SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITAL BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 17710, 11 July 1921, Page 7

SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITAL BOARD

The South Otago Hospital Board met on Friday afternoon, Mr A. North presiding. A minute was recorded thanking Mr A. S. Malcolm for his able conduct of the case for South Otago at the recent hearing of tho Otago-South Otago dispute by a commission.

FINANCE,

The Finance Committee submitted a statement of receipts and expenditure for the month as followsßeceipts: Public Health Department (advance of subsidy),'> £I,COO. Expenditure: Salaries, £29 6s; office expenses,, £1 9s 6d; advertising and printing, £4 11s 2d; drugs, etc., £5 5s 2d: miscellaneous, 7s 6d; patients Dunedin Hospital, £232 19s 6d; outdoor relief, £42; stores, etc,, £2l; total, £236 18s 10d.. The statement was approved and the accounts parsed for payment. The 'Secretary reported that eighteen patienls had been admitted to- Dunedin Hospital for the period Juno 10 to July 4, five to Kaitangata Hospital, one to Tapanui Hospital, and one to Auckland Hospital. ALTERATIONS AT KAITANGATA. Dr Valintinc, Director-General of Health,' wrote replying that the department recommended the proposed alterations to the Kaitangntn Hospital for the following reasons:—(l) That it was given to understand that the main ward was rarely fully occup'od; consequently better use could be made of tho available space if the ward were so divided up as to he usable by both sexes, rather than by one res, as at present. (2) That it was of opinion that the needs of Kaitangata in maternity facilities were not adeonately supplied. In this it was supported by the opinion of the resident d olnr. Cmire quentiy and because of the policy that cottage, hospitals should, .wherever possible, provide for maternity cases, it recommended a maternity block to provide far four to six cares,—lt was resolved that a rnedioh! officer of the department be invited to visit the district and inspect the approved sites in Balclutha and Milton, and also visit the Kaitangata Hospital. GENERAL. The Secretary, Department of Health, wrote in re the agreement with the Otago Hoard regarding treatment of patients •uid concerning ihe desire of the South Otago Beard that clause 6 be altered to read, “Until such time as the South Otegi Hospital Board has its building erected.’’ lie stated that the department was unable to make the alteration without the eanction of the Otaao Board, and the score t.ary of the Otago Board had emphasised that the agreement was only tentative, pending apportionment of assets and liabilities. Ho regretted that the department could do nothing at present in the matter. —Received. The Chairman stated that it was understood at the time that in tho event of the Otago Board not continuing tiro agreement, the South Otago Boaicl would mako Is own arrangements.

E, Killick, Secretary Department of Health, Wellington, wrote stating that the Minister had approved of the hoard’s ost : mates. He had also approved of the hoard establishing a building fund of £3,669. An advance of £I,COO was also recommended.—Deceived.

Dr W. B. Reekie (Kaitangata) wrote stating that he had occasion te send into Dunedin Hospital in a hurry an acute case of double pneumoira, as, under existing arrangements and the necessity for having extra nursing assistance, the patient could not be satisfactorily nursed at Ivaltangata. As similar cases would certainly recur in the future, ho desired tho board's opinion lor later guidance.—lt was decided to approve of Dr Reekie's action, and thank him for his interest.

Dir J. Clark reported on the interview with the committee of the St. John Ambulance Association. Very good work was done by these people, whose influence in a community had proved very valuable.— Mr J. Mosley supplemented Mr Clark’s remarks, and considered that it would bo a very good thing to have branches of the i?t. John Ambulance Association started in South Otago. He moved—- “ That the secretary communicate with the Dunedin Association in regard to the formation of branches in Balclutha, Kaitangata, Milton, Owaka, and other places in South Otavo, and that tie board intimate its will ingness to render any assistance.”—Thin was carried. The appointment of a district nurse at Tahakopa* for which two applications were received, was left in tho hands of the chairman and secretary, with power to act.

Nurse Paseve, lately matron of Timaru Hospital, was appointed district nurse, to be stationed at Clinton.

It was resolved that the Hospital Committee draw up regulations for the employment of district nurses. A large number of offers of sites were received, and the matter was dealt with in committee.

On the motion of Messrs Gumming and Driver, a hospital committee was appointed, cojffilsting of the chairman of the board and Messrs Simson, Rennie, and Rutherford.

Mr R. R. Grigor was appointed solicitor to the board.

Nurse Clemente, matron of the Kaitangata Hospital, reported for the month of Juno that seven patients had been admitted to the hospital, three of them being diphtheria cases.- There had also been seven outdoor patients treated.—Tho report was received.