HOSPITAL BOARD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 226, 28 October 1914, Page 8

HOSPITAL BOARD.

TODAY'S MEETING. At the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board's meeting this morning there were present: Messrs P. Horrell (chairman) T. D. Boag, H. B. Sorensen, W. H. Cooper, W. W. Tanner, W. McMillan, A. H. Tnrnbull, J. D. Hall, W. P. Spencer, G. Scott, J. Ashley, J. Davison, O. Bradley, Mrs Wilson, and Mrs Christie. PRISONERS OF WAR. The Inspector-General notified that in cases where the board found it necessary to provide relief for the dependents of prisoners of war, the Government would pay half the cost of such relief. It was stated that as yet there were no such cases in Christchurch. DESTITUTE CHILDREN. The Canterbury Women's Institute forwarded a copy of the following resolution which it had forwarded to the Minister of Justice, and which it asked the board to support: —"The Canterbury Women's Institute desires to draw the attention of the Government to the inadequate payment made to the licensed foster-parents of the neglected and destitute children of the Dominion. The ordinary rate of 8/- per week for a child -is insufficient to provide suitable food and clothing . for growing children and leave any margin as a recompense for the large amount of work done by the foster-parent on behalf of the child. Consequently thare was grave danger of the children being overworked and underfed. The C.W.I, considers that the remuneration for infants under 12 months should be not less than 15/- -per week, and for other children 12/- per week. Further, the C.W.I, would point out the grave injustice done to both children and fosterparents by the State withdrawing all aid when the child reaches the age of 14, as the work a child of 14 should be required to do does not assure wages sufficient to pay board and supply clothing and other necessities of his j new condition of life; and, therefore, I the existing system debars boys and girls over 14 years from any occupation except that of servant on a farm ot, in a family. The C.W.I. believes that at least till the age of 17 the State should continue half of its former contribution towards the maintenance of the child." ' It was decided, by eight votes to six, that this matter be referred to the Charitable Aid Committee for a report. Mr Tanner pointed out that if the payments for these children were increased it would provide an inducement to a certain class of people to get as many of these children as possible and make profit out of them. HOSPITAL EXPORTS. The Hospital Committee reported that the administration buildings were" nearing completion, and arrangements were being made for furnishing and equip- [ ping the various departments. The j Minister had approved the appointments of Drs McDiarmid and Wallis, as junior | house surgeons. The board was recommended to grant authority for applications to be invited for the position of senior house surgeon for one year, from February next, at £2OO per annum. This had become necessary, as the -gentleman whQ might, in the ordinary course, have taken the position had gone away with the Expeditionary Force. The board was recommended to grant the sum of £SO to Nurse Gunn, who lost the first finger of her right hand through septic poisoning. The case had been under consideration by the board's solicitors, and they hid advised that an action against the Government Insurance Department would not be likely to be successful. For some time past experiments had been tried by having nurses act as assistants to the dispenser at the hospital, but as the advantage to be gained by the board or the nurses was very slight, the committee recommended that the services of a lady be obtained as apprentice. The proposed plans for the* chronic ward have been under consideration and had now been recommended to the Buildings Committee for approval before being laid before the board. The -Medical Superintendent (Dr F. L. Scott) reported that on September 30 there were 207 patients in N the hospital, and 34 were awaiting admission. The out-patients' cases numbered 319, and there were 1215 attendances. The number of operations under anaesthetics was 234, or 32 more than the previous month, and the greatest number during any one month. This indicated how busy the hospital had been. The dental department's report showed that there had been 411 attendances, with 286 operations, at that department during the month. The fresh patients examined numbered 131. Miss M. Thurston, lady superintendent, reported that owing to the pressure of work in the hospital she found it exceedingly difficult to provide the extra nurses required at the present time at outside institutions. Bottle Lake Hospital had 40 patients, several of them requiring a good deal of nursing, and the matron had applied for extra assistance. The infirmary wards, Jubilee Home, were also very heavy, and had to have extra assistance. The Lyttelton Casualty Ward, Akaroa Hospital, and infirmary wards, Taurangi, had been visited during the month and found satisfactory. The reports were adopted. TUBERCULOSIS INSTITUTIONS. Dr G. J. Blackmore, medical director of tuberculosis institutions, reported that on September 30 there were 50 patients (28 men, 19 women, and three children) in residence in the sanatorium, and 40 (21 men, 18 women, and one child) in the Coronation Hospital. During the month there were 204 attendances at the Tuberculosis Dispensary, and 34 persons called for information. The nurse paid 113 visits to patients in their own homes," and seven new patients were notified. BOTTLE LAKE HOSPITAL. Dr J. F. Duncan, medical officer at Bottle Lake Hospital, reported that there were 27 patients in Bottle Lake Hospital on October 20. The beds, in the new wards were in use, and were very satisfactory. The secretary explained that after Dr Duncan's report was written, a dozen new patients were admitted to Bottle Lake Hospital. • PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE. The Public Health Committee stated that the health inspectors reported enquiries during September into 24 cases of scarlet fever, 15 of diphtheria, 12 of tuberculosis, 25 of ehiekenpox, 10 of erysipelas, and 278 other inspections or enquiries were made. The total number of patients at Bottle Lake Hospital was reported as 27. Reports were received from the health inspector and Dr Blackmore with regard to the Tuahiwi district; copies were being forwarded to the Education Board and to the Minister for Public Health. The latter was being asked to

reappoint a nurse for the Maoris in the Tuahiwi and Little River districts. This officer was withdrawn at the time of the smallpox outbreak, and had not returned to the district since then. Much good had been derived from her services. It was decided to urge the Government to reappoint a nurse for the Maoris at Tuahiwi and Little River. The board expressed its deep appreciation of the work done by the Rev. C. A. Fraer and Mrs Fraer, of Tuahiwi, in combating tuberculosis amongst the Maoris. FINANCE. The Finance Committee reported that, acting on the authority granted by the board at last meeting, the solicitors had been instructed to take action against the Riccarton Borough Council, the Heathcote County Council, and the Waimairi County Council, for the full amount of contribution owing for the year ending March 31 next. The contractor for the supply of groceries had repeated his application for consideration with regard to the prices of several articles affected by the war. The committee had invited him to state specifically on what articles he deemed that consideration should be given. The trustees of the Moule Estate had forwarded a cheque for £BOO, being one year's income from the Moule Bequest to Taurangi. With regard to . the first clause it was decided by 10 votes to/five that if the local bodies in question paid up their past six months'- contributions within a month, no fui'ther action should be taken.