Report / Department of Public Health, Tasmania.

  • Tasmania. Department of Public Health.
Date:
[1955]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report / Department of Public Health, Tasmania. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    15/52 (page 15)
    1955. 15 (No. 61.) Summary. 1953-54 1954-55. Number resident at commence- rnent . 399 407 Admitted during year . 246 273 645 680 Discharged during the year ... 96 124 Deaths during the year . 142 238 130 254 Number resident at close of year . 407 426 Revenue: Commonwealth Hospital Bene- £ £ fits . 22,465 25,093 State aid (net cost) ... Invalids and old age pensions 104,013 121,919 contributions. War Service pensions contri- ■ 23,250 23,175 butions . 1,559 1,426 Private maintenance . 3,003 5,386 Laundry services . 482 579 Sundries . 434 439 £155,206 £178,017 Expenditure: £ £ Salaries . 92,570 104,103 Provisions and medical com- forts . 37.537 40,229 Fuel and light . 7,486 6,573 Bedding, clothing and stores Repairs and renewals of build- 15,191 16,184 ings . 1,348 5,046 Sundries . 1,074 5,882 £155,206 £178,017 £ s. d. £ s. d, Gross daily cost per inmate , . 113 13 5 Net daily cost per inmate. 0 14 3 0 16 0 Gross weekly cost per inmate ... 7 8 10 8 4 1 Net weekly cost per inmate 4 19 9 5 12 4 Bush Nursing Hospitals. There have been 26 centres in operation, including 12 hospitals, and 14 centres not admit¬ ting in-patients. Of the latter two were open only two-thirds of the year, due to staff shortage. Three new hospitals are in course of construction at Dover, Sheffield, and Westbury. Staffing of the centres—particularly hospitals—continues to cause much concern. Nursing sisters whp are widowed or past retiring age are still being recruited, and staff the majority of centres. Further nurse nomina¬ tions from other countries are being planned to help the situation. Extra amentities and further modern equip¬ ment have been provided in many of the hospitals, keeping them in line with modern medical pro¬ gress. New electrical house-cleaning and laundry devices have also been purchased. Painting and renovations have been maintained throughout. New ambulances and cars have been provided for some districts, and several replacements have been made. The Northern Bush Nursing Association suc¬ cessfully organised its annual button day appeal, and they, together with local Bush Nursing Com¬ mittees, Auxiliaries, Medical Unions, Country Womens’ Association Branches, the Red Cross Trust, and other honorary bodies, have assisted the department substantially with supplying new equipment and furnishings. Grateful thanks are extended to all who have assisted so generously. Outlined hereunder are brief notes about some of the centres. Dover.—A new 5-bed hospital is in course of construction, and almost completed. Maydena.—A new patients’ waiting room has been built on to the surgery unit, by Australian Newsprint Mills, adding considerably to patients’ comfort. Ouse.—Complete and fully equipped staff quarters have been erected next to the hospital, increasing patient bed capacity to 12. Nursing and domestic staffs have been increased proportionately, except¬ ing for periods when nursing shortage could not permit of it. Apart from long-service given by one nursing sister and one nurse aid, there have been many staff changes, causing concern. In-patient and out-patient numbers have again increased. George Toivn.—This new hospital during the past year has become established in the community. A very live auxiliary, and kindred associations have helped materially in equipping. Grounds are improving with the aid of further drainage undertakings. Staffing by local married trained nurses is proving suc¬ cessful. Mole Creek.—This centre has made notable advances in the formation of an active auxiliary, which during the year has made possible a number of improve¬ ments, at the same time extending health work in the more out-lying areas. Redpa.—With the extension of hydro-electric power, this, one of the earlier function¬ ing centres has been modernised. During the time, repairs were in pro¬ gress it was unstaffed, being re-opened in January of this year. A Marrawah Child Health Clinic is established, with the help of the Progress Association assisting with necessary furnishings.