HOSPITAL BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 9263, 8 April 1918, Page 4

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. Tho monthly meeting of the Ashburton Hospital and Charitable. Aid Board was held .to-day. The members present were:—Messrs Hugo '. FriedJ;ander (chairman), J. Cairns, C. .Reid, H. J. Harrison, T. Doherty, C. W. NieolL F. ~\V. Watt, and W. J. Dickie, M.P. CHAIRMAN'S" REPORT. The Chairman (Mr Hugo Friedlander), reported t as follows:—"The month just closed saw one of the most serious outbreaks of scarlet fever that has occurred in the Ashbui-tori Hospital area, no fewer than* 24 cases- being notified during that period. The diseasewas spread over a wide area, and was most intense during the first three weeks of the month. The accommodation at the hospital fever ward proved quite inadequate, and, to relievo the pressure, I procured a tent, which enabled the Medical Superintendent to admit three extra cases. . I trust the board will approve my action in this urgent matter. Of course, owing to the limited number of beds available, many eases had to be nursed at their own homes, and this necessitated frequent visits by: the inspector to see if the isolation was being observed. Further reference to t-his , matter : will be;,made by Inspector Johnson, and in my special report.' One case of diphtheria, also was, reported, and I regret to say, that the child died. Sterlizor;—This- essential portion of tho hospital equipment having got .-out of order and becoming practically useless, ; 1 communicated with the'makers, and, acting on their advice'/, the '..machine' was, sent to Christcliurch for overhaul: and repair. It is how reported to be working .satisfactorilji. Three truck loads , of firewood. hWe come to hand, in all, about 10 cords. This has" 1 been stacked' at; the hospital grounds, and will be>.ut into'suitable lengths at an early date. Thanks are due to Mr Harrison, for the trouble taken in procuring the wood. The Domain paddocks have been dealt with; by Mr Reidrarid Cairns on same terms as last year. The assistant porter having resigned, aiid wanting to leave at once, steps were taken to fill the position. A man who has been in the Old Men's Home has been engaged, and 1 hope- will give satisfaction. The stable has been removed near to tho fowlhouse. The work is a decided im-pj-ovement to both, sites; where the building was before and where it has been removed to. The Salvation Army entertains tho patients every first Simday in the month by allowing their band to play in the Hospital grounds. The Bth (South Canterbury) Regimental Band has likewise entertained the hospital inmates and tho vstaff with full", afternoon musical' programmes, which were greatly appreciated. I recommend that donations to both bands, with a letter thanking them for their kindly efforts.to cheer the patients, be sent. From the reports which willl come under-;, the notice of the board today, members will see the strenuous time Nurse Duncan must have had''to attend to all the patients in the Fever Ward and tent. She has done well to manage them all single-handed, and I 'consider it is .due to her that I should bring her capable Avork specially under the notice of the board. The hos : pital work as a '.'whole is carried on satisfactorily, and I am pleased to beably to report .that, although the institution has ha<T a record number of admissions last month, the Matron and her well-organised staff have faced the position promptly and cheerfullyir-tt was decided to give the bands a donation of 21 guineas each.—'lt was decided to send'a letter of appreciation to Nurse Duncan. —Tho- report was adopted. ANNUAL REPORT. " I

-The-chairman, submitted «■ comprehensive annual report, in whiph be referred to tho work of the board' since its first meeting on April 1, 1910. Ho claimed that the present condition of tho hospital, for its size, its surroundings', and ii.s a country hospital, would compare more than favourably with any other in New Zealand, and .that the- board had .given- a. full quid pro quo to those who had furnished the necessary moans to carry on the important work, a«d had saved the ratepayers considerable sums. -

Comparing the board's administration since its inception (eight years) .with tho same period immediately'prior' to April 1, 1910, the indirect contributions received from the Ashburton County and Borough ratepayers through their respective local bodies amounted in round figures since Auril 1, 1910, to £17,890 ; less war bonds'on hand, £1500 —£16,390. Cost of administration by County Council for hospital, £5970"; from 1902 to 1910 amount paid by County and /.Borough Council to North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board, £8585. Against tills, however, the board has expended for additions- andalterations on main building, £7388; on shelter sheds for consumptives, £266; on new office, etc.. £600; on propagating house, £J3P; on gates, etc., ; equipment furniture, etc., £3135 ;t^.£11,736; less .Government' subsidy,; -£6868; or a net 'saving to the ratepayers, of £4033. '

Mi* .■ FriedlanTlcr reported on tlio recent, conference of local Ijodics on the question ,of providing consumptive 'sanatoria, and hi dealing witH'nvfeetious diseases said: The outbreak of scarlet fever in this district recently tax«d our accommodation beyond,its utmost capacity. The matter was specially referred to. the District Health' Officer, who promptly came to Ashburton early last .month. Dr. Hunter, the Matron', myself, and the. Inspector discussed the position, and Dr. Cliessdn promised to write. Correspondence which has passed between Dr. Chessoii and this hoard will be laid before you, also a letter from the Hon. the Minister, Mr G. AY. Russell. 'I am strongly opposed to Dr. Chesson's suggested method for our inspector to be allowed to discriminate, between infectious cases which might and might not be treated in their own homes. It is this "home treatment which, in my opinion, is mainly responsible for the disease being spread. Home isolation is observed all' right during the presence of the Inspector, but when his back is turned, how can this board tell if proper restrictions were being observed ? To remove- the cases, as Dr. Chesson suggests, when the Inspector finds isolation has not been observed, is too late, and is like covering the well after the child has" been drowned." With' all due respect to Dr. Chesson, my opinion is: (I) To •supervise proper isolation of infectious

cases, treated in their own homes, would require a larger number of health inspectors than this board can afl'e.rd to employ and nay: (2) in most cases isolation enu only efficiently be i-;nied out under the divert supervision ">' our hospital staff: (3) if homo isolation is permitted, there is no urgent necessity oi increasing the accommodation for infectious diseases at our hos-

. _ . _^ pital. I am, however, satisfied thai iv the interest of the public of thi" district, our accommodation should bi increased, than allow isolation oi infectious 'cases being treated in their, own homey, as such is highly unsatisfac-\ tory. The board should therefore con- l . sider again tiie question of erecting ■ further permanent accommodation at once. It will be more costly, I admit, to build now than would have been the ', case had the board's original plans" been accepted. Unfortunately, there were too many well-meant suggestions for improving our modest plans, recqm- 'i mended from Wellington and Christ- \ church Departments of Health. This took over 12 monthl!, but this board " \ eventually adopted the recommenda-tions;-but by then the cost of building > had gone up, due to war conditions, and' when tenders were submitted to "Wellington the a Minorities turned them down. _ In ■conclusion, I w Nil to point out that the number of patients treated in our hospif/il is gradually increasing. The following are the particulars: — 1910-11, 2:iO; 1911-12. 226: 1912-13, 214; 1913-14. 240; 1914-15, 307; 1915----16, 318; 1910-17, 377.

I GENERAL. ' Tlie treasurer reported a credit balance at the bank of JM 49 7s 3d. The receipts since Jast meeting aggregated £334 IBs od, and included tlu\ follow- ' ing:—County Council l'] 44 3s Sd, sale of grass £3. morgue fees £1, refund 17s (3d, patients' ie-es LIBS 17s 3d. Dr. Hunter. .Medical Superintendent, ' reported'ihat on March 1 there wore eight malt.-, and 10 lemales in the hospital. During the month '20 males and 16 females were admitted, and 23 discharged, while three males had died, leaving.2S patients in the institution on April 1. Fifteen scarlet fever and ope diphtheria patient were admitted during'-March. Several .scarlet' fever patients could not be admitted owing to the limited accommodation.— The report wa,s adopted.'X The Matron reported that there haxl been several changes on the domestic staff during the month. Various people had been most generous during the •month in sending gifts of fruit, flowers, and books. The remainder of- the report deaifc with sundry details in connection with the institution.—The report was adopted, /' All' E. >i. JohnsonV Health Inspector, --"V reported „that during the month the f board had received notifications of 24. * eases of scarlet fever in the district. A case of diphtheria at Tiuwald. had also been notihecl, and the patient had died. l£ight cases of infectious diseases "had .been ■■brought iir to. .the hospital, and five had been removed—from the institution to infected homos.—lt was decided to congratulate Mr Johnson on tho efficient services during the year.—The report was then adopted.

I'bo Chaiuuiin rei>ortcd on the recent; conference with the North Canterbury Charitable Aid Board in connection with sanitorium accommodation for Consumptives. He reiterated liis previous statements that he considered the question of dealing with- s consumptives had become a national question. He maintained that hospital boards could not deal with the matter in the same way as the Government.— Mr C. Reid said he considered tbt*~ f scheme as proposed by the Xorth Canrcrbury Board was a most one-sided arrangement.—Mr Dickie said it appeared to him tliat the North Canterbury Hoard wa>s asking too much fromthis board to expect it to contribute to th: v cost of building a sanatorium, and also maintenance, and then the agreement to expire in 15-years.'-He agreed that, the time had arrived when. tlie Government should grapple with the problem. He considered it wasnot right to allow incurable patients lv -ro lu.nio and mix with other people, which was only spreading the disease. ?vlr Reid said he did not think the North Canterbury-Board-was prepared to entertain any other proposal than that already made at the conference. He also considered that some oP the furnishing at the tsanitorium waxon a most elaborate and too expensive •a M-ale.—lt was dedded to again ap]>rciicli the North Canterbury- ■'■ Board, f, and Misk whether it was prepared t<j-*"%J; nifxlify its proijosals in regard to r«- v i-civing fonsumptivo patients from tliis district. Accounts amounting to £(330 5s lid were- parsed for payment.