ASHBURTON HOSPITAL BOARD

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16653, 14 October 1919, Page 4

ASHBURTON HOSPITAL BOARD

The monthly meeting of the Aahburton •Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday, Mr C. Reid presiding. The treasurer reported a credit balance of £2663 5s sd. Mr Watt moved, and Mr Cairn*? seconded: "That in cues of patients entering 1 the Hospital on the afternoon of one day and being discharged, on the morning of the following day, only one day's fee bo_ charged.'' The motion was carried, the chairman dissenting. Tho .chairman referred ; to tho fact that since the last meeting of the Board the ini stitution had suffered a eerioua lose through the death of tho matron, Mife M. A. Mantier, and he moved: "That this Board places on record its high appreciation of the services of the late matron at tho Ashburton County Hospital, and feels that her early death, which is doeply regretted,, is A' serious Joss to the institution and the. district. Under hor capable management the Hospital had been conducted both economically and in a highly satisfactory manner. A copy of the motion to be cent' to Mr A. Mander, the father of the deceased." The motion was carried in eilenco, tho members standing. The Medical Superintendent, in • his toport, also referred to tho highly satisfactory manner in which the lake matron had discharged her duties, and to the serious loss the institution had suffered through her death.

The acting-chief mcdical officer, Dr. Mackgill, ' wrote expressing his deep sympathy and expressing his appreciation of the services of 'the late Miss Mander. Plans of tho proposed additions to the Hospital, costing approximately £3000, were laid on the table and approved. It was decided to' forward them to the Health authorities for approval. The North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid • Board wrote stating that owing to tho increased prices which, now had to be paid, the fees tor inmates at .the Tuarangi Home would in future be £1 per Dr. Chesson wrote in reply to a letter asking that the Health Department' should contribute towards the Ashburton. Health Inspector's salary, that the Ashburton Board had no claim on the Health Department in the matter. • . Miss M. A. Collins was appointed Sister at the Hospital. .. . Eight applications were received for the position of Matron, and the Board's selections wero forwarded to the Health Department for. approval. , ' _ Mr J. Cairns said he considered tho Hos-. pital levies as between the county and other contributing bodies were not equitable. The County Council contributed' £152 17» per month, as against from the Ashburton Borough Council,'£4 2s 8d from Tinwald, and £6 from Hampstead. A return of patients admitted for 1917-18 showed that 15 came from Tinwald, 17 from Hampstead, 72 ffom the borough, and 177 from the county. For 1018-19 the returns were: Tinwald -J, Hampstead 40, horough 92, county 173. lie did not think the borough was contributing a fair share, and he would endeavour to find out tho best means of -altering tho matter. '