HOSPITAL BOARD.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17701, 1 March 1923, Page 4

HOSPITAL BOARD.

YESTERDAY'S MEETING. The North-Canterbury Hospital Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs H. J. Otlev (chairman), S. Andrew, W. E. Leadley, G. Armstrong, J. Storey, A. T. Smifli, W. P. Spencer, D. Mcßae, M. Bethell, H. H. Holland, the Hon. E. Moore, iM.L.C., Rev. J. K. Archer, Dr. P. C. Fenwick, Mesdames S. S. Page, and H. F. Herbert. Tho South Canterbury Hospital Board wrote asking support for the following resolution: —"That the attention of the Health Department be called to the urgent for provision being made for the compulsory detention of tubercular cases in the curable stage of the disease, and further that adequate provision be made for the care of incurable cases. Tluit greater attention be paid to ensuring that milk supplies were free from tubercular germs." The letter was referred to the Public Health Committee.. Hospital Committee. The Hospital Committee reported that the average number of patients in hospital during January was 315. In the venereal diseases' department there were 327 attendances, representing 98. patients, 27 of whom were new. Dr. P. S. Foster liad been granted four m'mllis' leave of absence •to visit America, and Dr. Stevens, director of the- School for the Deaf, had tendered his resignation, as had Dr. Bagley, medical officer of tho Oxford Hospital, Dr. Burnett being appointed to fill the last-named position. In connexion with proposals for improving the course of training in' the nursing school, the committee had approved I of the medical superintendent's sug- | gestion to introduce probationers twice vearly, instead of promiscuously, as I was at prqscnt the case, and the inclusion of a new subject (elementary chemistry) j into the existing curriculum. Extra accommodation was urgently requited for women, and to provide this, a; suggestion had been made for ail extra storey' to bo placed on the block of buildings containing wards nine and ten,, the extra ward to contain a certain number of rooms, suit- ' able for maternity cases. The report was adopted. Medical Superintendent's Report.' The medical superintendent reported that for the month ending January 31st there were 337 patients in hospital, 521 having been admitted during the month, 450 discharged, and 25 had died. The number pf out-patients treated had been 522, 'and the attendances had numbered 2541. The number of operations under anesthetics had been 360. The report was .adopted. The report of the pathological department stated that during January 779 examinations had been made. Of these 592, were hospital cases, and 187 outside cases. Seven post-mortems had been carried out. , The report was adopted. ; The total number of operations in the dental department was 133, the attendances having been 1855. In the physio-therapeutic department there ! were 106 treatments of military and 17.14 treatments of civilian patients. Tuberculosis Institutions.

Dr. A. Kidil, acting medical director of. the Cashmere Sanatorium, reported that during the month of January six patients had been admitted, two had, been discharged, and 80 had been inmates of the instituton on January 30tli. Six patients had been' admitted to thfe Coronation Hospital during the month, three discharged, and 66 were : in" ; '#esideiice v on-Jfiiniiiry 31atv' 'No patients had died at either institution. There had been -114 attendances at the tuberculosis dispensary, and this number included 27 . new cases, while 53 soldiers had also attended the dispensary, •The report was adopted. Dr. W. Aitken reported that th(J"number of patients in residence in ' the Upper Sanatorium on January 31st was 91. During the month six new cases were, admitted, while four . patients were discharged. At the out-patients' department the attendances for the month were 59. The report was adopted. * , The poultry farm report stated that 3588 eggs -were laid, and' 72 pairs of fowls and chickens supplied to the, institutions. There were 300 hensand 450 pullets now at the farm., ' There were 15 patients from the Upper Sanatorium and 13 from civilian institutions under, training. - , . The report was adopted. Benevolent Committee. The Benevolent Committee reported that 137 applications for outdoor relief, representing 464 persons, had been dealt with,, also 11 applications for admission -to institutions. ■ Refunds on account of maintenance at the various institutions for the month totalled £503 14s. Owing to the death of Dr. Baigent, the position of medical officer at the Tuarangi Home was vacant, and ' the committee recommended that the position bo given to Dr. Connor. The report was adopted. Finance Committee. The Finance Committee reported that the Minister for Public Health had approved the proposed new agreement with the various Friendly Sqcieties regarding the "hospital bed scheme." He had also approved the purchase of a site for the Eangiora Hospital, and the Board was recommended to approve the erection of a Maternity Hospital so soon as the consent of the Honourable the Minister was obtained. With regard to the purchase of a site for a hospital- at Little Kiver, it had been decided to purchase some land in Aimer's Valley, the price being £IOOO. The Borough Council had collected about £250 towards this, and the. County Council proposed to make an effort in the same direction. " It was further decided to recommend the Board that the hospital should consist of four beds for maternity cases and three for sickness or casualty. In viqw of the recent reduction in wages permitted by the Arbitration Court, the committee had considered the matter, but had decided to make no alteration in the remuneration paid to workers at the present time. The "report, with the exception of the clause relating to the reduction of wages, which was held over until next meeting, was adopted. The Finance Committee reported that the estimated expenditure for the forthcoming year was £14,966, as against £35,056 for last year. The loan account estimated expenditure was £40,304, this sum being exclusive of provision for a nurses' home. The estimates were formally received and adopted.