HOSPITAL BOARD

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 170347, 21 October 1920, Page 8

HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. i"i:e monthly meeting of the South auterbury Hospital x>oard was held terierday. Present—Messrs F. li. Gil-,.ngl-.aiu (chairman), 0. N. Orbell, It. liiKster, J. It. Loughnan, A. l<revv, J. Meehan. J J. Kiiis. F. V. Lysaghi, Iter. T. \\". Potts, and Mra'p. A. ItaynjondCONSUMPTIOX SHELTEKS. The Mayor of Timaru. and Councillor •3. P. Mui-piiy waited on the Uoara to that tne consumption shelters just L-reetud on the ilign {Street iroutage if the grounds be removed. Tne j>iayur asKed. lor their removal, as they were considered a menace to health m their present position and wero strongly objected to by people living m tut; vicinity. JCverybody in the uist-i'ict would like to see a proper consumption sanatorium, built in a suitable locality inland, and the deputation hoped that the Board would remove the shelters as soon as possible, and <lu ail they could to expeorce tne erection of a consumption sanatorium in tue country. Councillor Murphy endorsed tl\g Mayor's remarks.

-v i«itition was received from a num- ■ '«■ or people living near the Hospital, n-.-dng ioi- the removal of the shelters.

in reply to Mr Potts, the chairman tnid that according to medical opinion to.e shelters were not harmful in their 'pic-sent position. The objection to tiivtkt was purely sentimental.

The chairman added that the Hoard appreciated the reasonable way the deputation had stated their case and the fact that they were taking an interest; in the health of the people. Tho Board were equally and would do all they could to have tho shelters removed as soon as possible. It woidd not be possible, however, until a consumption sanatorium was orected in the country, and the Board had been trying to get this for years. The Board had no other place to'erect the shelters than where they had put

j'them, and the head of the. Department [ approved or' the sice. -There was no [ real objection to the present site, but I the Board would like to remove even ] a sentimental objection. I Dr Loughnan said there, was no risk 'of contagion through having the shei- , xers where they were. The shelters ; had been in tho same location on a, : -previous occasion and no objection had r then been taken to them. Jiven^wheii there was a sanatorium the Hoard would still have to have shelters for cases in the testing period. Mr Median said the Hoard were just as anxious as the deputation to see a proper sanatorium erected; they had been doing all they could to that end j dor years past, without result, and they had no intention of relaxing their efforts. Even if tne shelters were not ; an actual menace he could quite under- } stand people not liking to uve in close proximity to them.

Mr Potts also emphasised the point that it was not througn any laxity on the -part of the Board that a sanatorium had not been provided for South Canterbury patients beiore this. „.-?i irs -Raymond said that Colonel Wiley, Inspector of Hospitals, was in 'rima.ru last week, when he had said there was absolutely no oojection to the present site of tho shelters.

The chairman said the shelters wore closer to the patients in the general hospital than to anyone outside -Kile Mayor and Councillor Murphv thanked the Board for having received them and said they hoped the Board would continue to press the Governjment- to erect a sanatorium for South • Canterbury consumptives. The Borough Council would he glad to assist the Board in every possible wav ep } y ?°, orbelI > the chairnwn said he had heard nothing of the proposal to build a consumption sanatonuin at Clyde. He knew nothing about it beyond the telegram in the • newspapers. AN INQUIRY. I Mr Potts inquired why the matron had not complied with the Board's resolution that she should lend two probationer nurses to the Waimate Hospital.

Tho chairman said the Board's resolution should have been complied with, and then \\ aimat-e would not have been under the necessity to send to Christehurch. " Mr Potts said the Board were being flouted, and they must insist on their instructions being carried out. • lie moved that the matron be asked to give her reasons in writing for her neglect to carry out the Board's instructions. This was agreed to. ' - A COSTLY BALL. A question arose as tu wnether 'tho Boaru snould pay tue ueiucit vx-Si.; oil L-ne ball litriu by tue nurses ;il tno nospitui. jut Potts said that while he wouid do all ho coula lor the nurses in a reasonable way he would strongly ob3ect to paying this a'Zi. '±ne lioara jiad nothing to clo with it, and some of the charges seemed most extravagant. .Airs Baymond said the matron had gone about the matter in the wrong way and had ignored the Board until it was found that there was a deficit. She had been warned beforehand that the present position would probably arise. Tiie chairman said ihat some of the accounts should be taxed as they were out of all reason. Dr Loughnan said that the Board should take strong exception to the whole matter, but he thought that the Board should pay £lO towards the dolicit, as the nurses would probablv have to make it np. And they should be given to understand that the Board would not come to their assistance again if the matron arranged another ball on similar lines. It was stated that a charge of 5s a ticket had been made and that there should not have been any deficit. . A suggestion was made that as the fault lay with the matron she should hs left to meet the deficit. Mr Meehan said lie would strongly object to the Board paying this deficit. They were not sent there by the ratepayers to squander their money. Too many poor people were in need of it for that. There was an

account for £9 Ib's for liquor and the Board most certainly had no right to pay lor liquor for a dance. In order to get. the nurses out of the difficulty : lie would bo willing to give them £5 | out of his own pocket, but he_\voukl | never vote for spending the .board's > monev in suck a way. ' Mr Potts, Mr Ellis, and Mr Lysaghl took the same view as Mr Median. Dv Loughnan proposed that the Board strongly disapprove of the way the ball had been arranged, but that they will give £lO to assist the nurses out of the difficulty. Mr Inkster seconded this. Mr Median moved an amendment that the Board do not recognise the account winch had been incurred without their knowledge or approval. Mr Potts seconded this. On a vote being taken the amendment was carried by 6 to 4. MEDICAL OFFICER'S REPORT, 'file Kesiuent jHeuicul U inter' at. the Hospital reported, t-uat tile- routine wuiiv or the JT.os|jitat lia'd ooeii going on satisfactorily. '.l'he shelters weio now on tneir new site and cue patients iuui been slutted over, a aoubio intonsilymg screen and easett-e ior .v.-ray worit should be procured immediately. l)c AVylje. inspector of jtospitais. visited lalbot Hospital on the after- '■ noun of the lotii iust. At present ' there were only four cases there. J.ieing the head of the Department, ho : asKcd J)r W'ylio to inspect the shelters in their new site, and had his permission to -say that the site d'.oson was quite, good and the best in the grounds at disposal. Destitute maternity cases still continued to cause a great deal of inconvenience. Although tho Board hail arrangements with outside nursing homes to accommodate these cases, three cases had occurred of late where tho patient had arrived at the Hospital at a late hour at night, and he had had to admit these cases, not having a chance to make other arrangements. These people had ample tinio to make arrangements, but they persisted in neglecting to do so, and arrived at the Hospital desiring urgent admission. Some place under the Board's control to send these people to at any hour was therefore tirgently required. During the month there had been 106 out-patients. 2G operations 6 'dental anaesthetics. Talbot Hospital— Admitted 5, discharged 3. Patients in Timaru Hospital over two months 14. 'HEALTH INSPECTOR'S REPORT.

The Health Inspector reported that during September twenty-live cases ol infectious diseases were notified as existing within the- South Canterbury health district, the cases noticed seven were scarlet fever, six diptheria. three tuberculosis, one puerperal fever, one infantile paralysis, six pneumonia) and one influenza (notified after the death of the patient). Fifteen of the notified cases were treated in hospitals. Twelve premises were disinfected. Plumbing and drainage inspections were made in Levels and Waimate Counties. Two premises in Timaru to lie used as private hospitals were inspected. TJnder the sale of Food and Drugs Act the weights of one pound pats of butter were checked at several grocery stores in Timaru. and 41b and 211> loaves were checked at Severn 1 bakehouses in Timaru. The inspection of bakehouses in Temuka and Timaru was carried out. DENTAL WARD.

The dental officer reported for the month of September that he had seen 261 children, completed 251 fillings, 262 extractions, 38 treatments, and sealed S7 mouths. ■FINANCE COMMITTERS REPORT. This committee reported that the general account was overdrawn to the extent of £3305 7s 2d. The accounts totalled £2610 10s. When these were paid the overdraft would be £5975 17s 2d. The building account was in credit £2So3 Os 6d. Levies on local bodies (£900) and Government subsidy (£4700) had been applied for. CONFERENCE "WITH WAIMATE HOSPITAL COMMITTEE. This committee reeuinuienu.eu that tlio Jooartl approve tne suggestion ol oi nurses beu-tun nmuxu and Ultimate hospitals- aiui tnat steps be. taken to bring tne system into etfect-. 'l'hat the- x>oard issue a certificate to each nurso trainee! at any ol its institutions, in lieu ol the present system. lhat the .board estauhsn a bulk store at Timaru Hospital with a view to supplying all its institutions, from that store with certain general lines of supplies. The chairman said the Board had had a good talk over various matters with tho Waimate representatives and had cleared the air.

Tho report was adopted, and the Board passed a vote- of thanks to the Waimate Fire Brigade for their services at tho recent firo at "Waimate Hospital. The Waimate Hospital' Committee advised that the suggestions made by the Board had been carried out, with the result that the congestion at the Hospital had been relieved. The chairman said the Board would like to provide Waimate with an up-to-date laundry in place of the one destroyed by fire, but they had not the money at present. Dr Loughnan proposed that the Board should continue to do the bulk of the Waimate Hospital washing at the Timaru Hospital laundry until the Board can build a new laundry at Waimate.

Mr Potts and the motion was carried. . GENERAL. Mr Potts said it should be made as widely known as possible that necessitous maternity patients must notify 'the Hospital authorities beforehand. The general practice of such patients ■was to say nothing and make no arrangements till the eleventh hour. If anything serious happened in such cases the Board would be blamed, quite undeservedly.

i The chairman: Yes, it would be termed a scaudal. The Dunedin. Diocesan Trust Board forwarded a cheque tor £l2, being dividend from tb.6 Russell Trust. The chairman said that the Board had let contracts for buildings at .Tiraa.ru> and Waiuiate, with the approvaL of tlie department, and under ' the belief' that tho Public Trustee twuM find the money. J\'ow they found 'Bhat the Public Trustee had "put the plug in," and though they had tried to get ' the money from other sources they had . been .unsuccessful. | It Uvas decided that the chairman ' and secretary should go to Wellington and interrie-w tho. Minister"".on the . matter. ! Seve» applications were received for the position of resident, medical officer at Tjinaru Hospital, and after going carefully through these it was decided to forward. cartdiri ones to the Chief Health Officer for his recommendation. ACCOUNTS. Amounts were passed for payment 'as follows: —Timaru Hospital £1076 12s sd, Waimata do. £621 Is 3d, Talbot, do. £125 16s, Old Men's Home £] 14.5s Id. Charitable Aid Office, etc., £472 15s 3d, Waimate Hospital buildings £200; total £2610 10s. 1 '