HOSPITAL BRIEFS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30270, 24 October 1963, Page 10

HOSPITAL BRIEFS

Police officers should Interview patients in the hospitals of the North Canterbury Hospital Board only alter obtaining permission from the medical officer concerned with the caw, ths board decided yesterday. Such permission would be given or withheld solely on medical grounds. The Superintendent of Police concurred in this view, the board was told. No Bars To Home.—A suggestion to erect cyclone gates across the roads leading to the nurses’ home ait the Princess Margaret Hospital to control traffic outside the home at night was rejected by the board. The suggestion had been made to meet complaints of car doors being slammed and loud conversations maintained at hours when many of the nurses were asleep. Notice boards will continue to be used, and nightly supervision maintained by the orderlies of the hospital.

No Quorum.—There was no quorum ait the meeting of the finance committee, the committee said in its report, only three of the seven members being present The report was therefore a minority one, subject to ratification by the board. The board ratified it without discussing the point.

Cremation Payments.—Ths board is to allow its wholetime medical officers to retain fees earned in respect of cremation certificates. Electroencephalography Unit—The board decided to urge once again to the Health Department the need for an

electroencephalograph unit at the Christchurch Hospital. The department has so far maintained that such a unit is not indicated at present as the mental health division plans to install a machine on trial at Sunnyside Hospital, while the board believes that if there is to be only one unit in the city it should be at Christchurch Hospital. Cardiac Investigation.—The board has been given the departmenit’fi approval to advertise for a cardiologist to assist Mr James Bremner in the new cardiac investigation unit. The new position will be on a full-time basis or nearly full-time basis.

Ambulance Grants.—Grants in respect of ambulances were made to sub-centres of the St John Ambulance Association as follows: Amuri, £200; Cheviot £296; Christchurch. £2OB 14s.

Extended.—Dr. W. I. Paterson’s appointment as acting deputy medical superintend-ent-in-ohdef to the board has been extended to March 31, 1964.

Dr. Calrney Thanked. A tribute to the work of Dr. J. Caimey, acting medical superintendent-in-chief since Dr. T. Morton retired on March 31, was expressed by Mr L. A. Bennett as acting chairman of the board. Dr. Qairney will hand over to the new superintendent Dr. L. McH. Berry, on October 30.