MEETINGS

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1935, Page 10

MEETINGS

WESTLAND HOSPITAL BOARD.

[OUB OWN COBKESPOriDINT.]

HOKITIKA, August 12. The monthly meeting of the Westland Hospital Board was held last evening. Present: Messrs T. M. Duff (chairman), E. L. Park N. H. Brown, W A. Jamieson, W. H. Evenden, A. R. El’cock, H. T. Parry, E. W. Heenan The Chairman referred to the deatn of Mr John Ritchie, a former member of the Board. The usual tribute was extended. The Chairman extended a welcome to Mr E. L. Park, who reciprocated the Chairman’s greetings. Mr Parry reported on behalf of the House Committee.—lt was resolved that the works recommended be carried out. Mr E. Freitas was granted leave for annual holidays. The Secretary was instructed to write to the Health Department requesting .it to expedite plans for new nurses’ home. # The Secretary was also authorised to obtain a report on the water supply from the Health Department. The Medical Superintendent reported as follows: —Remaining in hospital on July 1, 72; admitted during July, 66; total treated during July 138; discharged cured'67;- discharged relieved, 20; died 2, unrelieved 2; total 91; remaining in hospital on July 31, 47. The Medical Superintendent reported the following were numbers of massage and electrical treatment: June 210, July 315. The Department of Health, wrote, authorising an overdraft of £l5OO. The Matron reported as follows: — I beg to submit my report for the month ended July 31: The daily state was as high as 71 and the lowest, 48. Number of operations, 38: number of X-rays 24, and the average occupied beds, 58.2. Nurses Cameron and Gillespie were both successful ‘in passing their final examination in the recent State examinations. Nurse Cameron is at present on annual leave. Nurse Herring left on July 19. Miss Edna Rawlings left at the end of the month, and Miss Bertha Schroeder resumed duty on August 1. Miss Maureen Martin is off duty at present and has been admitted to the ward for treatment. Josepuh Freitas went off duty during the month with injured fingers. Mr Wylie is applying for annual leave. We are grateful to Dr. and Mrs Wilson for their gift of four duchesses and seagrass chairs for the side rooms, which have added. considerably to the. comfort of the patients. We also wish to thank Mr Renton for two sets of scales, and Mrs David Graham and Mrs Peter Graham for books and magazines. The Treasurer’s statement showed receipts £lBBO/9/6, expenditure £1169/13/7, debit balance £637/9/8. Accounts amounting to £llOl vrere presented and passed for payment. The Chairman congratulated the nurses on passing their examination and expressed appreciation of the good work of the doctor and matron. The Hospital Boards’ Association wrote, recommending that the Government be asked to allow the Board to restore 5 per cent. cuts. The Chairman considered the letter did not affect this Board. Nurse M. W. Gunn, South Westland, wrote again, offering to perform nursing, etc. James Donovan also wrote, asking for a subsidy for Nurse Gunn.

The Chairman suggested bringing the matter before the South. Westland Medical Association. If the Association approved of the appointment of a nurse, applications would be invited. Mr Elcock said it may be some time before a doctor was obtained, and in the meantime assistance should be given Nurse Gunn.

Mr N. Brown said that as a member of the Association he was not so free to speak. It would seem they were doing nothing, but that was not so. They were attempting to make the position more attractive and were appealing to the Health Department for some assistance in that direction.. They would prefer a doctor to a nurse. He recognised Nurse Gunn’s value and work, and thought the Board should recompense her.

In reply to the Chairman, he said ho was opposed to the Association’s funds being used in this direction. He would support a motion to give Nurse Gunn some assistance. Mr Jamieson also supported this. The Chairman moved that Mrs Gunn be asked to accept the position of district nurse for three months at the rate of £l5O per annum, to date from this day.. Seconded by Mr Evenden and carried. Mr Brown asked the Board to deal patiently with the Association, which was looking to the future. The South showed signs of expansion. The tender of Mr Geo. Kennedy for the supply of blinds for the hospital was accepted. An application from Nurse McCaskill for appointment on the staff was tiled for reference. The Secretary was granted annual leave.

Reference was made to statements made by Crs. .Murdoch and Jeffries at the recent County Council meeting concerning the restoration and raising of salaries. The Chairman stated the pupil nurses in the Westland Hospital were receiving .£2O per annum more than in other hospitals where £25 a year is paid, and here it was £•l5. The raising of the salaries of higher officials was to bring them into line with other hospitals, if the members were present he would have had more to say. The Chairman reported that he and the Secretary duly visited the Grey Hospital as directed by resolution of the Board lor the purpose of making Inquities as to the manner in which the outpatients department is conducted. They reported: "We found that their system would not be of much assistance to us in giving us a lead, as their doctor is residential, and also they have a dispensary at the hospital. They have a scale of fees chargeable and their outpatients are treated in the same manner as our inpatients, in so far as that all fees and medicines are charged up to the patient, and those who are in a |x>sition to pay are made to do so, and the fees uncollectable are written off. The position of the terms of our agreement with the .Medical Superintendent, permitting him the right to private practice, presents a difllculty. as so many of the doctor’s private patients are put into hospital for our hospital service, and when discharged from the institution naturally must be regarded as the doctor’s private patients. I would, however, suggest that the question be gone into and certain arrangements made whereby indigent patients could, on application to the Chairman or Secretary, obtain a form which th-y would require to Jill In, am. could then attend at the hospital on a certain day or days and consult

the doctor, and obtain medicine either from the hospital supply or from Mr Williams, the Board’s dispenser. However, the question could be gone into further on the lines suggested, and a definite scheme adopted.” After discussion it was decided to have an out-patients’ day, "Wednesday mornings at 11 o’clock, the Chairman and Doctor to finalise the scheme. Ari application from Nurse D. McCaskill to rejoin the staff of the hospital was filed for reference.

HOKITIKA R.S.A

HOKITIKA, August 13.

The monthly meeting of the executive of the Hokitika R.S.A. was held last evening. Present: Messrs W. E. Brown (president), R. Paterson (secretary), P. W r hitford, F. Millen, A. C. Armstrong, F. Ashley, F. McGregor, G. A. King, T. Stuart, T. Lynch, and G. Gilchrist. Apologies for absence were received from Mesrs J. L. Menzies, W. Cropp and A. Samson. The President reported that he had finalised the purchase of seats for the hall from the proprietors of the Princess Theatre; also that he could not come to any agreement with an account in dispute.—lt was decided to make an offer to pay half the amount of the portion of the account that is questioned. The Christchurch Red Cross Society advised that supplies of tobacco, cigarettes and biscuits were forwarded for distribution among the ex-service-patients at the Mental Hospital. An invitation was received from the local Volunteer Corps to attend a social after the parade on August 8, and asking for one of the R.S.A. members to give a short lecture on that occasion.—The President reported that several members of the R.S.A. had been present, and that Mr Armstrong had given a lecture on experiences with the Main Body. It was suggested that if periodical lectures were given to the Corps by any returned men, that it would be very helpful.. The Secretary reported that he had an application for two days’ subsidised labour from an ex-soldier at present out pf employment, but not registered as unemployed.—lt w’as decided to grant the two days in this case.

The Headquarters advised that the National War Funds Council had made a total grant of £l2OO for the month of July, and that the allocation for the Westland Patriotic Association was £8; also advising that the Dominion Executive had decided that the armed forces of the Crown be invited to take part in uniform, in all parades on Anzac Day. Accounts amounting to £B/6/9 were passed for payment. Mr W. F. Park, ex-member of the R.F.C., was elected a member. Details of the reunion were discussed, and arrangements were finalised.

The hospital visitors for the month (Messrs Cropp and Gilchrist) reported visiting the ex-soldier patients in the hospital. The largest number in the hospital at one time was five, and all were progressing favourably. Messrs Miller and McGregor were appointed visitors for next month.