Annual report / Medical Department, Fiji.

  • Fiji. Medical Department.
Date:
[1949]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report / Medical Department, Fiji. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    10/38 (page 10)
    D.—MENTAL HOSPITAL, SUVA. 85. During the year under review, daily visits were made by the Deputy Director of Medical Services, Dr. Iv. R. Steenson, who carried out the duties of Medical Superintendent of the Mental Hospital, Suva. Regular weekly visits were also made by the Matron of the Colonial War Memorial Hospital. Mr. H. Leaver Head Attendant, and the Assistant Attendant, Mr. M. Fenn, continued in their respective offices. 86. It was necessary to retain the services of the two additional female attendants for the European female ward and one extra male orderly was engaged during the year. The remainder of the staff consisted of seven male Samoan warders, three male Fijian warders and eight Samoan female wardresses. 87. During 1949, 149 patients were treated, and 28 discharged unconditionally. There were 56 admissions, and six deaths in the Institution. The total number of patients remaining on the 31st December, 1949, was 86. 88. The following table shows the sex and racial distribution, and the classification of total admissions by type of disease:— (i) Racial and Sex Distribution. European Male Female 4 2 Total 6 Fijian 11 7 18 Indian 28 22 50 Others 6 6 12 49 37 (ii) Distribution by Type of Disease. No. of cases 1. Manic-depressive insanity . .. .. .. 90 86 No. of deaths 4 2. Paranoia and Paranoid States 11 3. Schizo-phrenia 2 • 4. Puerperal 1 • 5. Epilepsy 8 1 6. Mental deficiency . 8 7. Hysteria 2 • 8. Senile Dementia .. 27 1 149 6 89. Electro-convulsive therapy treatment, commenced in 1948, was continued in 1949 with considerable success. 558 treatments were given by Dr. D. J. Oldmeadow in conjunction with officers of the Medical Department. E.—DISTRICT AND RURAL MEDICAL UNITS. 90. Appendix VII contains a full list of these units. 91. From year to year an increasing amount of work is done at the three district hospitals as can be seen from the figures appearing in Appendix VIII. The district hospitals at Lautoka and Labasa, serving as they do closely populated areas, are particularly busy units'. The new Sabeto block at the Lautoka Hospital was brought into use during the year and fulfills a very pressing need. Dr. T. A. U. Clunie took over from Dr. R. W. D. Maxwell as District Medical Officer Western in November when Dr. Maxwell was posted to Labasa as District Medical Officer Northern to relieve Dr. M. L. McCauley who proceeded on leave. Dr. W. L. I. Verrier continued as Travelling Medical Officer for the Provinces of Macuata and Bua until December when he was posted to the Southern District as District Medical Officer Southern with headquarters at Nausori. 92. Appendix IX includes the diseases treated at the three district hospitals. F— AIDED HOSPITALS. 93. The Methodist Mission Hospital for Indian Women at Ba, which is assisted by a grant- in-aid from Government funds, fulfills an important function in that area. The hospital is under the medical charge of Dr. (Mrs.) D. Delbridge who was assisted by three trained nursing sisters and 10 Indian nurses in training. Assistance in the form of a building grant was promised by Government towards the cost of extensions to the hospital planned by the Mission. 966 patients were admitted to hospital, the daily average being 23-8 and 4,991 out-patients were treated. 189 obstetric patients were admitted to hospital compared with 162 in 1948 and 122 in 1947. Attendances at the Infant Welfare Clinic numbered 70. 94. The Cottage Hospital, Waiyevo, Taveuni, where three beds are available, is situated close to the rural hospital, The hospital is managed by a committee of the local residents of which the Medical Officer is Chairman, and is maintained by public subscription augmented by a Govern¬ ment subsidy. Eighteen patients were admitted during the year. 95. The Cottage Hospital at Ba has five beds and is in the medical charge of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company’s Medical Officer, who is assisted by a resident Nursing Sister. 96. Nurse Morrison’s Maternity Home at Suva caters for maternity cases attended by private practitioners and receives a Government subsidy of £400 a year, the following racial groups:— In 1949 there were 71 births of Europeans 56 Part-Europeans 5 Chinese 8 Indians .. 2 71