HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
be in fact unfit for taking duty. They agree, however, that Sisters will go on duty or remain on duty when they are not well, in order to prevent extra work being thrown on others, The Matron reports that on two occasions of late she discovered that a Sister was not well, and she sent her off duty at once. A Sister was recently reported as having dy sentry, and
on enquiry being made she said that she preferred not to go off duty, though, had the Staff not been so short-hand- ed, she would have been glad of two or three days' rest. The Superintendent states that it is largely a Sister's own fault if she goes on duty feeling 100 ill to do it, because the Sisters know quite well that they have only to say that they are not fit and they will be and always have been given a rest.
Q.-9. With reference to the following part of the answer to my Question 5 at the last meeting of Council, namely,
C
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 June, 1916, inclusive there has been one Sister on duty on each floor of A Block. during morning and afternoon duty?
A.-9. For some ten years one Sister was normally in charge of one floor in A Block and of C Block. Latterly one Sister has been in charge of both floors in A Block. This arrangement has not been continuous, and. when circum stances have admitted. separate Sisters have been in charge of separate floors whether in A or in C Block. One Sister was on duty on each floor of A Block during morning and afternoon for nine months in 1913 and for five months in 1914 and 1915 respectively. During 1916 only one Sister has been on duty,
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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 respec tively, and during April, May, and June. 1916, respectively?
A.-10. The work in B. Block is harder than that in A. Block. There are fifty- six beds in the general wards of B. Block and six beds in the private wards. There is nu record of the average number of beds occupied in B. Block during the periods referred to; and in any event Sisters were in charge of half only of B. Block until July, 1915, when arrangement of wards was made.
1 re-
Q.-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 out- side of the Colony,'
made to such effect, and, if so, when has any Rule or Regulation ever been was it made, and has any such Rule or Regulation ever been notified to the Sisters, and, if so, when?
The
A.-11. The regulation reads ** No Civil Servant has any claim to spend his vaca- tion or half-pay leave of absence in the Colony without special sanction from the Governor, which in the case of half-pay leave will only be given in very special circumstances." The rule as regards half-pay leave dates from 1886 and as regards vacation leave from 1907, Rules of the Service are available to the Sisters at the Matron's Office in the Civil Hospital and at the office of the Victoria Hospital. The Sisters are pre- sumably aware of the rule in question, as several applications by Sisters to There are 48 beds in the four public spend vacation leave in the Colony have Wards in A Block. The number of oc-
been granted in recent years. There is cupied beds in A Block, including the
no record of such an application having The following applica- Private Wards, averaged during April, been refused. May, and June 372, 30-3, and 331tions, all of which were granted, may respectively."
interest the honourable member:-
Q.-10. With reference to the following part of the answer to my Question 5 at the last meeting of the Council:
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
14
Civil Hospital,
it has always been the practice to pur- Hongkong, 16th May, 1912. chase locally necessary drugs and dis- STR, 1 beg to apply for one month's infectants of which the Government stock vacation Irave from the 3rd June.
may have run short. In 1914 there was would ask that permission be granted me no shortage in drugs and disinfectants to spend this leave in the Colony, as I required by the Government Civil Hos am not able to incur the expense of pital, which could not be supplied by travelling, and I feel the need of a holi-local purchase. In 1915 a shortage occured day. I am, etc.,
(Sd) MARY A, LEE,
The Superintendent,
Civil Hospital.
Sister.
Civil Hospital, Hongkong, 25th July, 1912. SIR. I have the honour to apply for two weeks vacation leave from the 1st proximo, and to request permission to spend it in the Colony. I have, etc.,
(Sd.) ELLEN LUCKMAN,
Sister.
The Superintendent,
Civil Hospital.
HON. COLONIAL SECRETARY, Sister Bar- row applies for leave of absence from December 1st until January 15th, 1915, and wishes to be allowed to spend it in the Colony, I recommend that the application be granted.
(Sd.) J. T. C. JOHNSON,
P.C.M.O.
ex-
21st December, 1914. Q.-12. Are there not now 2 Chinese Wardmasters employed at the Government Civil Hospital in the place of 2 Euro- pean Wardmasters?
A.-12. This is the case. The European Wardmasters referred to, one of whom is an ex-soldier and the other an policeman, have been given leave of absence for the duration of the war in order that they may serve in the Army.
Q-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 Govern- ment Civil Hospital? Is not the Prin cipal Civil Medical Officer responsible for the ordering of a sufficient quantity of drugs and disinfectants for use in the Government Hospitals?
:
:
in the Government supplies in the months of June, July and August owing to the non-arrival of supplies requisitioned from England. Here again necessary articles were purchased locally. Early in the current year owing to a loss of a consignment of drugs, some of which were specially required, in the unfortunate Fasaka Mau, inconvenience was caused, but the supply of drugs was supplement- ed as far as possible by local purchases. I may interpolate here that drugs for the hospital which were ordered last October were received only the other day. The reason, of course, is obvious; it is, due to the state of war. The Principal Civil Medical Officer is given a full dis- cretion to order from England such arti- cles as in his opinion will be needed and he has full authority to replenish stock, where he thinks fit, by local purchase. Fashions change in drugs, and there may be in one year a heavy demand for some article which in the following year is neglected. The Government is satisfied that Dr. Johnson uses his discretion wise- ly in deciding what articles, in what quantities, are to be bought. It may be mentioned that the Government Civil Hospital stocks some 600 different articles.
Q-14. Is not the clothing of Asiatic patients in the Government Civil Hos pital 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?
in
14. There is no hard and fast rule about changing clothing and bedding. Normally in the Asiatic wards clothing A.-13. It should be explained in the is
but changed weekly, first place that under General Order 137 all
many cases
and clothing members of the Civil Service have the
bedding have to be changed daily. The clean- privilege of getting their prescriptions liness of the beds and patients is made by their medical attendants com- under the discretion of the Sister in pounded at the Government Civil Hos-charge of the ward The Principal Civil pital. It should also be explained that Medical Officer under date the 28th June,
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