12 HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION. 



Griving a daily surplus of empty beds to meet emergencies 

 and increased demand of seven, a number equal to tbe total num- 

 ber of the present admissions. 



It further appears that with a fewer number of occupied beds 

 a larger number of patients were admitted and discharged during 

 the first six months of 1874 than 1873, proving that the retention 

 of the chronic and incurable cases has been prejudicial to the 

 interests both of the sick portion of the necessitous class and to 

 the valuable w^orking of the institution. 



To ascertain whether the health of the poor had been materially 

 different in these two years, I inquired at St. Vincent's Hospital 

 what the admission had been in the first five months of 1873 and 

 1874 respectively. I was informed that exactly 135 patients had 

 been received in both years, and further, that they did not hesitate 

 to put up extra beds if much required. 



The conclusions to w^hich these investigations lead are — 



1. That the amount of accommodation at present contained in 



the hospitals already existing in Sydney would, if strictly 

 devoted to cases of serious disease and accident, be suffi- 

 cient to meet the present demands of the community, but 

 (as will be shown hereafter) is incapable of that progressive 

 expansion demanded by a rapidly increasing commionity. 



2. That accommodation for persons suffering from chronic and 



incurable disease and for convalescing patients only exists 

 to a very limited extent, and that of an objectionable 

 character as being in a poor-house. 



3. That the accommodation contained in the main front building 



of the Infirmary, amounting to 151 beds, is proved by the 



evidence taken before the Charity Commission to be so 



unhealthy and unsatisfactory in character as to demand its 



immediate removal. 



I have now to state what I believe would be the cost for original 



construction and subsequent annual support of the two forms of 



hospitals, and of the different schemes open to our selection. 



Having recently been compelled to go carefully into the cost of 

 hospital construction in Sydney at the present time, I feel justified 

 in giving the following figures as approximately coi'rect : — 



1. For a large hospital efficient in all respects for the treatment 



of serious cases of all kinds, and for the purposes of a medical 

 school, £250 to £350 per bed, irrespective of the cost of site. 



2. For a large hospital suitable for chronic cases, &c., £60 to 



£90 per bed, irrespective of site. 

 After a careful examination of the question of hospital current 

 expenditure in Europe, and a rather long experience in Sydney, 

 I am satisfied that this will- not amount to less than from £45 to 

 £50 per bed in hospitals devoted to serious cases and in which 

 justice is done to them. 



