614
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, OCTOBER 6, 1916.
(ii) When did the period or periods of time, in the said 30 months, occur during which the Nursing Staff is alleged by the Government to have been in excess of the numbers borne on the Estimates, and by how many Sisters is it alleged that the Nursing Staff was in excess of the numbers on the Estimates during any and what portion of such period or periods?
(iii) When did the period or periods of time in the said 30 months occur during which the Government alleges that the Nursing Staff was equal to the numbers borne on the Estimates?
(iv) For how many months and during what months of what years, during the said period January 1913 to June 1916, was the same Sister attending to maternity cases, at the same time as she was attending to other cases in either A or B Block? Is it admitted by the Government that such a course of procedure was undesir- Was not such a course of procedure owing to a shortage of Sisters avail- able for nursing duty?
able?
(v) Is it not the fact that during the said period January 1913 to June 1916 the Staff of Sisters, available for duty was so short that different Sisters were obliged at different times to go on duty, when they were so seriously indisposed as to be in fact unfit for taking duty by reason of their suffering severely from diptheria, gallstones, boils, acute sore throat, and dysentery?
9. With reference to the following part of the Answer to my Question 5 at the last Meeting of
Council, namely,
66
For 10 years past one Sister has supervised the nursing on two floors in a similar manner",
}
is it not the fact that for several, and, if so, for how many and what months during the said period January 1913 to July 1916 inclusive there has been one Sister on duty on each floor of A Block, during morning and afternoon duty?
10. With reference to the following part of the Answer to my Question 5 at the last Meeting of
the Council:
"There are 48 beds in the four public Wards in A Block, The number of occupied beds in A Block, including the Private Wards, averaged during April, May, and June 37·2, 30·3, and 33·1 respectively”,
is it not the fact that the work is yet harder for the Sister in B Block than for the Sister in A Block, owing to the constant stream of patients coming in and out of that Block and owing to their being more patients to attend to? Will the Government state how many beds there are in B Block, including the beds in the Private Wards, and what was the average number of beds occupied in B Block, including the Private Wards, during each of the months April, May, June, July, August, and September for each of the years 1914 and 1915 respectively, and during April, May, and June, 1916, respectively?
J
11. With reference to the statement, made in answer to my Question 4 at the last Meeting of
Council, as follows:-
"It is not the case that short leave granted to Sisters has to be taken outside of the
Colony
any
""
'
has Rule or Regulation ever been made to such effect, and, if so, when was it made, and has any such Rule or Regulation ever been notified to the Sisters, and, if so, when?
12. Are there not now 2 Chinese Wardmasters employed at the Government Civil Hospital in
the place of 2 European Wardmasters?
13. Was there not for some months, and, if so, during what months, in the years 1914, 1915, and 1916, a shortage of drugs and disinfectants in the Government Civil Hospital? Is not the Principal Civil Medical Officer responsible for the ordering of a sufficient quantity of drugs and disinfectants for use in the Government Hospitals?
14. Is not the clothing of Asiatic patients in the Government Civil Hospital changed only once a week? Has not the Principal Civil Medical Officer sent round Minutes to the Sisters, urging that the Washing Bill should be kept as low as possible? Is it not the fact that Sisters have experienced a difficulty in procuring sufficient clean clothing and clean bedding for the patients in the said Hospital?
His Excellency the Governor replied.
REVENUE OFFICERS POWER OF ARREST AMENDMENT BILL.--The Attorney General addressed the Council and moved the Second reading of the Bill intituled An Ordinance to amend the Revenue Officers Power of Arrest Ordinance, 1913.
The Colonial Secretary seconded.
Question-put and agreed to.
Bill read a second time.
Council in Committee on the Bill.