GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 September 1945, Page 3

GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

, monthly meeting The Grey Hospital Board met last evening there being present Messrs F. J. Oakley (Chairman) H G Carter, A. Mosley, J. B. Kent W. Fisher, J. E. Stokes, W. Gutberlet and Mrs. E Purfitt ‘The following departmental reports were received: Statistical: August: Patients remaining end of July, males 63, females 46; Old People’s Home, males 27, females one. Patients admitted during the month, males 65, •females 9T Old People s Home, males 3 Ments discharged during the month, males 55, females 89; Old People’s Home males one. Patients died during the month, males seven, females 2 Patients remaining end of August, males 65, females 44; Old People’s Home, males 29 females one. Physiotherapy. Department: Outpatients two; in-patients 121, U.V.L. 26. Operating Theatre: General 87; orthopaedic six; E.N.E.T. 22, dental 7. Bacteriological Department: Hospital Exams 374; O.P.D. 59; other hosnitals seven: miscellaneous 15. Radiograph}i Department: In-patients Xraved 77‘ out-patients X-rayed 100. Mcßrearty Ward: Patients remaining end ot July, mothers 20, babies 20-40; patients admitted during August 06, confinements 32; babies born 32; Remaining end of August, mothers 21, babies 21, 42; anti natal attendances 132 Reporting for the Hospital Committee Mr Mosley Said that members visited ‘the Old People’s Home where their attention was drawn to the state of the chairs in the sitting room and the forms on the southern end 01 the verandah. It was recommended that the chairs and the forms be attended to as soon as possible, and the duckwalk at the rear of Victoria Ward be glassed-in. Referring to the chairs and the forms at the Old People s Home Mr Mosley added that it should not be necessary for the hospital committee to make recommendations in regard to such matters .which should receive attention as it became necessary. It was uneconomic for the Board’s furniture to be allowed to get into the state in which the chairs and forms had been found.

GARDENER CRITICISED

In the course of the Hospital Committee’s report Mr. Mosley said that the hedge trees for the hedge alongside the path between O’Brien Ward and the Nurses’ Home had arrived and it was hoped that, they would be put in as soon as possible. Mr. Stokes said that the Board had deputed him to supervise the planting of the hedge. He had ordered the trees through a Greymouth florist and asked the florist to “heel” the trees in until they were required. When he (Mr. Stokes) saw the gardener about the matter the gardener insisted that he (Mr. Stokes) was trying to undermine his (the gardener’s) position with the Board. Later he had agreed to discuss the matter and had agreed on the proposals made in conversation with the florist who was giving his information free, and had been asked for his assistance in the hope of getting the best advice available. The gardener had said he would put the trees in at the first opportunity. He (Mr. Stokes) had asked the florist to send the trees to the Hospital and they had been delivered to the House Manager. However there had since been three fine days and nothing had been done about planting the trees. The trees,_he reminded members, had been bought with, the ratepayers’ money and something should be done about it-but the trees had now' been out of the ground for a month and if they were not successful he did not wish to be blamed for it. One member suggested that perhaps it was professional pride that had caused the trouble the gardener resenting Mr. Stokes calling on the assistance of a florist. Mr. Stokes, referring to the Hospital gardener, said he could hardly be called a professional man. The Managing-Secretary (Mr. J. E. A. McKeefry) said the gardener had said he would be quite prepared to throw the job in if the matter was mentioned at the meeting, but he would not resign—the Board would have to sack him.

Mr. Mosley supported Mr. Stokes, saying that Mr. Stokes had been deputed by the Board to supervise the planting but had apparently met opposition from the gardener. Mr. Carter suggested there must be some misunderstanding which would have to be cleared up. After further discussion it was decided that the gardener be instructed to plant the hedge trees on the first fine clay and if those instructions are not carried out that his services be dispensed with. FINANCE COMMITTEE The finance committee’s report including the following recommendations was adopted: That application be made for an extension of authority to employ two men under Scheme 13: that in response to a letter from the Chairman of the National Savings Committee thanking the employees for their past contributions and asking that encouragement be given for the continuation of the scheme, the staff Be urged to help as in the past; that on the recommendation of the Director of the Division of Nursing Miss- Hazel Young be appointed assistant tutor sister; that a letter from the Director-General of Health stating that applications for a post-gradu-ate course close on October 1 be filed for reference; that the radiographer be allowed to attend a conference of radiographers at Wellington on September 21 and that he be assisted to go; that in response to recommendations from the New Zealand Registered Nurses’ Association recommending increases in salary for ward sisters the Association be asked what is being done for the lower-paid groups; that a flag-pole be erected at the Hospital. It was decided, on the motion of Mrs. Parfitt that members of the staff be paid for the V.J. Day holidays. Permission was given to the Secretary to attend a conference of Hospital Board Secretaries at Wellington on October 10 and 11.