GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 May 1945, Page 3

GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING The Grey Hospital Board met last evening, Mr. F. J. Oakley presiding over an attendance of the following members: Mrs. D. M. Parfitt, Messrs H. G. Carter, T. P. Ryan, W. Hr Parfitt, J. B. Kent, W. Fisher, J. Stokes, W. Gutberlet and A. Mosley. The report of the Hospital Committee (Messrs Mosley, chairman; Parfitt, Stokes and Mrs. Parfitt) was adopted: It was reported that owing to the calorifier being taken for use in the hospital heating could not be had at the Nurses’ Home. It was decided that further endeavours be made to obtain a calorifier, and in the meantime Mr. Parfitt consult with the Engineer of the Power Board; arrangements be made to obtain the Wesley Hall for the forthcoming nurses’ examinations. The Secretary reported that he had endeavoured to contact the Minister of Public Works during his recent visit to Greymouth. Mr. Semple sent the Commissioner’ of Works, Messrs Beck and Britchard, to the Hospital on April 12. The Commissioner of Works after inspecting the hospital buildings promised to send an expert from Wellington to put in some time on the job, recommend alterations and maintenance, and in the meantime the Board consider putting into operation the alterations previously suggested for the maternity block. The Secretary was instructed to have the grounds cleaned up, and all cast iron and other discarded materials sold to the best advantage. The Secretary reported that the Department had agreed to the appointment of Dr. Stephen Barclay. A majority of Board members had been contacted and the appointment approved. Night porter: It was finally recommended after considerable discussion that the Medical Superintendent and Secretary interview the new appointee, and arrange the hours of duty. The Secretary was instructed to obtain furnishings that would be suitable for the new nurses’ home.

FINANCE COMMITTEE The report of the Finance Committee as follows was read and adopted: Dr. Stephen Barclay wrote accepting the position of Chief Surgeon and stating that he would be able to commence duties on June 23. The Direc-tor-General of the Health Department wrote stating that it had received an application for a Government subsidy for an ambulance for the Runanga district amounting to £1,105, and asked for the Board’s comments on the proposal.—The committee recommended that the Board support the proposal for an ambulance at Ru.nanga. The Residents’ Committee, Te Kinga, wrote asking for the support of the Board in its effort to have a traffic bridge built across the Crooked River at Te Kinga.—Recommended that the committee be advised that the Board was in sympathy with the proposal for such a bridge but considered that the committee should make a direct. approach to the - Grey County Council. The Nurses and Midwives’ Registration Board reported that the present teaching block was inadequate.—lt was recommended that the matter be referred to the Commissioner of Works. It was reported that the Board’s typist joined the nursing staff. The vacancy was advertised for two weeks and only one reply was received. On contacting the Manpower Officer it was found -that this girl was under direction. The name of Miss K. Conaghan had now been submitted for the position.—lt was recommended that Miss Conaghan be appointed. The Health Department was communicated with to get an authoritative statement regarding pay for staff who had to work on the V.E. days. The reply received was rather non-committal, saying that the Board should observe usual conditions for public holidays.— It was recommended that all members of the staff who worked on the two days' be paid double time. The report was adopted. On the motion of Messrs Stokes and Parfitt it was decided to recommend to the Stabilisation Commissioner that the wages of the nursing staff be increased by the 3|d an hour recently fixed by the Court of Arbitration. It •was stated that other members of the staff were in unions which would take the necessary action to secure the increase for their members, but that 1 the nurses had no such association “to 1 battle for them.” —The motion was' carried unanimously.