GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 August 1942, Page 6

GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Grey Hospital Board was held last evening, there being present: Mrs C. E. Broad, Messrs J. Smeaton, W. Fisher, F. Oakley, A, Mosley, J. F Laing, H. G. Carter, and J. Mulcare. In the absence of the Chairman, Mr J. B. Kent, Mr Mulcare was voted to the chair. Accounts amounting to £4,282/11/3 were ratified. In the course of his statistical report the Medical Superintendent, Dr. D. M. Logan, stated: Patients remaining 30/6/42, in Hospital, 62 males, 38 females; Old People’s Home, 23 males, 4 females. Patients admitted in July, 74 males, 65 females; Old People’s Home, 2 males. Patients discharged in July, 71 males, 73 females; Patients died in July, 2 males, 1 female; Old People’s Home, 1 male. Patients remaining 31/7/42, 61 males, 30 females; Old People’s Home, 24 males, 4 females. In the course of other departmental reports it was stated: Nurses J. McAulay, E. ’ Clark and P. McGuigan were successful in the State final examinations. During the month the Matron received from Miss M. Lambie, Health Department, a letter regarding a recruiting campaign for nurses, and a series of photographs were taken by a local photographer (copies of which were submitted for inspection at the Board meeting). Mcßrearty Annexe: Remaining June 30, patients 23, infants 22. Admitted during July, 30. Confinements 35, births 36. Remaining July 31, patients 13; infants, 13. Antenatal attendances, 118. A class of obstetrical V.A.D.’s have had their lectures, and they are now doing their hours in the ward. Operating theatre: General 37, E.E.N.T. .20, orthopaedic 4, dental 5. Pathological Department: Hospital examinations 139, O.P.D. 37, other hospitals 31, miscelaneous 24. Physiotherapy Department: Inpatients treated 232, outpatients 385, U.V.R. 3. The reports were adopted, and it was decided to enquire from the Health Department as to the responsibility for the payment for the photographs taken at the Hospital in connection with the nurses’ recruiting campaign. The Director-General wrote asking that returns be made available of the number of persons attending the clinic under the headings of new cases of V.D., and ones previously under treatment.—lt was decided that the returns be made available by the Medical Superintendent. The Greymouth Borough Council advised of the appointment of Mr J. F. Laing to the vacancy caused on the Board by the death of Mr A. H. McKane. —A welcome was extended to Mr. Laing by the Chairman, who said he was sure that all members were pleased to see Mr Laing back. HOSPITAL EXPENDITURE

The Greymouth Borough Council wrote protesting against the excessive increase of the hospital levy for 1942-43, and asking that expenditure of a capital nature be rigorously curtailed. A copy of a letter sent to the Minister for Health was also enclosed. Mr Smeaton pointed out that the estimated expenditure for the present year was £60,000, of which the levy on local bodies was £15,000, and the Government found the remainder of £45,000. As far as capital expenditure was concerned, the Board had done its best to curtail this over a number of years, and had done only what was essential. He am not think it was fair to compare tne levy now with what it was 10 or 15 years back, considering the institution .the hospital was to-day, but even then, he thought the general opinion was that it was easier to find tne £15,000 to-day than, it was to find the £5,000 necessary years ago. The Grey Hospital, he maintained, was as well managed as any in Hew Zealand in all departments. The Medical Superintendent would not spend a penny more than was necessary, and the supplies were bought at the lowest prices obtainable. As far as his district was concerned, he had not had any serious complaints for some time. He thought it was particularly bad taste to compare the amounts paid by the Borough of Greymouth with the amounts paid by the Boroughs of Runanga and Brunner. It was his opinion that were it not lor those districts and the existence of the sawmills Greymouth would not remain long in its present position. The suggestion was made that more of the expenditure be found by the. Government out of the Social Security Fund, but he would point out that were it not for the Social Security the local bodies would have had to find another £3,000. The Chairman said that as Mr Smeaton had pointed out the Board bought in the cheapest possible market, and there was no waste. Every member of the Board was ready to listen to constructive criticism, but there had not been any constructive criticism. Mr Mosley said that the main point of criticism was that the hospital rate paid by the individual householder m Greymouth was higher than that paid by individual ratepayers in the other contributing bodies. Mr Smeaton contended that the ratepayers in the Borough of Brunner were paying as much per head as tne ratepayers in Greymouth. In Runanga, of course, there was so mucn State-owned property that the rate was less.

The Chairman said the Secretary had made a point.that £25,000 in wages alone was spent in the town. On that score the town had not a great deal to complain about. Mr Laing asked if a return could be tabled of the number of patients from Greymouth Borough in tne hospital in the past six months, as compared with the number from the surrounding districts. The Chairman said further discussion was not going to get the Board anywhere. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Smeaton that the Council be advised that the Board was doing its best to keep expenditure down to the lowest possible figure. GENERAL It was resolved that Mr Mosley be nominated as the Board’s representative on the local Rehabilitation Board, following a request from Mr ,1. O’Brien, M.P., that the Board nominate a representative. Mrs Broad reported that regarding railway accommodation for invalids she had interviewed the Stationmaster at Greymouth, and he had stated mat whenever it is necessary that a patient travel by train, arrangements are made for a stretcher to be slung, and seating accommodation provided for an attendant.—The report was received as satisfactory, and Mrs Broad was thanked for the report. The Hospital Boards’ Association advised that female domestic workers may be employed to do work that is ordinarily done by porters.—The letter was left to the Medical Superintendent and the Managing-Secretary, with power to act. The Chairman (Mr Kent) wrote, stating that as a result of representations received from Mr S. Quintrell regarding the transport of V.A.p.’s doing their 60 hours at the Hospital, he had informed Mr J. O’Brien, M.P., who had received advice from the Minister for Health that he would communicate with the Board in an endeavour to come to some suitable arrangements.—The Chairman’s action was approved. Mr Smeaton moved that in cases approved by the Medical Superin-' tendent the Board pay the fares, by train or bus, of V.A-.D.’s travelling to do their 60 hours at the Hospital.

There had been difficulty in getting I sufficient people interested in doing the training, and those people from the country who had shown such enthusiasm should have their fares paid. Mr Mosley agreed that the fares should be paid, but thought that as it was :: Dommion-wide scheme, it was a national, rather than a local Board matter. The motion was carried. The Director-General of Health advised that when V.A.D.’s have to travel some distance to a subsidiary i hospital or travel from another district, travelling expenses should be I paid if the aides will undertake three months duty.—The Managing-Secre-tary said the aides in that case would j be fully trained, and the question j would crop up only when an auxil- • iary hospital was set up. The Director-General advised that Boards may receive payment for service patients in temporary hospitals at either 11/- per patient per day, or the actual cost of equipping and operating such temporary hospitals. SEVERAL SALARIES RAISED The Hospital Boards’ Association advised that the majority opinion of Boards was that all employees, including nurses, not covered by awards should receive the recent statutory increase granted by the Arbitration Court, and suggested the following standard salaries for nursing staff:—Present salary per annum at Greymouth: Matron £321/10/-, suggested rate £330; sub-Matron £242/15/ —-£220; theatre ' sister £232 —£220; tutor sister £237/10/- — £220; night sister £l9O/5/ — £220; ward sisters—senior £l9O/5/- — £220; junior £ 137/15/--£ 190/5/- — £154-£210; staff nurses £l22 — £132-£145; nurses fourth year £95 15/ —£88; third year £B5/5/ — £B2; second year £74/15/ —£72; first year £64/5 —£60; maternity matron £269—£250.

It was resolved, on the motion of Messrs Mosley and Oakley, that in cases in the above lint where the salaries at Greymouth are below the suggested rate, those salaries be raised to the suggested rate. On receipt of a quotation from Miss M. Clancy for the making of uniforms at 8/6 each (labour only) and overalls 4/6 each (labour only), it was resolved that the services of the third seamstress, who had been employed temporarily, be dispensed with, and that the uniforms be made by Miss Clancy. It was pointed out that the uniforms were made twice a year, when new nurses were engaged, and that the permanent employment of a third seamstress meant the purchase of another sewing machine. Members considered it would be more economic to employ a seamstress to make uniforms and overalls as required.