GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 February 1942, Page 8

GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING HELD

The Grey Hospital Board met last evening, there being present:'—Messrs J. Mulcare (chairman), J. Smeaton, H. G. Carter, J. B. Kent, T. P. Ryan, T. Oakley, W. Fisher, A. Mosley, and Mrs. C. E. Broad. A suggestion from the DirectorGeneral of Health that Hospital Boards purchase supplies of stockings for sale to the nursing staff was adopted. The Director-General of Health wrote suggesting that the maximum age for the admission of trainees as Voluntary Aides be raised from 40 ’to 4a years; that aides should be accepted for training if they hold home nursing and first aid certificates; and that the salary scale be increased to 30/- per week, plus £1 living-out allowance.

The Matron, Miss N. Moffatt, said that there was only one voluntary aide on the staff at present. It was stated that, as a result of the interest taken in the scheme by the St. John Ambulance, there would no doubt be a greater number of trainees in the near future.

The suggestions were adopted. The Director-General also advised that as from November 2, 1941, hospitals, would be paid an extra 5/- a day for the treatment of sick and wounded soldiers.

The Student Nurses’ Association wrote asking that the Board provide uniforms for nurses commencing training at the Hospital, or make an annual allowance for uniforms. It was stated that a trainee entering the hospital was faced with an expenditure of £l2 or £l4 for uniforms.—lt was decided to refer the matter to the Secretary to make enquiries from other hospital Boards regarding the practice at their hospitals. The President of the Karoro Bowling Chib, Mr. J. Bunt, wrote stating that it would be impossible to discuss matters in connection with the lease of the green at a meeting of the Board when Press representatives were present, and suggested that three members of the Board be appointed to meet three members of the executive of the Club.—lt was resolved that the Chairman, and Messrs Smeaton, and Kent meet representatives of the Club.

The Kumara Borough Council wrote stating that owing to the scattered nature of the district, the telephone at the residence of the St. John Ambulance representative at Kumara, would be of no commercial value, and would be used only in cases where ambulance attention was required. (The Council wrote to the previous meeting of the Board suggesting that the Board pay half the rent of a telephone to be installed at the residence of Mr. Rose, St. John Ambulance representative, at Westbrook, and stating that the Westland Board was prepared to pay half the rent, and also to provide a first-aid outfit). It was resolved that the Board pay half the rent of the telephone. Messrs Smeaton, Oakley, Carter, and Mrs. Broad dissented, and the Chairman gave his casting vote in favour of the proposal. Authority was given for the writing off of goods, broken and unusable, valued at £245 1/11. The Secretary stated that the figure was down by £lOO on the previous quarter. The Blackball E.P.S., wrote asking if medical supplies for the district could be obtained from the Board.

The Secretary stated that all emergency hospitals in the Board’s district were the liability of the Board if they were approved by the Health Department. So far only four hospitals had been so approved:—Victoria Park, Lyceum Hall, the Technical School, and the Technical Hostel. The hospitals established by the E.P.S., authorities at Cobden, Brunner and Runanga should have been authorised by the Health Department, and they would then have been the liability of the Board. Casualty clearing stations posts were’ the responsibility of the E.P.S., authorities. He suggested that the Director-General of Health be asked to approve of the emergency hospitals at Runanga, Cobden, Erunner and Blackball. ■lt was decided to take the matter of supplies up with the Health Department, and that in the meantime the Department be asked to approve of the emergency hospitals already established at Cobden, Runanga, Brunner and Blackball.

The Ministry of Supply advised that owing to the uncertainty of future supplies, it was necessary for a stricter control to be exercised on building, and that all constructional work commenced should be stopped on January 31, 1942.—The Chairman remarked that the order was totally opposed to the instructions from the Health Department regarding the rebuilding of Seddon Ward.

CLASH OF AUTHORITY. Arising out of the report of the Matron, it was stated that a woman who had been for 12 years in the employ of the Board had been superseded in her position. It was pointed out by the Chairman that it had always been the policy of the Board to “step up” officers into higher positions. In that instance, he had given instructions that the second in command should receive the position. That instruction was conveyed to the ManagingSecretary and through him to the Acting-Medical Superintendent, and the sub-Matron. He understood that the Medical Superintendent had conveyed the instruction to the person concerned, but that the instruction of the Managing-Secretary, the ActingMedical Superintendent, and the Chairman had been ignored. He mentioned the matter to the Board, so that they would know the facts, and he asked who was in control? The Board decided to invite applications for the position of nead laundress.