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10
HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION and ADMINISTRATION.
The admissions to the hospital numbered in all 71.
Scarlet fever 24, diphtheria 35, cerebro-spinal fever 3. epidemic
diarrhoea 2. In seven cases the original diagnosis was not confirmed.
Seven deaths occurred, four being due to diphtheria and 3 to cerebrospinal
meningitis.
In June, two chalets were provided in the hospital grounds for
outdoor treatment of cases of infectious disease, and have proved of the
greatest value.
Under the arrangements made to receive cases of epidemic diarrhæa
among infants, should such occur during the hot weather, two cases
were admitted, and both recovered.
At the end of the year the Council decided to admit severe or
complicated cases of measles to the hospital.
The widening scope of hospital administration which is taking place
calls for some remark. The hospital, with its two main wards and
convalescent block, was intended for scarlet fever only, and it was no
uncommon experience in the past for all the beds to be empty during
part of the summer. This not only made the cost per occupied bed
work out at a higher figure, but also left the staff without nursing duties
at these times. The admission during recent years of diphtheria, and
now of cerebro-spinal fever and epidemic diarrhoea, has not only kept
the beds more closely occupied but has added much to the interest of
the work of the nursing staff, and, although of course the duties have
been more onerous they have been cheerfully performed. At times it
has been a matter of considerable difficulty to arrange separate accommodation
for the varied cases, but on account of the small number of
scarlet fever cases admitted during the year such arrangement has
hitherto been possible. The gain to the community, and especially the
increased comfort and improved prospects of recovery in the patients
themselves have been very obvious, and one of the most important
undertakings when building again becomes possible must be to provide
sufficient and separate accommodation for the expanding list of diseases
which require hospital treatment, and for which hitherto no provision
has been made, either by voluntary or municipal efforts.