82
4. How many Sisters are there now on the Nursing Staff at the Govern- ment Civil Hospitals? Are two of such Sisters liable to be sent down to the Kennedy Town Hospital to nurse small-pox and other infectious diseases, and are two more of such Sisters attend- ing for the greater part of their time to the nursing of private cases in different parts of the Colony?
5. How many Probationers are there now on the Government Nursing Staff, and how many were there on the 23rd October, 1913, and the 23rd April, 1914, respectively?
6. When will the vacancies, which were caused by the marriages of two Sisters in April, 1914, be filled up? How long before such inarriages did the Government know that they would take place, and has the Government taken any and what steps to fill up such vacancies and when?
7. What is the maximum number of beds which a Sister on night duty
has attended to since the 1st May, 1913?
The Colonial Secretary returned the following answers :-
Question 1:-On the 19th August, 1913, two Probationers were ad- vertised for in the Hongkong Daily Press, and in the Hongkong Telegraph, in each case from 11th July, 1913, to 17th July, 1913. In the same papers three Probationers were advertised for from the 22nd to 28th November, 1913. Five Probationers were advertised for in the South China Morning Post from the 6th to 12th March, 1914.
Question 2-(a) Until recent years a fairly good supply of Probationers
was forthcoming. (b) Yes,
Question 3-208 Military women and children were cared for in the Government Hospitals in 1913, and $8,881.88 was received in fees on their account. These fees leave no profit to the Govern- ment. There has been no increase in the Nursing Staff since the taking over of the Military cases. The admission of women and children of the Garrison has not materially increased the work of the Sisters, as the following figures will show :-
DAILY AVERAGE OF PATIENTS UNDER TREATMENT.
Civil Hospital.
1908.....
..88.6
1909.....
.90.2
1910....
.92.0
1911...
.91.2
1912....
..94.8
1913..
.85.6
Maternity Hospital.
1908......
.2.61
1909...
..3.8
1910.....
3.7
1911.
1912.
1913.
1911..
1912... 1913...
Victoria Hospital.
.4.07) Excluding
4,57
7.2 infants
.14.24
.10.35
14.04
Question 4:-This question evidences considerable misapprehension. The Staff of Sisters at the Government Civil Hospital borne on the Estimates is 9. At Kennedy Town Hospital it is 2. At Victoria Hospital it is 2. There are in addition in residence at the Government Hospital 2 Private Nursing Sisters. When the