GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 November 1926, Page 3

GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

_ , .. , . MONTHLY MEETING. The Grey Hospital Board held its monthly meeting last evening. Present: Messrs J. W. Hannan (chairman), J. Brislane, J. Greaney, F. L. Turley, F. Williams, E. Ashton, J. P. Irvine, and W. H. Parfitt. Writing with reference to Mr W. A. Keeble (acting-Secretary), the Department of Health stated that his services were required at Wellington and hoped that the Board would release him by December 6. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Brislane, to endeavour to retain Mr Keeble’s services until a new secretary was appointed and took charge. That the Board support the proposal to form a. Matrons’ Council was requested by the Matron of the Wellington Hospital. On the suggestion of the Chairman, ■ the matter was held over until the Board’s delegate to the Hospital Boards’ Conference was appointed. The Hospital Boards’ Association advised that the conference would be held in March next, and asked for remits. —It was decided to hold the matter over until the meeting of the Board in January. A circular from the Department regarding dispensers in public hospitals, was referred to the Medical Superintendent. • It was decided to increase the salary of Miss K. Greaney (assistantsecretary by 10s per week, members paying tributes to her work. Accounts totalling £2762 11/8 were passed for payment. REPORTS. The report of the Matron (Miss Braidwood) was as follows: Sister J. Jeans commenced duty on November 8. Nurses Blacktopp and E. Brailsford returned from annual holidays on November 23. Probationer Brislane commenced three months’ trial on November 16. The following .nurses successfully passed their final hospital examination: —Nurses G. Gould, E. Brailsford, G. Falloon, and F. Hopkins. These nurses are sitting for their final State examination,' which is being held at this Hospital next Wednesday and Thursday. Mrs Campbell (laundress) and Miss McCarthy (assistant laundress) resumed duty on November 7 after being on sick leave. Miss N. Heslin commenced duty as wardsmaid at the Old People’s Home on November S. Miss Peebles (cook at the hospital) left for her annual holiday on November 21. Miss Simpson has been engaged as relieving cook during her absence. Mr Greening, of Lankshear’s, Wellington, has kindly donated a new gramophone ; and records for use in the Nurses’ Home. Messrs G. W. Moss and Co. ' have also very generously given a _ further donation of gramophone re- ! cords for the Nurses’ Home. These ! gifts are greatly appreciated by all , members of the nursing staff. Dona- ‘ tions of books and gramophone records have been received for the Old 1 People’s Home from Miss McCarthy, Mrs Harper and Mrs Patterson, and ! several residents of Whall Street. I . recommend that new door mats be * purchased for the corridor and wards of the hospital, also that linoleum be 1 laid down in the men’s dining room ‘ and the sisters’ bathroom of the Old . People’s Home, and that an easy chair 1 be purchased for the sisters’ room at the Old People’s Home. I wish to £ purchase clothing for several of the inmates of the Home. J recommend J that Miss A. Gilmore (housemaid) re- *

ceive an increase of 2/G weekly. I would like to engage the services of an extra seamstress for three months to help with the making of nurses’ uniforms and extras needed for the new Nurses’ Home. I resumed duty on November 16, after having one week’s holiday. The Medical Superintendent’s report for the month ended October 31 stated that the patients in the Hospital at .the beginning of the month were: Hospital: Males 49, females 28. Old People’s Home: Males 39, females 6. Patients admitted during month were Hospital 71, Home 2; discharged —Hospital 65, died: Hospital 1, Home 2; remaining at the end of the month —Hospital: Males 48, females 33; Home: Males 37, females 5; total patients under treatment 195. Nurses’ Home. —in this connection the Superintendent wished again to request the purchase of a food conveyer. The Nurses’ Home would be in occupancy after Christmas and the food conveyer would be a necessity. The price from Messrs Mercer and Co., of Christchurch, was £55. He recommended that the Visiting Committee make an inspection of the Home that day, with a view to deciding the amount of furniture which should be purchased in order that the furnishing should be proceeded with. Hospital Store. —The matter of building a hospital store, and the appointment of a permanent Steward to be in complete control of the store system was again recommended. Not until this routine was established would it be possible to effect the purchase and distribution of stores in the most efficient and economical manner. Surface Cleaning.—The Superintendent requested that the man c-m-

ployed at present on the Hospital grounds be. retained until Christmas in order to clean up and level the area in front of the Nurses’ Home to lay down a concrete path, four feet wide, round the Home, to clean up the pathway at the rear of the Home, and to complete the construction of the trellis already partly erected. This trellis, so far as it went, made for privacy at the back of the Hospital, and the extension of it would improve the appearance considerably. The area in front of the remaining buildings of the Old People’s Home needed levelling and filling in. The area round the tennis court needed cleaning up; cut wood in various parts required to be neatly stacked. With the adoption of these suggestions, the Superintendent was sure the grounds could be made presentable for the Christmas season. The staining of the hospital floors agreed to could be carried out at the same time. The Visiting Committee recommended that Mi- Irvine interview the Borough Engineer regarding a better water supply for the Rewa Hospital; that new door mats be purchased for the General 4 Hospital; that quotes be secured for linoleum for the dining room at the Old People’s Home; that the purchase of linoleum for the bathroom and an easy chair for the sister’s room be left in the hands of the Matron; that Miss A. Gilmore receive 2/6 increase in salary; that the services of an assistant seamstress be engaged;,that the arranging of the• usual Christmas cheer be left in the hands of the Matron, and that the price be kept as low as possible; that the Medical Superintendent draw up a list of the furniture required, and report to the next Board meeting; that the erection of a hospital store be allowed to stand over until Dr Valintine and Mr Allen have visited Greymouth,; that the cleaning of the grounds be left in the hands of the Clerk of Works; that the varnishing of the wards be done undei- the direction of the Clerk of Works; that the Board communicate with Di- Blackmore and see if the ground is available for. the erection of two more shelters at Cashmere Hills, and if the Board would be allowed to erect them. The reports were adopted. On the motion of Mr Ashton, it was decided that letters of thanks be sent to the donors of gifts. It was decided that , the next meeting be held on December 21.