OTAGO HOSPITALS

Evening Star, Issue 25672, 21 December 1945, Page 7

OTAGO HOSPITALS

MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD The monthly meeting of the Otago Hospital Board was held last night, and was attended by Dr D. G. McMillan (chairman), iMesdames N. Ross and D. G. McMillan, and Messrs A. F. Quelcli, A. Steel, R. Walls, M.P., P. G. Connolly, M.P., J. W. Dove, John Bennetts, A A. Reid, and Dr M. F. H. Blain. PHYSIOTHERAPY PRINCIPAL. Miss Enid M. Gotts, of the board’s physiotherapy department, was appointed principal of the New Zealand School of Physiotherapy. Miss Gotts holds certificates for massage, medical gymnastics, electrotherapy, actinotherapy, teacher of electrotherapy, and teacher of actinotherapy from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. She holds the electrical servicemen’s certificate and the bronze medal of the Royal Life-saving Society. She trained in physiotherapy at Guy’s Hospital, London. In 1934 she joined the staff of the Pysiotherapy Department of the Westminster Hospital. Several months later she was appointed to the Dunedin Hospital. She spent 1938 in England on refresher work. DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS.

A gift of £IOO was received from Mr W. J. Kofoed, of Outram, in recognition of hospital services to his wie, the late Mrs Clementine Kofoed, while she was a patient. A suggestion was forwarded by the lady superintendent, Miss D. Brown, that the money be invested and the interest used to provide a prize for the highest qualified nurse in theory and practice at the bi-annual presentation of medals and certificates. —The suggestion was approved. Mrs E. Sutherland, Roslyn’, forwarded a gift of £IOO to name a bed, preferably in a surgical ward, in memory of her son, Captain A. Wemyss G. Sutherland, who died in August of this year at Tamuang, Thailand. Adams Brothers forwarded a cheque for £lOl los, being bequest and interest in the estate of Mary Ellen Knight. The Dempsey Trustees sent £52 10s for Christmas comforts, and the Vacuum Oil Company £1 Is for the same purpose. Thanks were expressed for the gifts, i MASSAGE STUDENTS. The Massage Committee submitted a list of the students to be accepted' in the Physiotherapy School for the 1946-48 course. The Chairman stated that there had been a considerable increase in the number of admissions for the coming year. The greatest possible consideration had been extended to ex-service personnel, and every accepted returned service person had been included in the list. Of the 47 students to be trained, 21 had returned from service. HOSPITAL STATISTICS.

The medical superintendent (Dr James Thomson) reported that 654 patients (359 males and 295 females) had been admitted to the Dunedin Hospital in November; 307 had been discharged as recovered, 279 as relieved, and 66 as unrelieved. A total of 46 died, and 417 remained in the institution at the end of the month. During November 180 minor and 123 major operations were performed. TENDERS ACCEPTED.

After consideration in committee, the board accepted the tender of £66,533 from the Love Construction Company for constructing a new wing to the Nurses’ Home. The price was exclusive of the cost of heating the bedrooms. Mitchell Brothers’ tender of £199 for extensions to the telephone exchange in the basement was accepted.