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as temporary quarters for some of the Staff, pending the completion of the additional Officers' Quarters, on the completion of the latter should be utilised for providing the necessary increased accommodation for private paying patients.
II-SMALL-POX HOSPITAL.
8. The temporary small-pox buildings remain as before.
9. The Hospital ship Hygeia is, I understand, progressing towards completion.
III. ADDITIONAL OFFICERS' QUARTERS.
10. This building situated at the corner of High Street and Eastern Street is approaching com- pletion and provides for the accommodation of ten officers as well as a large analytical laboratory and store room.
IV. HOSPITAL PREMISES.
11. The substitution of a low parapet wall surmounted by a substantial open iron railing in place of the present high wall along the Hospital Road frontage of the premises adjoining the Main building, as well as the substitution of an iron railing instead of the present temporary bamboo fence along the High Street frontage of the grounds adjoining the Superintendent's house and used as a recreation ground for the convalescent patients, have been provided for in this year's Estimates.
I hope therefore that these much needed improvements will not remain any longer in abeyance. During the past year the drainage of the entire Hospital premises which for some time past had been in an unsatisfactory condition has been thoroughly overhauled and practically reconstructed.
The drains and soil pipes previously passing through the interior of the building have been placed outside and the interior sanitary fittings generally removed and improved.
The insecurity of the premises on the North side admitting of the easy ingress and egress to and from the hospital premises without the fact being brought to the knowledge of the Hospital porter still exists, thus materially affecting Hospital discipline.
V. THE HOSPITAL STAFF.
12. My thanks are due to Dr. Lowson for the able way in which he has assisted me during the past year; without his help it would have been impossible for me to have got through the work.
13. Mr. Lucas having arrived from England entered on the duties of the Assistant Apothecary on the 16th of February and has proved an able successor to Mr. WATSON.
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14. Mr. ROGERS returned from leave on the 5th January.
VI. THE NURSING STAFF.
15. Amongst the Nursing Staff I have to record the loss of Wardmaster CHAPMAN who resigned on the 31st May to enter on other employment in the Colony. It is somewhat to be regretted that an officer holding the position of Senior Wardmaster should resign after so short a service (16 months). On the 2nd of June J. STEVENSON, late Sergeant of A. M. Staff Corps, was appointed to fill the vacancy thus caused. From the opportunities I have had of seeing his work he appears to be assiduous in the performance of his duties and possessed of a thorough knowledge of the work required of him.
16. I also have to report the resignation of the staff of French Sisters after 12 months' service and though as pointed out by you in your report of last year they were unable to perform the various duties required of them I wish to place on record my indebtedness to them for the willing assistance they rendered in many ways during the short time they were here.
17. On the 7th of November a Matron and five Sisters previously trained in London Hospitals all of whom have had considerable experience in the duties connected with nursing the sick in large Hospitals joined the Nursing Staff of this Institution and from the experience I have had during the past five months I anticipate that their assistance will materially add not only to the comfort of the patients under treatment but to the efficiency of this Institution.
For the present they occupy the quarters previously temporarily occupied by the French Sisters but I look forward to the early completion of the new building and the provision of better accommo- dation for them.
VIL CHINESE NURSING STAFF.
18. I have again to report that the Chinese attendants have suffered more from sickness than they ought to have done, and I cannot but think that this is in a large measure due to the insanitary build- ings which they are compelled to occupy and I hope, as the new quarters will shortly be ready, in my next annual report to be able to record an improved state of health amongst them.
VIII.-WORK DONE DURING THE YEAR.
19. Attached to this report are the following tables :-
I.-Shewing the admissions into and deaths in the Government Civil Hospital during each month of the year, of the Police.
II.-Shewing the rate of sickness and mortality in the Police Force during the year.
III.-Police return of admissions to Hospital from each district during the year.
V.-General return of the sick treated in the Hospital.
Va.-Surgical operations performed during the year.
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