KARITANE HOSPITAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 206, 30 August 1940, Page 13

KARITANE HOSPITAL.

UNDER SOCIAL SECURITY. PLUNKET SOCIETY'S MEETING. "The working of the Karitane Hospital under the Social Security Act has so far proved satisfactory," said Mr. J. H. Frater, chairman of the' Auckland branch of the Plunket Society, when moving the adoption of the report and bal-ance-sheet at the annual meeting yesterday afternoon.

"The hospital came under the Social Security Act subsidy ae from November 1," he continued. "Automatically, the annual Government grant was extinguished, and there is now a payment of so much per bed per day or week. By the end of the next financial year we will be in a better position to judge the outcome of the new legislation. The State will make a much closer inspection in the administration of the hospital, which is natural when public funds are being expended, but we have nothing to fear in that respect, end would welcome the inspections.' Accommodation Strained. "As the result of a large increase in district work the accommodation at headquarters in Symonds Street was strained," Mr. Frater said. The amount of money received from users of the society's services was a little better, but there was still room for improvement in this respect. "I should think the public would be aghast at the prospect of the service being curtailed, so again we point out to the parents the responsibility they have in supporting the society they are using," he said. That the Karitane Hospital had the responsibility for the premature babies of practically the whole of the Auckland district was pointed out by Dr. T. H. Pettit, in seconding the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. The infant mortality at the hospital during the year had been very much reduced, probably because there had not been so many lof the very early prematures of under 21b in weight. There had been over 100 premature babies, and over 100 mothers admitted. The extension of the work of the society in all directions was reported by Mrs. J. C. Allan, the president of the branch, but she said that there was still much to be done. A great deal of responsibility rested with such an organisation as the Plunket Society, particularly now, when every life meant so much. Karitane Needs. Referring to the Karitane Hospital, Mrs. Allan said there was an outstanding need for a new hospital. The present building contained 27 beds, although there were usually 30 babies there. The hospital was now being extended, by means of certain alterations, but its j utmost limit would be 35 beds. What was really necessary with the population of Auckland was a 50-bed hospital for infants and an extension of the mothercraft cottage to enable 15 mothers to be taken in. Mrs. Allan concluded by paying a tribute to the Karitane staff and the Plunket nurses, without whose whole-hearted services the amount of work of the year under review could never have been accomplished.

The following officers were elected: President, Mrs. J. C. Allan (re-elected); vice-presidents, Mrs. R. Coleman, Mrs. J. H. Frater, Mrs. David Nathan and Mrs. T. Clifton Webb; committee, present members and Mrs. Blair Burkett, Mrs. H. Burrell, Mrs. R. H. Clark, Mrs. H. Oulpan, Mrs. W. E. Parry, Mrs. E. W. Purdom; treasurer, Mr. A. R. Elder; honorary' iauditor, Mr. N. A. Duthie; honorary " solicitor, Mr. H. P. Richmond; advisory board, Mesera. J. H. Frater, E. E. Nalder, R, A. Laidlaw, P. H. Upton, T. H. Macky, A. M. Gould,, D. i Nathan, J. F. Ewen, J. B. Johnston, D. ipplean, K. B. Myere and H. B. Barker,