Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 17 April 1943
Fullerton Hospital
Unavoidable Loss of Income
At the Rossington Street School on Monday, the annual meeting of the Fullerton Hospital was presided over by Mr. J. Henderson, chairman of the Board.
Mr. N. Hulley (Agent of the Denaby Colliery), who is treasurer, gave an interesting survey of the financial statement (which had been audited by Mr. T. C. Campbell), and compared the present balance sheet with the previous year.
Mr. Hulley stressed the point that the income for the present accounts had of necessity been reduced to what it had been for the last year or so. This was due to circumstances over which neither the Board nor anyone else connected with the hospital had any control. They would note that this year they were £3000 less which had been previously subscribed by the Ministry of Health, but against that they had received a donation of £995 12s. from the Miners’ Welfare Commission, which was to defray the cost of the recently-installed X-ray apparatus, etc. They had asked during the last few months for an increase in contributions, and a keen scrutiny of the accounts would prove that this was justifiable. They had in this account up to the end of 1942 received the last quarter’s subscription at the new rate, but in spite of this their income had been £7196 2s. 11d., and their expenditure £7508 1s. 3d., and on the year’s work they had a deficiency of £311 18s. 4d.
On the expenditure side they had saved about £200 by the fact that they had not had the hospital decorated last year, but again on the expenditure side they would note an increase in the wages and salaries account, because the Board had decided to increase the wages of the staff as far as possible to the awards suggested in the reports of the British Hospitals’ Association and Nursing Council recently given.
Income and Expenses
The main items on the income side were: Contributions from the various employers, £4407 2s. 2d. (which included £3863 3s. from the Denaby and Cadeby Colliery workers); donations amounted to £2111 6s. 2d., the main items in this amount being the gift of £250 from the Amalgamated Denaby Collieries, Ltd., and also £565 14s. from the Coal Commission and £995 12s. supplied through the Miners’ Welfare Commission, £150 from the W.R.C.C. grant in Aid; Mexborough Theatre, Ltd. £12 16s. 9d.; Prudential Assurance Co. £20; and a donation from the Ministry of Health. From the reserve fund there was £503 for reservation of beds, the District Nursing Association maternity fees £39 12s., bank interest £6 10s., and a balance from last year of £1376 5s. 8d. brought the amount to £8572 8s. 7d.
Principal items of expenditure were: Foodstuffs, etc. £1208 7s. 2d.; ward and theatre requisites £1603 19s. 4d.; X-ray requisites £912 1s. 10d.; fees and subscriptions £652 4s. 9d.; wages and salaries £1807 19s. 9d.; rates and insurance £613 8d.; stationery and postage £52 19s. 4d., and other sundry items came to £1304 6s., making a total of £5829 10s. The District Nursing Association included salaries, repairs and renewals, goods, etc. cost £420 3s. 5d. The total expenditure was £7458 1s. 3d. Repayment of loan was £50, the balances at the bank in deposit and current accounts came to £1050 1s. 10d., cash in hand £9 15s. 6d., and war savings certificates £48 10s. brought the total to £3052 5s. 7d.
Medical Report
Dr. D. Clarke presented the medical and District Nursing report. The admissions in the year were 268 men, 62 women, and 4 children. Out-patients treated 2077, out-patients’ daily visits 4271. X-rayed 1050, massage 2827, and deaths 9. Consultations by Mr. Connell 1195, Miss Hatherley 696, and Dr. Brody 311. Operations by Mr. Connell (G.A. 112, L.A. 55), 167; Miss Hatherley (G.A. 2, L.A. 74), 76; Dr. Brody (L.A. 1; local anaesthetics (G.A. 66, L.A. 107), 172; fractures treated 144, district nursing—general visits 1040, maternity visits 744, and dressing visits 224; total 4108.
Dr. Clarke paid a tribute to the Matron and Nursing staff, who, in spite of many difficulties during the year, such as shortage of nurses, had kept the place going and maintained the usual high standard of proficiency. They had now the assistance of two Red Cross nurses, and they had received valuable assistance from a voluntary free service who had done 250 hours of duty free.
Dr. Clarke went on to pay tribute to work carried out at the hospital by the consultant medical staff. “I am afraid,” said Dr. Clarke, “that you do not hear of your own hospital enough. You have in it the most up-to-date apparatus in any hospital, both X-ray and anaesthetic apparatus, etc. Col. Connell has succeeded in always striving and succeeded in keeping the hospital up to date by his suggestions. His treatment has also been the latest methods, and we can be very proud indeed that we have had the privilege of the services of such a person. He also paid tribute to the work of Dr. Hatherley and Dr. Brody for their fine work in the respective departments, all of which were well equipped for the benefit of the patients.
Dr. Clarke concluded: “I may not always be in Denaby Main, but I shall always be very proud that I have had the privilege and experience of serving under such an institution and a fine hospital. The opinion as the Fullerton Hospital would recommend Denaby Main to anyone’s doctor for experience if which is great and valuable, and I hope you will realise what a valuable asset you have in your midst.”
On the motion of Mr. R. Johnson (secretary), a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the consultants, the medical staff, the matron (Miss Brighton), and nursing staff, Miss Nock and the domestic staff, the porters, and all contributors to the hospital throughout the year.
Mr. N. Hulley proposed and Mr. Hallford seconded, a vote of thanks to the chairman for his services throughout the year, and paid tribute to the high standard maintained by the chairman who had served the Board.