VINCENT HOSPITAL BOARD.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1692, 26 June 1929, Page 3

VINCENT HOSPITAL BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the above board was held in the County Chambers at Clyde on Wednesday of last week. Those present were: Messrs J. Bitchie (chairman), S. A. Stevens, W. Black, W. Jelley, S. T. Spain, C. Weaver, D. S. Middleton, J. M' Knight and G. T. Alexander.

The acting Director-General of Health wrote to bring under the board's notice the necessity of providing proper storage for X-ray films and recommending that all films be kept in steel or steel-lined receptacles away from heat.—Beceived, and to be advised that the X-ray plant at Cromwell Hospital is fitted up in a building used solely for the purpose and where.no fireplace is provided.

The acting Director-general of Health suggested that the board lay it down as one of the conditions when appointing unqualified house surgeons that the appointee should present himself at each successive examination conducted by the University of Otago until he passes.—Received, the board agreeing to the suggestion.

The acting Director-general of Health wrote acknowledging receipt of the board's annual returns for 1928-29. Beceived.

The Controller .and Auditor-general advised that the board could subscribe an amount of £25 out of unauthorised expenditure for the current year, towards the installation of a wireless.set in. the Dunstan Hospital.—Beceived, the raising of the balance being left in the hands of Messrs Spain and Black to arrange.

The Otago Hospital Board wrote notifying the admission to and discharge from the Duncdin Hospital of a .Vincent resident and enclosing account of £ll due for maintenance.—Beceived and account to be paid.

The Otago Hospital Board notified the admission of two other Vincent residents to Dunedin Hospital, one having paid maintenance fees in advance and the letters were received.

The Waipiata Sanatorium Committee wrote advising that it would be necessary for the board to appoint its representative on the committee for the ensuing year at its June meeting.—Received, the board re-appointed the chairman (Mr Jas. Bitchie) its representative upon the committee. The Borough of Alexandra wrote/asking that the board consider installing, at the Dunstan Hospital, a telephone having with the Alexandra Exchange. The secretary reported that the postmaster, Clyd-'j estimated the cost at £35 for the firs. £, year and £34 for each succeeding year that is if the department would sanction such an installation.—lt was deeided to hold over the matter in the meantime to enable Mr Black to make further inquiries.

The secretary reported that fot the year ended March 31, 1929, the statistics of the board's hospitals compared with the figures for the previous /year were as follows (1928 figures given within parenthesis):— \ DUNSTAN HOSPITAL. '

Total number of patients treated, 1929, 190 (1928, 161). I Average number of occupied beds jjer day, 16.41 (15.34). \ < Average individual days' stay 34.22 (34.88). Average cost per patient per yean I $191.5 (£240.7).' * j ; Fees received from patients during year £1263 (£1296). ; Fees received per occupied bed duping year £77 (£84.3). i CKOMWELL HOSPITAL. ', I Total number of patients treated, 1929, 280 (1928, 254). Average number of occupied beds peri juay 13.12 (12,89). j Average individual days' stay 17 8: 118.57). Average cost per patient per year, £228 (£272.8). | Fees received from patients during | year £1312 (£1324). I Fees received per occupied bed dur- • ing the year £IOO (£lO2. 7). The report as submitted to member* was adopted. The treasurer reported that during the past month the board's receipts were £llls 8s 9d; payments £723 lis 3d' while there was a credit balance oii June 18 of £567 4s 6d.—The report t»W I' adopted. JM - Tile Matron (Miss E. H. ( ported that 16 patients were afl j to the Dunstan Hospital in I were discharged, one had diedjH | remained for further treatment end of the month.—Report adoH The Ma tron (Miss M. S. reported that during May, 20 fl admitted, 23 were disfl while 13 were in hospital on tli A May.—The report was adoptedM The reports of the Dunslfl Cromwell Hospital mitted, were, adopted and thfl mediations of the committee fl certain repair work and impJH at the hospitals were approveM In connection with the erJB | an Isolation Block at the DunstH pital for which a sum of £ISOO ]fl : provided for in the board's esfl for the current year, the secretaM instructed to write to the Depafl of Health asking that plans ']■ nished to the board. The seloeJlH a suitable site will ) )e eousiderjß the board in the presence of its nj| officers at a future meeting. The schedule of accounts and s->fl totalling £ll3O 2s lOd were pu»stl payment. The chairman and secretary. .'■