HOKITIKA NOTES

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 July 1939, Page 14

HOKITIKA NOTES

HOSPITAL BOARD MEETING

[OUB OWN COBBESPONDENT.]

HOKITIKA, July 18

The monthly meeting of the Westland Hospital Board was attended by Messrs E. W. Heenan (chairman), G. H. Chapman, A. R. Elcock, J. Fox, G. Heinz, T. W. Duff. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs W. A. Jamieson, A. Dale, J. A. Murdoch and J. L. Turner. The Treasurer’s statement showed: Receipts, £1617/14/11; and expenditure, £lBO6/11/10. Accounts amounting to £2,910/19/8, were passed for payment. The chairman and Mr. Duff on behalf of the Board, extended a welcome back to Dr. Basil L. Wilson after a visit to England for the purpose of extending his experience. They congratulated Dr. Wilson on having obtained the degree of Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. The Department of Health wrote asking for the Board’s decision with regard to a site for the proposed maternity hospital at Hokitika. It was decided to reply recommending that, for financial reasons, this matter should be deferred in the meantime. A letter was received from the Hari Hari Farmers’ Union drawing attention to the increasing cost of hospital maintenance, and asking the Board to curtail unwarranted expenditure. Letters were received from the Hari Hari Women’s Institute and the Hari Hari Farmers’ Union protesting against the proposal to build a Mater-j nity Home at Wataroa. The Department of Health wrote asking that the j work of erecting the Home at Wataroa should be expedited.

The chairman reported that, accompanied by Messrs Duff, Dale and E. V. Hughes (secretary), he had paid a visit to South Westland to enquire into the question of the Maternity Home at Wataroa, and of the Bruce Bay Casualty Station. The Hari Hari Farmers’ Union did not consider a home warranted, neither the initial capital cost nor the maintenance cost. Their attitude was not prompted by any animosity to Wataroa, and would be the same if the proposal was to build at Hari Hari. The Women’s Institute was very definite that prospective mothers in the Hari Hari district would not go to Wataroa but by means of the excellent transport facilities, would avail themslves of the expert medical attention always available in Hokitika. It was further the opinion of the Institure that Sister Gunn would always get some of the cases in the district, and the remainder would not he sufficient to justify building the Home. At Wataroa, Mrs. Northcroft outlined the case for the establishment ofthe Home there. She said it was un-l reasonable to expect prospective mothers to face the 70-mile journey to Ho-' kitika, perhaps in a bus loaded with sightseers and tourists. Other points 1 that she made were: The hospital would not only be for maternity cases but also for casualties requiring ur-

gent attention. A cottage hospital is necessary to keep a, doctor in the district. Establishment of a cottage hospital would lessen the costs of the Hokitika Hospital.-The low birth rate in the south due to the lack of a maternity home.

At Weheka, a deputation expressed the view that a maternity home at Wataroa was desirable, provided it did not cost as much as £4OOO. The South Westland Medical Association were definitely of opinion that a casualty station was urgently required at Wataroa —one maternity bed, one casualty bed. This could be built and equipped for a moderate sum and the people of Wataroa were willing to meet the Board and give every possible assistance. The Association favoured the building of a hospital costing £l5OO plus equipment, but'would not favour the £4,500 proposal. The Association undertook to have a sketch plan drawn up, giving the requirements that would meet the needs of the district. A doctor was assured for the district, as seven applications had been received for the appointment.

i An inspection was made of Bruce Bay I and the site to which it had been sugj gested the Casualty Station should be shifted. The party then proceeded to J the Public Works camp, at Bruce Bay where a number of men who were interviewed, gave it as their opinion that the Casualty Station was at present in the best position to meet the requirements of the large district for some years to come. In company with Sister Tanner and Dr. Cotter, an inspection of the casualty station was carried out. Situated on the main south highway, midway between the landing ground at Mahitahi and Bruce Bay, adjacent to the main telegraph and power lines, and equally accessible to all, the casualty station appeared to members to be undoubtedly in the best position to meet the needs of the wide district. After a thorough inspection of the station, he had to report that the building would meet the requirements of the district, but certain alterations were necessary. The delegation recommended that the Public Works Department be asked to send a competent tradesman to the district to effect the necessary repairs and make the alterations.

This recommendation was approved and, with regard to the Maternity Home, it was decided to write to the i Department of Health supporting the I suggestion of the Medical Association I that a much modified scheme would I be adquate. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS The Matron’s report for June was as follows: Highest number of occupied beds 76, lowest 47, average for the month 58.7. Massage Physio Theraphy treatment 64. X-rays 58, Screenings 1, Operations 21. Linen Requirements: In view of the possible reduction of laundry working hours to 40, necessitating the closing of the laundry from Friday night to Monday morning, it will be necessary to increase the lines in circulation in the hospital. Lines, especially needing increase, will be long sheets, pillow cases, towels, tea towels, table cloths, tray cloths, serviettes, pyjapa suits and quilts. There will be

an accumulation of three days washing in the laufadry on Monday morning. Shrubs. —A comprehensive collection of plants and shrubs were forwarded from Mr. McPherson, Christchurch, for planting in the Nurses’ Home grounds. —The report was adopted. The report of the acting Medical Superintendent gave the following figures: Remaining in hospital, May 31, 54; admitted during June, 70; total treated during month, 124; remaining in hospital June 30, 61. The gardener’s report for June stated that during the month gardening work had been made difficult by the wet weather and had been confined to digging and weeding. Hedges were trimmed and many planted. Hedge cuttings had been planted out in a nursery bed for planting next year; lawns had been mown, edge's trimmed and paths weeded and raked. Seedlings were being picked out as soon as they were large enough. The farm manager reported that during June the following produce was sold to the hospital: Milk (610 gallons) £5O/17/6; 1 pig killed (120 lbs.) £3/5/-; eggs (3 dozen) 3/-; vegetables (589 lbs.) £5/11/5. Total £59 16/11.