H.—22

26

Visited 27th March, 1908. —Owing to my representations to the Medical Officer to keep the Hospital as far as possible for acute cases only, there has been a falling-off in the admissions to this institution. There were thirty-five patients in hospital, including six patients in various stages of consumption, and four other tubercular cases. A case of hemiplaegia has been in the institution four and a half years. The new operating-theatre is not yet complete. A six-bed children's ward is in course of erection. An excellent laundry with modern plant is now in working-order, and it will be interesting to know if it will effect the economy anticipated. I was glad to note that better means had been taken to ventilate the wards. I have written to the Board suggesting that when the new operating-theatre is finished the out-patients' dressings should be prepared in the old operating-theatre, instead of in the ward bathroom, as is now the case. The institution was in admirable order; it is administered without friction, and is a credit to all concerned. As compared with other hospitals, the expenditure on rations seems very high.

13. NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL. Governing body : Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Stipendiary medical staff : -Dr. Leatham and Dr. Walker. Nursing staff: Matron, Miss Browne; 4 registered nurses and 10 probationers. Domestic staff : 1 cook, 2 housemaids, 2 laundresses, 1 porter, 2 gardeners. Number of beds available for males, 28; for females, 24: total, 52 (and 6 beds in isolation ward). Number of patients under treatment during year : In-patients—male 263, female 168—total 431 ; out-patients, nil. In-patients: Average days' stay, 31"4; average daily cost per head, 6s. lfd. (cost after deducting patients' payments, 3s. OJd.). Percentage of cost of administration on maintenance expenditure, 32'9. Localities from which patients came: Taranaki County, 138; New Plymouth, 107; W'aitara, 34; Clifton. County, 17; Egmont County, 11; Fitzroy, 4; Inglewood, 31; Stratford, 32; Hawera, 39; Wellington, 4; Auckland, 4; Dunedin, 3; Nelson, 3; Canterbury, 2; Palmerston, 2. Nationality of patients: New-Zealanders, 280; English, 66; Irish, 28; Scotch, 20; Australian, 7; German, 4; Danish, 4; Madeira, 9; various (under 3 each), 13. Religion: Church of England, 229; Roman Catholic, 64; Presbyterian, 50; Wesleyan, 48: Methodist, 20; Baptist, 6; Salvationist, 7; Brethren, 5; Lutheran, 1; Church of Christ, 1. Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ended 31st March, 1908. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d' Balance from last year ... ... 984 611 Rations ... ... ... 844 16 11 From Government ... ... 2,398 4 1 Wines, spirits, ale, and porter ... 16 9 0 Local bodies ... ... ... 1,502 10 9 Surgery and dispensary ... 711 19 7 Subscriptions and donations ... 466 1 3 Fuel and light ... ... 389 710 Rents ... ... ... 57 8 0 Bedding and clothing ... ... 124 4 3 Patients'payments ... ... 2,104 8 8 Furniture and earthenware ... 119 7 2 Other sources (principal items— Washing and laundry ... ... 108 17 6 Refund provisions, £759 4s. 6d.; Salaries and wages ... ... 1,311 13 3 nurses' services, £10 125.; Water-supply ... ... 10 0 0 funerals, £10 19s. 2d.; con- Repairs ... 267 17 0 tractors' deposits, £37) ... 853 17 11 New buildings ... ... 838 13 9 Printing, advertising, postage, and stationery ... ... ... 50 1 10 Insurance ... . . ... 30 0 0 4 Commission ... ... ... 20 13 6 Other expenses ... ... 131 4 6 Total ... ...£8,36« 17 7 Total ... ...£4,975 6 l

Visited 4th and 6th January, 1908. —An excellently administered institution, directly under the control of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. At the time of my visit there were twenty-three patients, all more or less acute cases. A good deal of operation-work of a high order is done here by Drs. Leatham, Walker, and Wylie, the two former being on the stipendiary staff. All concerned in the management are to be congratulated on the absence of friction with which the institution is conducted, and it rightly has the entire confidence of the district. The nursing staff consists of Miss Brown, four registered nurses and ten probationers. This seems somewhat large for a hospital of the size, but the extra staff for the consumptive, annexe and the infectious block must be taken into consideration; besides, the nature of the buildings and the size of the wards do not tend to an economical management. Though old, the building is sanitary in every particular; nevertheless, one would think that work of such a high order would be worthy of better buildings and accessories, arid it remains to be seen whether the Taranaki public will not rise to the occasion and subscribe generously towards a new building worthy of a go-ahead and prosperous district. At the time of my visit the House Committee consulted Dr. Frengley and myself with regard to increased accommodation for infectious cases; and after considerable discussion it was determined not to erect new buildings for such cases, but to build increased accommodation at the