HOSPITAL BOARD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 101, 10 February 1936, Page 6

HOSPITAL BOARD

ACTIVITIES IN JANUARY. QUESTION OF COMMITTEE WORK. MEMBERS ENTER A PROTEST. The Ashburton Hospital Board met this morning, when there were present Messrs W. G. Gallagher (chairman), F. Frampton, W. Bryant, Raymond Oaklev, W. H. Wilkinson and Dr. J. Russell Wells.

The chairman reported as follows: — “Medical Superintendent: Hospital statistics for the month—Patients remaining December 31, 1935, 34 males, 26 females, total 60; patients admitted Ist to 21st January, 1936, 66, 43, 109; total treated 100, 69, 169. Patients discharged Ist to 31st January, 1936, 61, 44, 105; patients died Ist to 31st January, 1936 2, 13; totals 37, 24, 61. Outpatients 220, outpatients’ treatments 260, X-ray examinations 99, laboratory reports 82, massage treatments 289, diathermy treatments 100, operations performed in January 68, plaster operations 3. “Matron's report —Bister Cornish and Nurses Jovnt, McKenzie and Money have returned from annual leave. Nurse Cradock and Nurse Huddleston successfully passed the final State examination. Nurses Lemon, Silverwood, and Buzan are .at present absent on holidays. Nurse Wilson who has completed her year’s staff nurses’ duties, leaves at the end of February. Nuise Minogue left the staff on January 31. “Malvern Home report.—Sixteen patients were admitted, 12 discliaiged, and six remain. Thirty-eight ante-, natal patients were seen for the month. Nurses Nixon, Fenton and Linguard were successful in their Maternity Examination. Nurse Linguard completed her maternity training on January 23. Miss Young has had three weeks of her annual leave, and takes the fourth week in April. I have arranged to take my holiday as from February l 17, all being well. Secretary and Treasurer’s report.— There are no notifications for the month of January for the County. For the corresponding period the Borough had one case of tuberculosis. During January 22,737 pieces were laundered. Receipts: Balance December 31, 1935, £699 14s 2d, patients fees paid £195 10s, maintenance levies £706 6s Id, maintenance subsidies £456 11s Bd, sundries £lO5 17s 4d ; £2163 19s 3d. Payments : Maintenance hospitals £llOO l 16s 4d, outdoor relief £54 13s 4d, other boards £2OB 13s Id, administration £lls 10s lOd, sundries £36 Is lid, balance £SBB 3s 9tl; £2163 19s 3d. Mr Bryant reported as follows:“As the representative for the District on the Waipiata Sanatorium Committee, I have to report as follows: At the last meeting of the Committee it was decided to provide 12 additional shelters and accommodation for five nurses at an approximate cost of £2OOO. As the capacity of the Institution has been recently taxed to its utmost this provision for more patients was considered absolutely necessary. “The Sanatorium grounds are in a tidy state, but the dry weather in the locality has affected the growth to some extent. The new bowling green was opened recently. It is hi good order, and will prove a boon to the patients. “The farm attached to the Sanatorium contains the following stock: 1200 sheep, 70 head of cattle, 6 horses, 27 pigs. “The wool clip of 25 bales realised approximately £4OO, an average of £l6 per bale. Vegetables supplied to the Sanatorium are valued at £lB lor last month. There is an ample supply of hay, and the lucerne has already been cut twice. “An event of interest was the visit to the Sanatorium of Mr Wallace, chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, who was much impressed with the Institution generally 1 . I understand his visit was in connection with the proposal to build a consumptive sanatorium in Auckland. “The new matron commenced duty oil February 1. “The following extracts from the annual report should be of decided interest: From May, 1923, to March 31, 1.935, a period of almost 12 years, 988 patients were discharged from the sanatorium. Of these 80.5 per cent, went out with the disease arrested or quiescent, and only 4.9 per cent, of such patients showed any signs of recurrence. Last year the milking herd of 39 cows was subjected to the usual tests for tuberculosis by officers of tlie Agricultural Department, every animal as in previous years giving a negative result. I understand that this year one animal out of the herd has given a positive result. The avetage individual days stay of patients was 158.5 day's. The stipendary staff at March 31, 1935, numbered 56, and the patients totalled 124. The average cost per occupied bed was £104.83, the lowest on record, i attended ten Committee meetings out of a total of eleven held during the year.”

Dr. Wells pointed out Unit there was no report from the Hospital Committee and said that the business of the board was not being carried out properly. Members did not know what the Committee was doing and they should le informed of ail its decisions. Mr Frampton (chairman of the Committee) said that the month had been a busy one for members and the meeting had been allowed to lapse. Dr Wells said he. had been looking at this question with some concern. The Board was given a very sketchy report, of the Committee’s work each month and other members did not get any idea of tlie business that was being done. He thought it was only a matter of courtesy that the minutes of tne Committee meetings should he circulated among all the members of the Board. “I protest that this is not the proper way to carry out the Board’s business,” lie added. Air Frampton said tTie suggestion of Dr. Wells could be carried out with case. The chairman said this was life first tune anything had been said regarding the Committee’s work. He had always taken tlie suinn ary. It was agreed that in future the minutes of the Committee meetings should be circulated to all members of the Board.