HOSPITAL BOARD

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14338, 25 April 1912, Page 4

HOSPITAL BOARD

The North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board met yesterday. Present —Messrs F. Horrell (chairman), J. Davidson, W. W. Tanner, D. McMillan. R. Moore, Orton Uradlev, A. H. Turnbull, C. Allison, C. Scott. H. B. Torensen, T. D. i>oa_, C. Cook, and Me.sdam.cs Ensoni and Wilson.

Thc Finance Committee reported that the available balance after the close cf the financial year's operations and tho collection of outstanding contributions and subsidy would enable the Board to commence the new year with a substantial surplus. This was attributable mainly to the fact that the votes for tho administration block and other proposed extensions of the Hospital had not been siient.

Tho committee had gone very closely into tho new year's requirements with n view to lessening the demand on tho ratepayers, and still effectin_ such improvements as wero deemed to bo of the greatest importance for the present. Tho accompanying statement would show that a total requisition or £52,28!.), :ts against £50,669 tho previous year, might enable the administration buildings and an isolation ward to bo proceeded with on approved plans, besides providing for waterpower at Tuarangi, which it was estimated would effect a very considarablo saving in tho future.

The committee, after fully considering tho present rate of salaries of officers, and the recommendations of the several departmental committees, submitted to tho Board's approval thc following scale of alterations, to take effect as from April Ist: —HospitalMatron £200, assistant-matron £90, homo sister £85, theatre sister £5 bonus after completion of twelve month*--' service in that capacity, night sister (permanent) £90, and £5 per annum extra up to £100, Bottle Laito sister £85, sanatorium (present) sister £90; ward sisters: Ist year.£7o, 2nd year £75, third year £80, fourth year £85: charge nurses at £52 for first six months, and £60 for second six months; nurses: 3rd year £30, second year "25, Ist year. £12; sisters at Woolston and Tuarangi same as ward sisters; nurses' homo cook at £7S after completing twelve months' service; two maids on matron's recommendation at 17s 6d per week; hall porter £72. Memorial Homo —Present cook £65, and one housemaid (on matron's recommendation; £52; head gardener £130, assistant gardener's wages increased by (id per day, and ono labourer's by Is. Female llefugo—Matron £75, assistant £60, and provision for an additional helpOrphanage—Matron £104, and provision for an additional help. Office staff—Secretary and treasurer £.550, assistant clerk £110, junior assistant clerk and typisre £78, general storekeeper £144, enquiry officer £132, chief health insnector £200. One temporary clerk to be replaced by an assistant, and the question of the Hospital steward's position to be further considered with a view to an adjustment of the respective duties of steward and storekeeper, and the clerical side of this work.

The committee had re-let tho Bottlo T>akc land (not required for the purposes of tho institution, and exterior to the portion fenced off and planted! for one year, and had sold two more, of the building sections on the Twiggertnn estate. Offers for sale of small properties at Oxford and Akaroa wero under consideration. The report was adopted. HOSPITAL REPORT. The Hospital Committee reported that after a completed plan for the proposed administration block had been forwarded to Wellington for approval, it was returned with the objection that tho whole of tho accommodation was not immediately required, and asking that tho scheme might bo recast. As a result a conference was held with Dr. Frengley, and the reduced plans, showing omissions estimated at 25 petcent, of the cost, wore again submitted. These had been approved on the understanding that tho total cost would not exceed £15,000, and conditional on somo trifling details which wero now being dealt with.

The question of a new isolation ward had been discussed concitrrently with the above, but a plan submitted" to the Department's officials, providing for about 32 beds, was stated "to bo beyond present requirements, and not securing treatment in the best way. Counter proposals were made "to meet present and future requirements"' of an isolation block of two stories for accommodation of 16 cases, an observation cotta_e for four patient--, and additional premises involving tho removal of Ward 3. A hope was expressed that £20,000 would cover the cost of all these, and the administrative block, but as this left only £5000 for the newer structures, it would require the fullest possiblo consideration. The Kaikotira Hospital was now practically complete, and steps were being taken to acquire the necessary articles for surgical and medical equipment. The committee had accepted tho

resignation of Dr. Mcßeddie. who was leaving Akaroa, and his successor. Dr. Cantrell. had been appointed to the vacancy. Sister Davies, from Otira. had been appointed matron, and would shortly take up her duties.

The renort was adooted STATISTICS.

Tlu. medical superintendent of tho Christrhurch Hospital reported for tho month ending March 31st. 1012, a « follows:—Patients remaining from previous month. 88 men. til women, 15 children, total 164; admitted during March. 87. 52, 28. 107 • discharged during March. 75. .36. 18, 149; died during March. 13. 1. 2. l<i : remaining in the hospital on March 31st, 83, 50, 27. 166. Nature of ease of patients admitted:—Modiral, 25 men, 10 women, 15 children: surgical. 51. 20. 12; gyna-cological. V' women: ophtlialinie, 11. I. 1 : total. 87, 02. 28. Awaiting r.dni ssion: Medical. 2 men: surgical, ."> men, 1 women ; gynaKological. 1 man, 2 women; ophthalmic. 2 men. 3 women : totai, 0 men, 0 women. Out-patients' casts. 120 men. 51 women. 40 children, total. 220: out-patients' attendances, 501. 271. 161. 036. Number of operation;; under nnaMhotics. 101. comprising ophthalmic, nasal, .-ilvdominal. and general. Post-mortem examinations.. 1. Patient* in the __ hrspital over two Number of massage cases. 5. Number of massage treatments. 81. There were now 10 cases cl diphtheria in the hospital, two of whom were nurses.

The Institutions Committee supplied the following statistics:—Tuarangi— Number resident, .March 22nd. 1012, 70; admitted, ,%; total. 81; died, 3; number remaining April 19th, 15112. 78. Memorial Home—Number resident March 22iul, 1012. 03; r.dmittid. :); tolal. iVi: died. 1; number remaining April 10th. 1012, (Jo. Female Hefuge— Number resident March 22nd, 1012. women 8, infante 8; total, 1G; admitted 1: admitted from Samaritan Home. 12; births. 1; total. 30; discharged. 3; number remaining April 10th. 1012, 27. Orphanage—Number resident March 22nd. 1032, girls 8, boy.s 8- total, 10: l»oarded-ont, girls o. boys 18: total. 39; number remaining on April 10ih. 1012, ...J.

The- Charitable Aid Committee sup plied the I'oliowii.g synopsis:—Rclici granted. 9: now cases, 5; cases continued or resumed, 33; medical, 2: relief increased, 2; relief reduced, 5; relief discontinued, 1; relief declined, 2; referred elsewhere, _: institution uiiel, 9, total, CM. Number relieved in Aimagh street depnt, C; number re'.'fved in Samaritan Home to March 31st, 20.