 15; sundry small places in district, 216. Wairarapa Hospital District, 38 ; Inangahua Hospital District, 27 ; Palmerston North Hospital District, 31; Auckland Hospital District, 16 ; Wanganui Hospital District, 14 ; Taranaki Hospital District, 6 ; Hawke's Bay Hospital District, 6 ; North Canterbury Hospital District, 5 ; Waipawa Hospital District, 2; Grey Hospital District, 5; Nelson Hospital District, 7; South Canterbury Hospital District, 3; Wairoa Hospital District, 5; Dunedin Hospital District, 2 ; ships in port, 76 ; Sydney, 2 ; Melbourne 1 ; locality not stated, 6. Nationality of Patients.— Colonials (New Zealand), 1,244; Colonials (Australian), 128; English, 493; Irish, 269; Scotch, 160; Welsh, 8; Norwegians, 14; Swedes, 9; Italians, 5; Americans, 6 ; Germans, 27 ; Jews, 4 ; Syrians, 8 ; Danes, 3 ; Dutch, 3 ; Finlanders, 2 ; South Africans, 4 ; Canadians, 2 ; Chinese, 9; French, 2; .Russian, 1; Swiss, 4 ; Maltese, 1 ; Austrian, 2 ; Greek, 1 ; Jersey, 1; Cingalese, 1; Japanese, 1 ; Manxman, 1. Religion of Patients.— Church of England, 1,093 ; Roman Catholic, 524; Presbyterian, 388 ; Primitive Methodist, 14 ; Baptist, 57 ; Salvation Army, 18 ; Plymouth Brethren, 3; Lutheran, 13; Hebrew, 21 ; Church of Christ, 5 ; Congregationalism 21; Spiritualist, 4; Greek Church, 1; Christadelphian, 1; Confucian, 4; Unitarian, 4; Methodist, 167; Brethren, 4; Freethinkers, 3 ; Latter-day Saint, 1; Buddhist, 1 ; Druse, 1 ; religion not given, 45. Total collective days' stay in Hospital, 79,600; individual average days' stay, 33-21. Daily average cost per head, Is. 9-Jd.; less patients' payments, 4s. 3£d. Outdoor Patients. —Individual cases, 2,568 ; attendances, 11,531. Receipts and Expenditure. Receipts. £ s. d. j Expenditure. £ s. d. From Government ... ... 9,50116 9 ] Rations ... ... ... 4,745 0 4 Local bodies ■ ... ... 8,340 0 0 j Wines, spirits, ale, &c. ... 166 18 6 Loan ... ... ... 1,000 0 0 i Surgery and dispensary ... 1,763 3 4 Subscriptions and donations ... 1,020 11 5 Fuel and light ... ... 1,668 5 4 Bequest ... ... ... 200 0 0 Bedding and clothing . 652 8 4 Rents ... ... ••• 2,643 6 6 Furniture and earthenware ... 210 0 7 Patients'payments ... ... 2,681 0 9 Washing and laundry ... 736 17 11 Other sources ... ... 133 7 0 Salaries and wages ... ... 7,024 0 6 Balance from last year ... 3,488 611 Water-supply ... ... 280 7 0 Funerals ... ... ... 30 7 6 Repairs ... ... ... 1,003 811 Additions to buildings, grounds, &c 3,779 5 10 New Buildings ... ... 3,965 12 10 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... 180 2 6 Interest ... ... ... 832 13 3 Insurance ... ... ... 99 10 11 Repayment of loan (part) ... 500 0 0 Other expenses ... ... 413 6 9 Total £29,008 Total £28,051jL0 4 Visited several times. —The chief wants are a children's ward and proper isolation ward for infectious cases. The present scarlet-fever ward is too near the main building, and also too near the children's ward. At any moment infection might spread to either. The children's ward is entirely unsuitable for its purpose. At the present moment the Trustees are being subjected to considerable criticism on account of the Hospital expenditure, but critics must remember that the Wellington Hospital has undertaken greater responsibilities with regard to the sick of the district than any other hospital in the colony. In addition to the ordinary beds, special accommodation is available for forty chronic invalids and seventeen consumptives. Added to the above, a sanatorium for the open-air treatment of consumption has just been opened at Otaki. I cannot but think that much of the criticism is directed at the "system" and not at the Trustees. The Chairman and Trustees take a deal of interest, and spend a considerable amount of time in hospital affairs. Dr. Ewart has the economics of the institution much on his mind, and I have no doubt that under his able management the expenditure will be considerably reduced, especially as I understand he has been given a free hand. The institution maintains its reputation for efficiency and discipline. Miss Payne has gone Home on leave for a few months, Miss Berry taking her place.