HOSPITAL ACCOMMODATION, 11 



Eeference to tMs table shows that from January 1st to July Ist, 

 1873, there was a total of 1,526 vacant beds and 956 admissions, 

 showing an excess of vacant beds over admissions of 570, or about 

 3 l-7th daHy. 



Taking the same period of the present year, we find a total of 

 2,878 vacant beds against 1,098 admissions, showing an excess of 

 1,780 vacant beds, or about 9f daily. 



But if we take the number of vacant beds and admissions from 

 the 1st of March to the 1st of July in each of the same two years, 

 that is, during those months in which, this year, all patients were 

 discharged whose further detention in the hospital was considered 

 undesirable, we shall fi^nd the figures more disproportionate still : — 

 Yacant beds from 1st March to 1st July, 1873... 1,165 



Admissions, ditto ditto, 1873 609 



Surplus of vacant beds, ditto ditto, 1873 ... , ... 556 

 Vacant beds from 1st March to 1st July, 1874 . . . 2,715 



Admissions, ditto ditto, 1874 732 



Surplus of vacant beds, ditto ditto, 1874 ... ... 1,983 



Daily average of surplus vacant beds, 1873 ... 4| 



Ditto ditto ditto, 1874 16i 



Another point that deserves attention is the great similarity 

 between the numbers of the admissions during each month of the 

 two years, a feature which is more evident on looking at the 

 monthly daily average. 



The proportion of vacancies to accommodation appears to be 

 rather more than 10 per cent, in the two hospitals, and this aver- 

 age would undoubtedly be increased by the establishment of a 

 chronic hospital. "We will however take it at 10 per cent. 



There are 228 beds in the Infirmary, and thirty-six (to be in- 

 creased this year to sixty) in St. Vincent's Hospital, making a total 

 of 288. These would yield a daily average of nearly twenty-nine 

 beds, to meet a demand which the statistics prove has not hitherto 

 exceeded an average of seven (and during 1873 was under six), 

 judging by the test of admissions. 



It must, however, be borne in mind that a margin of empty beds 

 to the extent of about 5 per cent, should be allowed for cleans- 

 ing and disinfecting — for bed spaces to be left vacant a certain 

 time after cases of fever, for unavailable beds arising from the 

 necessary classification of patients, &c. 



A summary of the last-mentioned facts would stand thus : — 

 Daily average of vacant beds at ten per cent, on 288 beds, say 28 



Deduct five per cent, for administrative purposes, say ... 14 

 Deduct also for the average supply of suitable cases for admis- 

 sion, say ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 



Total ... 21 



