HOSPITAL BOARD

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXX, Issue 13670, 18 June 1942, Page 4

HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING Maternity Requirements Tauranga And Te Puke The maternity requirements of the district were again discussed at the monthly meeting of the Tauranga Hospital Board yesterday, when there were present Mr A. E. Newsham (in the chair), Mrs R. H. Faulkner, Dr T. Stuart, and Messrs H. J. Clarke, C. C. McNaughton. H. J. Cooper, J. T. Ecclcton, and C. Given. The Department of Health returned the plans of a proposed matternity hospital for Tauranga forwarded to it by the board, stating that certain alterations would require to be made before the plans were approved. The department did not reply to a question from the board regarding the cost of the maternity home, and it was decided to again communicate with the department on this question.

Dr L. Randell was present at the meeting and spoke of the requirements of the Te Puke maternity home. He stated that overcrowding at the home was very acute, the accommodation being about 50 per cent of what was required. He added that the number of patient’s had increased from 50 some years ago to 242 last year. About 50 per cent of the patients were Maoris, and about 25 per cent of them lived nearer to Tauranga than Te Puke. Facilities at the home had been increased, but accommodation for patients had not been increased. The increased accommodation was a necessity and not a luxury. Dr Randall added that the Maori must get the same treatment as the Pakeha. The board had done a lot in providing facilities, but the question of accommodation should be taken in hand. It was one of urgency.

The chairman stated that the Department of Health might object to enlarging the Te Puke hospital on the grounds that there should be a central hospital in Tauranga. Dr Randell stated that the department might say. that, but the board should insist. If a home were erected in Tauranga, increased accommodation would still be required at Te Puke.

The chairman said that the deliser and installed in the tuberculosis maternity hospitals, Dr Randell replying that the need for increased accommodation would still be present at Te Puke whatever the department did or thought. It was decided to await a reply from the department to the question asked by the board, before taking any further action. Other Questions

Dr Randell raised several other questions in connection with the running of the Te Puke Hospital, and these were dealt with.

It was reported that the board was still awaiting a reply from the department regarding a subsidy for expenditure in connection with, the establishment of an auxiliary hospital at Hayman’s Hall. During a discussion on. this subject it was mentioned that the Red Cross sign could be displayed only on military hospitals, or military first aid stations or advanced dressing posts according to the Hague Convention, and ordinary E.P.S. stations where civilians were treated did not come within the rules of the convention.

The secretary of the Tauranga E.P.S. wrote suggesting that medical supplies for the E.P.S. should be purchased through the Hospital Board, as this would be cheaper than buying direct. The suggestion was agreed to and it' was decided to acquire the necessary supplies for the E.P.S. Several questions dealing with the Katikati Hospital were raised, and these were left with Mr Cooper, the representative of the Katikati district, to deal with. Accounts amounting to £1202 were passed for payment. v Secretary’s Report In his report the secretary (Mr P. Lumley) stated that since the steriliser was installed in the tubercular shelter there had not been enough water for baths. He had arranged to have an additional element put in the tank. Dr Mark borrowed a siren from Mr 'A. Stewart, superintendent of the fire brigade, for use in case of emergency. Mr Stewart now required the siren but had given the hospital another and a stronger one. It required ian additional battery, however, so he had to purchase one. The Garden Committee met and discussed the ploughing up of the middle paddock. It was resolved to plough about half of* the paddock, and this had now been done. It had still to be disced and harrowed. The triangular piece near the incinerator had also been dug, and Mr Miller thought the.board now had enough ground to grow sufficient vegetables for the hospital.