GREY HOSPITAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 February 1920, Page 5

GREY HOSPITAL

BOAED MEETING

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. A meeting of the Grey Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held at the Board rooms this morning. ' There were pr.eseht: Messrs J, McCarthy (chairman), E. Williams, J. J: Greaney, K. Sgoklmid, J..W. Hannan, J. 'G. Cottle and J. Irvine. A letter was read from the Acting Inspector General'of Hospitals, stating that it had been decided to postpone the conference of Hospital Boai'ds until Tuesday, May 11th. —Received. The Department of Public Health wrote to the Grey Hospital and charitable Aid Board at today's meeting, enclosing a schedule of articles in common use in hospitals, which 'the Department was prepared to purchase on behalf of the Boards who desired to avail themselves of the offer, without administrative charges. The offer was made with a view to effecting a considerable saving. In view of the heavy harden upon the contributing local authorities, the Department considered that action should be taken in every direction which will tend to reduce the ever growing expenditure upon hospitals, and charitable aid.—Received on the motion of the chairman The Secretary of the Public Health Department wrote, stating that the Minister had approved of the payment of £250 to the Board as a special grant for the financial year 19.19-20. Received. The Director of Education wrote through the Public Health Department stating that the Minister of Education had approved of the sum of £l.Boo—being .the amount to be placed upon the Estimates as compensation for the University Endowment estate.— Received.

The Matron wrote, slating that tliere was n sufficient stock of blankets at the Hospital, but suggested the first grade, white a»d grey, should lie secured for the

equipment of the Old People's Home, which was to be built. The matter arose as the result of an offer by the Public Health Department to sell a number of blanket? which had been used on troopships. It was decided on the motion of Mr Williams, seconded bv Mr Skoglun'd, that the Board should purchase 100 blankets of the first grade. Some discussion arose regarding the proposal that a new boiler should be purchased as a standby. It was pointed out that the boiler at present at the Hospital a good one, but it was working night and day, and for one day a month whilst it Avas being cleaned the Hospital was without h/vfc water, and if anything went wrong* the Hospital would be without light. It was decided. n'i the motion of Nv Cottle, seconded by Mi' Irvine, that the Inspector of Machinery should be to inspect a boiler and engine on offer from Mr Samuel Chapman, Cobden.

Yip Box*'awl Co. wrote stating thai, they could not make the. simp in Tainui Street, owned by the Board, pay, and asked for some concession. It was decided, on the motion of Or Irvine, that the letter should he received*and that no action should he taken.

It was decided to firarit 12/6 per week to an old lady in Blaketown, a widow with a family, who was doing- liei best to keep tbe borne going. There were three applications for the position of gardener at the Hospital, one of whom was a returned soldier. "Mr Skoglund moved and Mr Williams seconded, that Mr H. Wee nick, should he appointed. Mr Cottle said that be thought they should give preference to returned soldiers.

Mr Skoglund said that he would stand up for every returned soldier, but they could not put a man in a position that be was not fit for. There was too much work/ for one man at the Hospital. . Cr Cottle said that a (one time the Board had a gardener who could supply the whole of the Hospital staff and patients with vegetables. ' j

Mr Skoglund said that lie always stood _up for the returned men, and will) his seconder's permission lie would withdraw his motion.

The Chairman said that-'lie would move that Mr Weenick he appointed.

Or . Skoglund seconded Mr Cottle's motion that the returned soldier be appointed, hut this was defeated and Mr Weenick appointed. ,

The medical officer reported as follows for the month'of January : Number of■ patients remaining in hospital from'last month, 00: number of patients discharged, 37; patients admitted, 41 ;* patients remaining-, .02; patients died, 2; average patients per day, 76.2; average davs per patient, 23,3. ,

The Visiting Committee consisting of Messrs J. McCarthy. .T. W;;'Hanna.li, J. Greaney, and K. RkjDglund. visited the Hospital on February ?4th. An inspection of the grounds was made and satis faction expressed with the imprevenien ts effected. The Secretarv of the Inangahua Hospital Board wrote regarding the, n'dmispion "of a. patient from the Grey district into the institution. An applicant, whose account for flip trrvntmen't r»f his'sen was considerably overdue, was given further tntie to pay, on the motion of th a QVoi'rtiiaii. > A, wrot° tha-nkin?: th*. Board for cancelling' the amount