SOUTH OTAGO NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23832, 12 March 1941, Page 2

SOUTH OTAGO NOTES

o[From Our Correspondent] WOMEN’S INSTITUTE. There was a good attendance at the annual meeting of iho Balclutha Women’s Institute yesterday afternoon, Mrs R. Newson presiding. The motto was “ Coming together is the beginning; staying together is progress; working together is success,” The roll call, “ Suggestions for next half-year,” was well responded to. An interesting letter was received from Mrs Baillie, an ex-member , now resident in Marton. The annual report and balance ".•er, were presented and adopted. The election of officers and committee resulted as follows President, Mrs J. Tweedie; secretary, Mrs J. T. Sutherland; treasurer, Miss J. Laing; committee. —Mosdames C. Dawson, P. M’Gregor, C. Wyber, R. Newsoii, R. Berryman, J. Smith, S. Stark, J. D. Landels, J. Darling, J. M’Diarmid, and R.i Marshall. During the social interval Miss Violet Anderson contributed pianofrte solos and Mrs P. M’Gregor vocal solos. Prizes won fur competitions during the year were presented to Mesdames P. Mason, J. Smith, P. M’Gvcgor, J. M’Diarmid, and S. Stark. A name-guessing competition was won by ’Mrs Mason, with Mi's Anderson second and Mrs Stark third. SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITALS. The monthly meeting of the South Otago Hospital Board was held yesterday, Mr A. T. Harris presiding. The medical superintendent reported on admissions and discharges as follows:—Balclutha Hospital: Admissions 75, discharges .73, remaining 67, ‘-ray put-patient 29, massage out-patients 32. Milton ■ Admissions 13, discharges 14, remaining 9. Owaka; Admissions 22, discharges 22, remainng 8. Kaitangata: Admissions 3, discharges 3, remaining 1, outpatients 3.—Received. The financial statement showed receipts totalling £3,693 9s 8d and expenditure £2,513 lls Id. The credit balance at date was £6BB 3s 9d. tv Waipiala Sanatorium Committee advised that his board had approved of 213,800 capital j expenditure for the coming year, and that'the S.O. Board’s proportion would bo £925. Approved, members stating that this was the highest yet paid, the secretary stating that it \yas 50 per cent, inrrease on last year. 'Tlie Director-General of Hdalth intimated that Ministerial approval had been given to the raising of -a loan of .for the erection of a children’s ward, at Balclutha Hospital.—Received, the Chairman remarking that the erection of the building, for which a tender had been accepted, could now be gone on with. Tho Director-General also intimated that approval had been received from the ■Minister for the board to raise a loan of £5,000 for the erection of a maternity ward at Milton. Plans were aisc returned, suggesting minor alterations. —Received, the board deciding to adhere to the site originally chc-sen. U was loft to tho Works Committee to go into the matter of procuring a suitable water supply for Milton Hospital. A lengthy and somewhat heated discussion took place following correspondence from the Milton Farmers’ Union, asking that an inquiry bo lield into tho refusal of entry to an Otago Power Board employee to Milton Hospital when seriously injured, and also as to tho method of his transport from Balclutha Hospital to his home. In reply to letters from the secretary of the board, Sister Templeton, matron in charge at Milton, replied that she had not refused admission to this patient, but had suggested his being taken to Balclutha Hospital, as they had a very ill concussic-n case in the ward at Milton; that no one ■had refused admission to the patient; and that it was not possible to give accommodation at the time as the only available place was the maternity side-room. She stated that she had never been asked to admit the patient and could produce evidence to show that Dr Michelle (the doctor in charge of the ease) had said that he had never soil any message to Milton Hospital.

Dr Frengley, superintendent at Balclutlia Hospital, stated that the patient was discharged after full consideration and discussion with him as to the best means of transport, and it was decided that as he was wearing a plastic spinal jacket he would travel most comfortably in a roomy, closed car. The Chairman said ho had" nothing further to add to his previous statement, and lie could see no reason for an inquiry. He could not see where there had been any neglect on the part of the staff, and that was all that concerned him. Mr Fenton also said there was no grounds for an inquiry. The patient had never been presented at Milton Hospital, and therefore could not have been refused admission. He moved that in so far as the board was concerned every precaution and everything at its disposal was available for this man if presented at Milton, and therefore they could see no grounds for an inquiry. Mr Sutherland seconded.

Then followed a somewhat heated argument, in which Mr D. M'Gregor said that the doctor in charge had given instructions to ring the hospital that the case was coming, and those in charge had said there was no room. The man was then taken to Ins home and later to Balolntha. Mr A. Bennie moved ns an amendment, that an inquiry bo held in fairness to (ho people of Milton, who were much concerned over the whole business. — The motion was carried, only Messrs Bennie and M'Gregor voting against it. In connection will] (lie same matter the secretary of the Otago Power Board wrote

asking for an assurance that there would be no further difficulty in admitting emergency cases, so far as male patients are concerned, to Milton Hospital.—The Chairman said that, if a similar case occurred in the future lie would expect the patient to be taken to Balclutlia, whore they had room.—Mr Fenton moved that the board bo informed that no patient was refused admission. —Mr A. Renton seconded and said they could nob give an assurance; it. was a matter beyond their control.—Mr M'Grcfor said instructions could he given to meet cases of this kind.—The motion was carried.