HOSPITAL AFFAIRS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 10132, 9 June 1924, Page 8

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS.

BOARD MEETING HELD.

NURSES' HOME ADDITIONS

The Ashburton Hospital Board met this morning. There were present :- Messrs 0. Reid (chairman), W. T. UU, F W. Watt, J. Bruce, A. Horsey, W. Bryant, A. J. Magson, and W. G. G The Sl financial statement showed that there was a credit balance °t.f. 16 7° 1/s 8d (hank £663 10s Bd, subsidies due £IOO7 7s). Accounts received since last meeting totalled £1409 2s 6d including £IOOO from the Council, £304 15s County hospital fees £43 12s 6d from Malvern Home, £l9 13s 4d from Methven, and £6 19s from RakaThe Chairman stated' he had visited Dunedin to attend a meeting of the Waipiata Sanatorium. In passing, he -mentioned that the members of the committee were always nundful o| the work performed by the men who instituted the scheme under which several tods combined to conduct the sanaESum. In this respect, IVfoßeid paid a tribute to the services of Mr t ., w. Watt who was one of the

movers in the scheme, mx k*iu **£ he believed in giving credit where credit was due., and Mr Watt had cer : tainly earned distinction by Ins work. The chairman said that arrangements had been made whereby anymember of the interested boards cculd substitute the appointed representative should the latter at any time be unable to be present at a mgU *J\ the Sanatorium Committee. He nopeOJ that whoever found it conveiueu.- to go south for the meeting would make it his business to visit Waipiata and insoeet the sanatorium. . S Board -Chairman's report stated that at the present time there appeared to be a mild outbreak of soarlet fever, which was, however, spread over a wide area. Of the cases reported to the health authorities one proved lata? For the month of May there were reported within the Borough SSe caSes of scarlet-iever otherwise the Borough had a clean bill of health. Outside.the Borough nine cases of scarlet fever were reported, one at Willowby, two at Mayfield, three at Tinwald; one at Windermere, one at Rakaia,; one T.B. meningitis Methven (fatal), two T.B. cases A enton, vand one erysipelas, Rakaia. All cases W ew investigated promptly and disinfections carried out. It was reported that whooping cough was prevalent in one portion of the district. The Chairman of the Ashbiirton Hospital Committee reported that of the applications received for the position of matron of. the Rakaia Home, the committee had, subject to the approval of the Hon. Minister of Health appointed Nurse B. E. Hight. Nurse qualified as a midwife at bt. Helens Hospital and received her medical and Surgical training at the Ashburton aunty Hospital passing the State examination in 1923. .Dr. Bill-

cliff had recommended that blood donors be entitled to a fee of £2 2s for each service; and the committee bad adopted this, the position to be reviewed from time to time Tenders had been invited for 20 corda of pmus insignis 4ft. lengths. The, requisitions from Dr. Billcliff for new operating table, etc:, haying been approved the various items had been ordered for earliest delivery. The requisition for bedding, etc., as required by the matron was receiving attention and would soon be completed. The gardener reported, inter \alii, that the crops of potatoes at Methven and Rakaia hospital grounds had been good Mr Stanley Smith, of Methven, had donated 50 varieties of narcissus bulbs for the Methven grounds. . The building committee's chairman <Mr Watt) reported that on May 17 the Poninghouse boiler m the old laundry developed a. crack, and again became useless, thus throwing the laundry out of action. After inspecting the boiler and: consulting with the architect and engineer he had decided that the most economical and effiiQient manner of dealing with the trouble was to connect up with the steam service at the nearest point in the main building. He had therefore given instructions for this to be done, and the laundry was in full operation again on May 19. He was informed that the steam service to the drying room had proved a great boon during the recent bad weather. The architect had been asked to prepare a sketch plan and give estimate for the extension of the nurses dining-room, the present space being quite inadequate. In connection with the matter or the nurses' dining room, Mr Watt said the estimated cost was £240.

Although the board had power to spend Up to £250 without having to consult the Department, he believed it would be advisable to submit the matter to Wellington in view of the. fact that the Department had furnished a pjan for the remodelling of the institution, although this particular work was not included. ~;; ;:_ ~, It was decided, on Mr Watts motion, to carry out the work, subject to departmental approval. According to the report of the medical superintendent (Dr. H. S. Billcliff) 63 patients remained in the institution at the end of Mav, 56 having been admitted and 30 discharged. Fiftyteight operations had been performed. Treatments in the massage department totalled 322. Radiographs taken numbered 66, while 45 people were treated in the outpatients' department. In connection with the blood donor scheme, eight persons had been examined ns to their suitability. Mrs Clara Lill. Willowby, made a donation of £2 2s in appreciation of "the kindness and attention shown her daughter by the hospital staff. Mr 'R. A. Collins returned a cheque

for £5 ss. being the fee as arbitrator in a matter between the board and a contractor, as a donation to the hospital funds. The board resolved to thank both

donors. Accounts amounting to £3679 were passed for payment.