The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 67
[Report of the North Canterbury Hospital Board]
been effected. Insurances on the Hospital have been effected, and steps are being taken towards having the various properties now in the possession of the Board vested therein by deed.
The Board gratefully acknowledges the constant and valuable services rendered by the Honorary Staff in the care of the sick; to the many presents from kind and thoughtful persons for the inmates of the Hospital, and specially to the Belfast Freezing Company for supplying ice whenever solicited.
On assuming control, the Board found it necessary to at once consider the question of building an Operating Theatre. For some time previously this had been very strongly advised by the medical staff, owing to the unsuitable and unsafe condition of the room used for performing operations.
The building is now finished, and for design and completeness in every detail it reflects great credit on the architect, Mr. Seager. As the heating of the operating theatre was to be effected by means of a system of hot-water pipes, it was considered to be a most opportune time for introducing the same, (heat being generated from the same boiler) for heating and ventilating the adjoining (No. 6) men's surgical ward, and supplying hot water for baths. The previous method of heating consisted of two unsightly detached fire-places, which were not only quite inadequate to perform the purpose for which they were intended, but militated somewhat against the free circulation of air. Separate fires were also necessary for heating water for baths. All these works have been carried out in the most successful manner. The pressing want for more accommodation convinced the Board that, as the finances would not at present permit of building a new ward, it would be better to effect such alterations to the old portion, formerly used mostly as a convalescent ward, as would in a measure meet the difficulty.
Accordingly, it was decided to so convert the internal arrangements that it would contain two children's wards, one ophthalmic, one observation, and two convalescent wards, to- page 5 gether with the necessary offices, giving 36 additional beds, thoroughly ventilated throughout, all the old flooring, lining, and plaster being renewed with new material. 102 beds will then be available in the Hospital for ordinary cases, and on completion of an Infectious Diseases Ward, now under construction, a total number of 116 beds.
The principal portion of this work is now approaching completion, and the Board instructed the House Committee to prepare a report of similar alterations to Nos. 4 and 5 wards, with regard to heating and ventilating as were carried out in No. 6 ward. This has not yet been sent in, and is therefore a work which this Board may fairly recommend to the consideration of the new Board, together with the urgent necessity of erecting a new kitchen, and, connected with the laundry, a drying closet. The want of the former has been of long duration; for years past it has been brought under the notice of the Government constantly: the building is in a deplorable state of decay, and in a great degree devoid of those conveniences so necessary in carrying out satisfactorily the duties devolving upon the occupants thereof. With regard to the latter, an improved system of drying is indispensable before the advent of next winter; the powers of the laundresses were taxed to the uttermost in keeping up the supply of dry linen during the last wet weather, and an increase of washing must be expected with increased accommodation.
The Government having voted £1000 towards building an infectious diseases ward, a tender for the erection thereof has been accepted for the sum of £1543.
Attached to this is the statement of the receipts and expenditure for the twelve months ending 31st March, 1887, classified, of contracts for alterations and new buildings; also a comparative statement of ordinary expenditure between the last two annual returns and the present. By reference to the Statement of Receipts and Expenditure of Christchurch Hospital page 6 it will be seen that, with regard to ordinary expenditure, a considerable saving has been effected under each head, with the exception of drugs and printing; the former is probably due to the increase of patients, the latter to the complete renewal of office books, voucher forms, printing by-laws, &c. Of the last there is no corresponding item with which to form a comparison. Until the present Board took office, wages for men employed at daily labour about the grounds were paid by the Charitable Aid Board, and were not included in Hospital expenditure.
It will be seen that the amount of expenditure for Christchurch Hospital for the twelve months has been, for ordinary purposes £5098 16s. 2d., that for permanent works on contracts completed £2288 14s. 4d.; payments on account of uncompleted contracts, £750; and Architect's fees in connection therewith, £102 3s. 0d.; being £3140 16s. 7d.; and with regard to the latter it may be necessary to explain that the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, 1885, came into operation on the 1st October of that year, from which date the contributions from the various local authorities were levied, the Government, however, in order to enable the Boards to more readily perform their functions, made provisions for the payment of all expenditure up to the 1st December: by so doing the Board became possessed of an amount equal to two months' expenditure, which, added to that already voted for permanent works and decrease in ordinary expenditure, enabled the Board to more effectually carry out those most necessary improvements.
Additional land having been granted for building a Fever ward, it was found necessary to clear and level it: doing this and the ordinary work about the grounds has absorbed the principal portion of the amount set down to wages account.
It must not be forgotten that the latter four months of the year ending 31st March, 1886, was carried on under the provisions of the new Act, by the Board, elected in accordance therewith, so that a comparison of the expenditure between the administration of the Government and the Board can only be made by comparing the years 1885 and 1887.
page 7The number of patients in the Hospital on March 31st, 1886, was | 73 |
Admitted from April 1st, 1886, to March 31st, 1887 | 542 |
Discharged during that period | 486 |
Deaths | 59 |
Remaining in Hospital March 31st, 1887 | 70 |
The daily average number was | 70 |
The receipts from patients for maintenance fees were £369 10s. 3d., as against £334 2s. 3d. and £354 6s. 6d. for the years quoted in comparative table.
The average daily cost of each patient, excluding cost for permanent works, has been 4s., but deducting the item wages, in order to form a comparison with former years, this would be reduced to 3s. 8d., as against 4s. 8¾d., (1885), and 4s. 3d., (1886), respectively, as per table.
The total number of out-patients treated at the Hospital during the year was 2547, viz., 1130 males and 1417 females.
There were also 131 cases of accidents treated which were not admitted to the wards.
In Hospital March 31st, 1886 | 3 |
Number admitted from April 1st, 1886, to March 31st, 1887 | 26 |
Discharged during that period | 26 |
Remaining in Hospital on March 31st, 1887 | 3 |
The receipts for the year have been £14 5s., as against £31 7s. and £35 8s. for previous years.
The expenditure was £402 3s. 7d., as against £415 19s. 1d. and £391 4s. 10d.
Number admitted for the year | 5 |
Discharged for same period | 5 |
Receipts, nil; expenditure, £71 5s. 9d. |
Males. | Females. | Accidents treated but not admitted to wards. | |
---|---|---|---|
April | 58 | 118 | 11 |
May | 65 | 95 | 10 |
June | 78 | 93 | 8 |
July | 127 | 146 | 8 |
August | 157 | 187 | 10 |
September | 123 | 158 | 12 |
October | 126 | 151 | 14 |
November | 111 | 102 | 19 |
December | 97 | 117 | 12 |
January | 90 | 107 | 6 |
February | 43 | 58 | 20 |
March | 55 | 85 | 10 |
1130 | 1417 | 131 |