Sessional_Paper_1890 — Page 310

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GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL.

The quarters for the Medical Staff and the European and Chinese Nursing Staffs are still in course of construction.

The new Hospital Mortuary has been finished and is now most conveniently situated. It can no longer be a cause of annoyance to the inmates of the Hospital as it always had been previously from its position on the grounds.

There is now an additional Medical Officer to the Staff which materially relieved the Superin- tendent.

There are also a Senior and two Assistant Wardmasters all trained men who have given great satisfaction in the performance of their duties.

I regret that the Nursing Staff of Sisters has not been so successful. They have found the work beyond their strength being delicately nurtured women also they are not permitted by the rules of their order to do much that is required in an institution of this kind so that a new staff of trained European Nurses has been sanctioned to take their place, and will shortly arrive I hope.

Mr. ROGERS, the Steward, has returned to duty much benefited by his well earned leave and an additional clerk has been appointed to help in the clerical work which increases yearly.

We have lost two old and valued officers in Mr. CARNEIRO and CHAN A LOCK; the former died a few days after being pensioned of heart disease. CHAN A LOCK after nearly thirty years' service retires on pension. Both these men were trained in this Hospital and more willing, kinder hearted, energetic and competent officers in the performance of their duties are not to be found. As a patient in the Hospital I had a good experience of their way of working and they were equally good to the poorest destitute as I have had many opportunities of observing.

Mr. LUCAS who takes the place of Mr. WATSON, the late assistant Apothecary, has arrived but there will have to be some changes in this Department as I have already reported. Mr. CROW will have enough analytical work to take up nearly all his time if he has to do the work connected with the new Health Ordinance.

The admissions to this Hospital shew a slight increase this year while the number of deaths shew a slight decrease. The largest increase has been among the private patients.

There were no admissions this year of a choleraic type.

The following table shews the number and classification of those brought to Hospital for the last nine years :-

the

1882.

1883.

1884.

1885. 1886.

1887,

1888.

1889,

Police,

.549

599

486

495

602 619 657

590

Board of Trade,..

.116

110

60

100

132

103

153

135

Private paying Patients,......268

260

259

283 381

324

313

402

Government Servants,

88

105

96

124

144

147

159

135

Police Cases,

.207

227

231

Destitutes,

.230

•

238 201 222 270

142 208 242

252

222 255 248 279

1,458 1,502

1,354 1,510

1,623 1,656 1,772 1,793

Tables V a to g shew the characters of the diseases admitted to Hospital.

Table VII gives the admissions into and deaths in this Hospital of the different classes during

and for each month of the year. years

The following table gives the admissions and deaths in this Hospital for the last ten years:-

1880,

1881,

1882,

1883,

1884,

1885,

1886,

1887,

1888,

1889,

Admissions.

.1,055......

Deaths.

..44

.1,236...........

...49

1,458..

68

.1,502..

..70

.1,354....

...50

1,510..

..76

.1,623..

.79

.1,656..

.1,772..

... 89

.1.793..

...80 ......77

The percentage of deaths to total admissions (4′29) is much below the average of the last ten years, see Table VI.

The total amount of fees received from paying patients during the year was $11,444.49—the largest amount received in any one year.