Annual report of the Superintending Medical Officer / Jamaica.

  • Jamaica. Medical Department
Date:
[1908]
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: Annual report of the Superintending Medical Officer / Jamaica. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    37/70 (page 31)
    3] of a room for them to sit and study in appears only just, inasmuch as they pay a premium of £5 on entering the Hospital, and I think they are entitled to some small consideration. The new Operating Theatre building which was commenced in the year 1906 but which was greatly damaged by the earthquake of January 14th, 1907, when it was half built, has now been completed and should be of the greatest service to the Hospital. The structure consists of an Operating Theatre proper, a room for chloroforming patients previous to their being taken to the Theatre and 2 small rooms in addition. The floor is of cement concrete and a dado of white tiles reaches to the window sills. Instrument cases and glass shelves as well as wash stands and sink are fixed to the walls and the usual conveniences are supplied. Light is pro¬ vided for by 9 windows, while electricity is laid on for use at night, there being 5 fixed and 2 moveable lamps. IMPROVEMENTS. The following improvements in the hospital have been effected during the past year:— (a) The brick wall between the old Theatre ward and Alexander ward has been pulled down as also that between Theatre ward and the male side of the hospital, decidedly improving the appearanee of the hospital grounds. (b) The high wall which, in the old days when the Public Hospital was a Lunatic Asylum, divided the male from the female side has also, on His Excellency’s suggestion, been pulled down, greatly improving the general appearance of the grounds, as well as permitting a far better circulation of fresh air. As soon as good grass plots and borders have been laid out and plants put in the Hospital will look very smart. (c) The covered way from Edward ward underbuilding has been partly lowered, as it blocked the eastern windows of the Nurses room and pantry of the above ward, preventing free entry of air. (d) The water closets, which existed at the eastern ends of Edward and William ward and which were badly damaged by the earthquake so as either to fall down or need pulling down, have not been re-erected ; some, what can only be called, temporary accommodation in that respect, inasmuch as it is too cramped, being made at the western ends of these wards. (e) A new wooden ceiling has been put up to William ward to replace the plaster one damaged by the earthquake. The work of the institution has been carried on under difficulties, owing to the want of a proper Outpatient Department. I hope that the new building will soon be commenced, as we have now been for a year and several months without proper Hospital accommodation. have &c., J. E. Ker, Superintending Medical Officer. Public Hospital, Kingston, May 26th, 1908. Sir, I have the honour to place before you, the Medical and Surgical returns of the Public Hos¬ pital for the financial year ending March 31st, 1908. 1. Table I. Shows the number of patients treated in hospital during the period under review with results. The total number being 3,77L of this number 200 were left remaining in hospital at the end of the year. The daily average number of beds occupied was 194 as compared with 196 in the previous year. The number of applicants for admission who were rejected for want of accommodation or for other reasons was 3,870. These people are either referred to the District Medical Officer or else to the Inspector of Poor or are advised to return and apply for admission. 2. Table II. Gives the average stay in days of patients in hospital. 3. Table III. Gives the total number of deaths during the year, the number being 401 as compared with 300 in the previous year. This table also gives the number of deaths that occurred 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after admission. These people were admitted in a more or less moribund condition, the total under this heading was 98.