HOKITIKA NOTES

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 October 1939, Page 5

HOKITIKA NOTES

HOSPITAL BOARD MEETING. [OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HOKITIKA, October 17. The Westland Hospital Board’s meeting was attended by Messrs E. W. Heenan (chairman), G. H. Chapman, A. Dale, G. Heinz, A. R. Elcock, J. A. Murdoch, T. W. Duff, A. W. A. Jamieson, J. L. Turner, and J. Fox. The financial statement showed receipts £2482/5/4 and expenditure £2192/4/5. Accounts amounting to £lBOO/4/8 were passed for payment. Tenders for supplies for the six months commencing November 1 were accepted as follow: —Meat, Johnson and Son and W llowson (alternate months); bread, S. G. Havill and John Huireii (alternate months); fish, G. H. Preston and Sons (only tender); carting, J. Coyle (only tender). The matron reported that during September the lowest number of occupied bed’s was 57, the highest 78, the average for the month being 68.5. Nurse York, who had resigned, had consented to remain on until the end of November. She had resigned and was not completing her training. It was not. convenient to take on another nurse in her place just now. A parcel of books were received from Mrs Ryall, Auckland, for Mandi Ward. On inquiry it was ascertained that, the indent order for linen sent forward to Wellington in July, was still being held up by the Customs Department, waiting for a permit, so that meant that the order was being held up indefinitely. What part of the order they could, they had bought, in New Zealand at very good prices. The Medical Superintendent’s report gave the following figures: Patients in hospital on August 31, 70; admitted during September, 80; total treated during month, 150; remaining in hospital on September 30, 62. The farm manager reported that during September approximately 500 gallons of milk, and 193 pints of cream were sold to the institution, also eggs, vegetables, and one pig. Six pigs were jold. The following produce was sold to the institution during the month:—Milk, 500 gallons, £43/15/-; cream, 193 pints, £9/13/-; pigs, one, £5; pigs sold, six, £l9/12/7; eggs 63 dozen, £4/9/3; vegetables, 4211b5, £2/11/6; total £B5/1/4. General farm work had been carried out, but the unsettled weather had prevented much progress being made with cultivation. The Chairman said he considered the charges for the use of the ambulance were too low, and should be revised to keep pace with present-day conditions. A sub-committee consisting of Messrs Chapman, Turner and the Chairman were appointed to consider and report on the matter. HOUSE SURGEON.

A special report on the scheme to appoint a resident house surgeon at the hospital was presented by the Medical Superintendent, Dr. B. Wilson.

After dealing with the probable cost of such an appointment, Dr. Wilson said: “I am mentioning these points so that the Board will know beforehand the full liability they will be embarking on. A resident house surgeon will be able to give the lectures to the nurses in medicine and’ surgery, anatomy and physiology. These at present are given by Dr. Aitken and myself. Otherwise Jie will not lessen my own work here, as 1 cannot pass my responsibilities and worries to someone who lias vet had no experience beyond his medical school training and has never done any surgery. But though financially he will cost more than he will save, I will be quite pleased to have a resident house surgeon al the hospital, as he will be very useful and helpful in hospital, as the Chairman points out. He should get good experience here, as, though we are quiet at times, we are very busy at other times, and we get a good variety of work, with many interesting cases of all types in the hospital.” Further consideration of the scheme was held over until the end of the financial year. March 31, when a better idea oi the effect of the social security legislation would be had.