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35
taking cold, and that it may take on an infectious character for some
time after complete recovery from Scarlet Fever. Its occurence
cannot be foreseen or prevented.
Expenditure.
Taking roughly the items of expenditure at the Sanatorium for the
year, £481 was paid for salaries and wages; £361 for provisions;
£155 for fuel, lighting, and cleaning; £50 for dispensary, medical,
and surgical sundries £43 for rates and taxes; and £114 establishment
charges; (repayment of loans and interest £827, and capital
charges, £433).
The total amount expended on isolation appears large, but I
think it will be conceded that expenditure on administration shows
careful management, and I unhesitatingly say the ratepayers have
had excellent value for their money, apart from the benefits derived
by the patients of skilled nursing in Hospital.
149 cases were treated in the Sanatorium during the year, and
exclusive of loans and capital charges, this works out approximately at
£8 per patient, which is an exceedingly low rate. In many hospitals
the amount is as high as £20 per patient, reckoned on the same
basis. In estimating the cost of maintenance in the proposed Hospital in
1897, when the population was 7913, and basing my estimate on the
assumption that the number of cases in a year would rarely exceed
60, I put down the probable administrative expenses at ^520;
during the past year the population was more than double that in 1897,
and owing to the outbreak of scarlet fever, we had nearly three times
the number of patients estimated for, and the total administrative
expenditure was only £1,204. Comparing the estimated with the actual
expenditure the figures are:—Estimated £8 13s. per patient; actual
expenditure £8 per patient, and it must be remembered that the
increased number of patients necessitated a larger nursing and
administrative staff than was originally contemplated. Special nurses
had to be engaged at the times of greatest pressure, and a third staff
nurse was temporarily appointed for six months.
I venture to say that the public appreciate the benefits of the
Hospital. We find that parents are not only willing, but anxious to
send their children there for treatment.
The very few cases treated at home have been so from exceptional
circumstances, the patients being infants, only children and doubtful
cases.
The Committee have received many expressions of thanks for the
care and kindness shown by the nurses towards patients during their
stay in hospital. It gives me great pleasure to testify to the excellent
work done by the Matron and Nurses; to their untiring devotion,
care and kindness to the patients. They have had most arduous and
exacting duties to perform, and for weeks together their hours for
recreation have been cheerfully and ungrudgingly given up for work
in the wards during times of pressure.
I have to thank Dr. McDonald for much valuable advice and
assistance in cases of doubt and difficulty.