GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1940, Page 5

GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

FINAL MEETING OF YEAR Mr. J. Mulcare (Chairman) presided over the final meeting-for the year of the Grey Hospital Board, held last evening, and the following members were also present: Messrs H. G. Carter, A. Mosley, J. Lging, R. McTaggart, J. B. Kent,.j/Smeaton, A. H. McKane, and W. Fisher. Ari apology for absence was received from Mr. O. C Joyce. ■ ■, t The Grey County Council advised that Mr. Fisher had been appoirited to fill the., vacancy on the Board, caused by the resignation of Mr. A. Robinson. The Chairman extended a welcome 4p Mr. Fisher, saying he was sure that the new member would do his job well for the ratepayers, and that he would also co-operate to fullest extent, with the Board members. . . .. . . . .

In returning thanks, Mr. Fisher said that he had been interested in the hospital for years. He had been Chairman of the Ngahere District Medical Association, until the advent of the Social Security Scheme had taken their work away. He would do his best to work in harmony with the members of the Board, and at the same time to do his duty to the ratepayers. The following tenders were accepted for supplies for the three months ending March 31, 1941: Bread, Shannon and Glen. Fish,J. Norcliffe. Meat: Mawhera Meat Co. In reply to a question, the secretary said that the tenders were on a par with those for the past three months, but no discount was allowed on bread, this time. The tender of F.> J. Nott was accepted for repairs to the electrical installation at the Old People’s Home, the price being £27/12/6. One other tender was received.

On the recommendation of the Hospital Committee it was decided that the matter of arranging annual leave for the medical staff be referred to the Medical Superintendent and Secretary. The Matron of the Maternity Annexe reported that she had arranged for a relieving sister, during her annual leave in January.

The house manager advised that he has now secured a suitable house, and thanked the Board for its efforts to help him in this direction.

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS The departmental reports were approved, as follow: — Medical Superintendent: Patients remaining at 30/10/40, Hospital. Males 68, females 48. 0.P.H.: Males 26, females 4. Admitted during month —Hospital: Males 81, females 62. 0.P.H.: Males 3. Females 0. Discharged during month. Hospital— Males 85, females 63. 0.P.H.: Males 2. Females 0. Died during the month: Hospital: Males 6, females 1. 0.P.H.: Males 1, females 0. Remaining 30/11/40: Hospital: Males 58, females 4. 0.P.H.: Males 26, females 4. Mcßrearty Annexe: Remaining October 31: Patients 15, infants 15; admitted during month, patients 37; births during month 34; remaining November 30, patients 18, infants 18; ante-natal attendances, patients 73. The first five nurses sat for their State Examination on December 4 and finished their training. The second class is mostly in. Operating Theatre: General 71, E.E.N.T. 16, Orthopaedic 22, dental nil.

Physio-therapy Department: Inpatients treated 312, U.V.R. 28. Outpatients treated 228. Bacteriological Department: Hospital examinations 171, other hospitals 15; O.P.D. examinations 23, miscellaneous 33. VISITING COMMITTEE The Visiting Committee (Messrs Smeaton arid McTaggart) visited the hospital on December 5, and reported as follows: — Nursirig Staff: The Matron reported that there seemed to be a dearth of trainees, and it is recommended that vacancies be advertised and, if the required number of applications are not received, the Board consider the employment of V.A.D.’s under terms of the circular letter received from the Director-General of Health dated November 24, 1939. It was reported that the Aga cooker in the Nurses’ Home is not functioning satisfactorily, and the secretary was instructed again to write to the agents, and ask that a representative be sent immediately. In the meantime instructions have been given for a temporary lengthening of the chimney of this stove in an endeavour to exclude all possibility of this being the cause of the trouble.

Main Kitchen: That, the extension to the kitchen nearing completion, it was pointed out to the committee that the dividing wall should be demolished, this wall was being left in to prevent steam from the boilers getting back into the main kitchen. If the wall is taken out a reinforced concrete beam will have to be placed across the opening so made, and it is recommended that the secretary obtain an estimate of the cost. The recommendations were adopted.

FINANCE COMMITTEE The Finance Committee met on Monday evening; present: Messrs Mulcare (chairman), Carter, Fisher, Kent, Laing, Mosley, McKane, McTaggart, and Smeaton. The Committee made the following recommendations: That accounts amounting to £8,167/4/7 be ratified. The Director-General of Health wrote, pointing out that the fact of the Medical Association not being prepared to make a contribution does not justify the Board in declining, to assist in the Kumara nursing service, and that a nurse stationed at Kumara would be able to render effective service to a number of localities falling within the Grey Board’s district.— That the Board adhere to its previous decision.

The Hospital Boards’ Association advised that the value of board and' lodging of domestic staffs at hospitals is to be assessed for the social security charge at £1 per week, notwithstanding that a greater- figure may be assessed .in any award. The Hotel Workers’ Union wrote, asking that the Nurses’ Home kitchen be rated under Class 2, sub-clause (e) at £4/12/6 per week, instead of clause (f) at £.4/1/6 per week, as decided by the committee in Wellington.—That the Hospital Boards’ Association be again written to, and that a copy of the.letter from the Hotel Workers’ Union be forwarded.

That, regarding the dispute with

Messrs Vale and Co,, concerning the automatic stoker, all correspondence be referred to the Board’s solicitor, for an opinion. That the secretary make the usual application for an extension of the overdraft authority, to March 31. In connection with the letter from Mr. H. Hamer, Kumara, complaining of receiving wrong ’telephone messages from the hospital, it is recommended that the secretary go into the whole question of the recording of patients’ particulars, next-of-kin, etc., and formulate, a scheme for submission to the next ineeting of the Board. That the question of covering Board members by insurance whilst attending meetings be referred to the chairman and secretary, with power toact. ..The recommendations were adopted.

MATERNITY CASES. GOODS TO BE SUPPLIED FREE. Stating that it was a matter of general interest, the secretary read. the 'f6llowing letter frofri. the DirectorGeneral of Health: In reply to the Board’s letter on Novernber 8, iri reference to articles which expectant riidth'ers are required to bring when entering, a maternity hospital, Section 95 (1) (a) of the Social Security Act, 1938, provides that maternity benefits in the case of a woman confined in a maternity hospital comprise “all necessary medical and nursing attendance, maintenance, and care at her confinement, and for the period of 14 days succeeding the date of ’birth of her child.” Whilst it is clearlv not the function of a Hospital Board to provide a patient with clothing, the Department con- ■ siders that the under-mentioned articles are essential to th’e proper maintenance and care of the patient and baby, and therefore should be provided by the Board, free of cost to the patient: 21bs cotton wool, 9yds gauze, 3dz bottle of Dettol, one tube Dettol cream, cascara sagrada, small bottle olive oil, cake of soap. Mr. McTaggart said it had been suggested by members of the Runanga Borough Council that the Board might find it possible to supply the articles at cost price. The prices of some goods were high, and if the suggestion were adopted it would mean a big saving to mothers. Mr. Mosley objected, on the ground that it would be opening the door to competition with local tradespeople. There might be isolated cases where the persops concerned might find it difficult to get the necessary money to purchase the required articles, but if the Board established a precedent; there was no reason in the wide world why people coming into other parts of the hospital should not make a similar request. Patients coming in for ordinary medical treatment had to get certain articles. If articles were supplied free in the maternity ward, the Board would be requested to supply them in other departments. He would not like to see the Board establish a precedent. There was no reason why the Board should compete with tradespeople, by supplying articles at cost price. Mr. McTaggart said that he did not mean articles of clothing. Mr. Smeaton expressed the opinion that most people were put to sufficient expense in connection with maternity cases, and if anything could be done in the direction suggested by Mr. McTaggart, he (Mr. Smeaton) would' not mind the Board going into competition with tradespeople. Every encouragement should be given to bring about an increase in population. People who were coming long distances, and were put to considerable expense, should have every consideration. Mr. Kent said that there could be only one opinion, and that was the opinion expressed by Mr. Smeaton. Anything the Board could do to make it easy for mothers should be done. In fact, the Board should supply all the necessary articles. Mr. McKane said that the extra cost to the Board would not be a lot, taken over a year. The secretary said that if the goods were bought by the people at chemists’ prices, the cost would be about £6OO per year. If secured by the Board at cost price, the figure would be about £2OO. Mr. Carter pointed out that the letter from the Department indicated that most of the necessary articles should be supplied by Hospital Boards. He thought that every facility should be given by the Board, to make the expense as light as possible for mothers. Mr. McKane questioned « whether the Board could charge patients for articles, if they were supplied by the Board. The secretary replied that such a charge could not be made. Mothers should be encouraged, said Mr. McTaggart. In lots of cases, a mother had two or three children, and it was “pretty tough” for her to have to buy even some of the required articles. In lots of cases, people could not afford it. Mr. Kent said that those who could afford to do so, would probably continue to bring the articles with them.

Mr. McTaggart moved that all the necessary articles be supplied by the Board, free of charge. The motion was seconded by Mr. Smeaton.

In reply to the Chairman, Mr. McTaggart said that his proposal was that the Board should supply everything necessary, except clothing. The secretary said that the letter from the Director-General covered practically everything required, except clothing. The motion was carried.

“ABUSE OF AWARDS.” RUBBISH-BURNING QUESTION. Alleging that the refusal of the firemen in the boilerhouse to bum rubbish, unless they were paid 2/6 per shift extra, constituted an abuse of the award, Mr. Mosley described the position as a “positive scandal. Stating that he had been directed by the Board to try and obtain some information about an incinerator, the secretary said that one quote had been received for the supply and erection of an incinerator, the price being £lB7/19/-. At present, everything was being burnt in old oil drums in the back yard, and this created a nuisance. Mr. Smeaton said that, if it were as efficient as the automatic stoker, it would be a good buy for the Board. Mr. McTaggart said that it might be cheaper to pay the firemen in the boilerhouse something extra for burning refuse. It would take a long time to spend £ 187 }n that way. Mr. Smeaton expressed the opinion that it would be bad policy to z pa'y extra money. .He would rather see an incinerator installed.

Mr. Mosley: The demand for 2/6 extra per shift for burning rubbish is an excellent illustration of the abuse of awards. It is. a positive scandal, and the Board would have been justified in discussing it in open meeting, to let the public know what is going on. Mr. McTaggart said that the work of the firemen was now lighter, than it used to be with the hand-stoker, and, they hardly had to use a shovel at.all. For every abuse in connection with a Workers’ award, declared Mr. Smeaton, there were 50 in connection with workirig conditions, but noticing was said about it. Because the “poor old worker” was taking Advantage of a clause in tfie award, they should not jump on hifri. If they were going to use the firemen to burn, rubbish, then they must pay them for it. ' Mr. McKane said that the clause was put in the award to protect the men against being required to dispose of all and. sundry offensive.;rriatter. There must be a safeguard.. ... Mr. Kent agreed that that was the reason for the clause. , The Chairman suggested that the question of purchasing an incinerator should be deferred until the next meeting, to see if there were any competitors in the market. Mr. Smeaton moved that the purchase be held over until the next meeting, the secretary meantime to get in touch with other fijjns in the business. -A The motion was seconded by Mr. Laing, and carried. Mr. McTagga'rt suggested that it might be possible to interview the Engine-drivers’ Union, with a view to the waiving of the clause. Mr. Kent said that it would be. worth while. It was a matter of the interpretation of the award. Mr. Mosley supported the suggestion.

The secretary said that the clause covered anything which was thrown out for disposal. Mr. McTaggart said that the men’s work was now comparatively light, and he thought they would be reasonable. Little extra work would be involved in shovelling a bit of rubbish into the furnace.

Mr. Carter expressed the opinion that the rubbish would probably mean a lot more work for the firemen, as the material would interfere with the fires and affect the heat generated, Mr. McTaggart admitted that, in some factories, everything in the nature of rubbish was burnt, and this made the firing difficult. At the hospital, however, the rubbish was easily burnt. He moved that the Board approach the national organisation of engine-drivers and firemen, and meet them, if necessary, to explain the matter. The action could be taken by the Chairman and secretary. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mosley, and carried. HEALTH CAMPS. Mr. McKane asked for a statement regarding the age limit for children /sent to Health Camps, explaining that some people were not clear on the subject. The secretary replied that, in the first year children were sent from the West Coast to the camp at Rangiora, there was no age limit. On that occasion, a seven-years-old child suffered a broken arm. The next year, the age limits were set at nine to 12 years. It was not possible for the matron at the camp, although she was a quah’fied nurse, to look after 100 or so children, if they were under nine years old, an age when they were slightly irresponsible and needed a lot of care and attention. In reply to Mr. Smeaton, the secretary explained that the Board’s Medical Superintendent selected children who were in need of camp treatment. If the number of applications exceeded the number of children who could be sent, then the cases most in need of treatment were sent. The Rangiora Health Camps Committee advised that the camp for boys will be held from January 4 to 31, and that for girls from February 3 to March 3.—The secretary’s action in advertising the fixtures was approved. The Chairman wished the members of the Board the compliments of the .season, and hoped that the comirig year would in every way be better than the past. He also wished the Press the compliments of the season, and thanked them for their very fair reports during the year. Mr. McTaggart reciprocated on behalf of the Board members.