Strain On Hospital Staff With More Admissions

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1947, Page 4

Strain On Hospital Staff With More Admissions

[SPECIAL TO STAR] REEFTON, This Day. Reference to the fact that the board had been very fortunate in being able to carry on the normal hospital service, in spite of increased admissions, and had not had to refuse anyone, was made by the chairman, Mr J. 8. Auld, at - last evening’s meeting of the Inangahua Hospital Board. He said that thanks were due to the nursing staff for the manner in which it had co-operated.

Another member, Mr B. Topp, said he did not think any hospital board had done as well.

The matron, Miss D. M. .Whisker, commented, upon the strain which had been placed on the staff, in her monthly report. She said:—“As will be seen by the statistics for the month, there has been a steady increase in the work and at the same time a decrease in the nursing staff. This has entailed a good deal of overtime and a great strain, particularly on the trained staff. I would again draw the attention of board members to the urgent need to have a responsible person to care for the aged men. There are two in the Ziman ward who are unable to get into the sunshine because they are too heavy for the girls to lift about. There are others in the ward (medical) quite senile. , It is not fair to expect the sisters to attend to these cases. They would not be asked to do it in any other hospital. Over the past month there has not been a spare bed, and there are people waiting for admissions.” &■

The report of the medical superintendent, Dr C. A. Heaphy, showed that* there were 56 admissions to the hospital during the month. Other figures were:— discharged 41, remaining 37, births 11, deaths nil; X-rays 46, out-patients 43, general anaesthetics 24, local 8. Referring to the matron’s suggestion for a male nurse, Mr F. W. Archer said that he had made contact with a suitable person who was considering making an application for the position. Mr J. J. Coghlan, for the visiting committee, reported that one elderly man in the Ziman ward had complained bitterly because he could not get out into the sunshine. The matron had explained that the hospital was not equipped with a suitable wheelchair.

It was decided to make inquiries to obtain another wheel-chair and to hold over the question of a male nurse until Mr Archer had further information. Overdraft Exceeded

The acting-secretary, Mr C. A. Belcher, reported that, owing to the fact that payments from the Health and Social Security Departments were well overdue, the board had had to exceed the limits of its overdraft.

The chairman said that the secretary had reported the matter to him and had made frequent requests to the departments concerned for the moneys outstanding, without success. On the motion of Mr B. Topp it was decided to write to Mr C. F. Skinner, Minister of Rehabilitation, asking him to draw the attention of the departments concerned to the effect that the delays were having on the board’s finances. The chairman said that a telegram would be sent to the departments this morning, and if no satisfaction was obtained the Minister would be communicated with immediately. It was decided to apply for an increase in the overdraft limit to £2OOO for the next quarter.

The Health Department advised that complete arrangements with a New Zealand manufacturer for the supply of hosiery for the nursing staff, at 69s and 72s per dozen, and orders should be placed immediately. The letter was referred to the matron for attention.

On the suggestion of the matron, it was decided to utilise more of the hospital ground for vegetable growing this season. In her report the matron said:—“lt has been reported in the newspapers that next year there will be a shortage of potatoes and root vegetables. In view of this fact it is essential that we should have more ground under cultivation and as soon as possible,, to get the best of the season’s growth. There is a good portion of the laundry section which is not used, and it should be good for vegetable growing. The poultry have more than proved their worth this year; we have had an ample supply of eggs right through the winter. ( On the motion of Mrs R. Yellowlees and Mr Coghlan it was decided to purchase £5 worth of health stamps. Milk and Cream Supplies (

The only tender received, that 4 of Mr W. Farrell, Cronadun, was accepted for the supply of milk and cream to the hospital. The prices were: milk, 6d a quart; cream, Is 6d a pint. It was decided to call tenders for the supply of firewood to the hospital. Reporting on the price of electricity supplied to the board by the Grfey Electric Power Board, Mr W. Clayton, said he thought the hospital had been fairly well treated. It was on the same basis as the Grey Hospital, threepence a unit, and the Grey Hospital used very much more. The Grey account for 12 months was £1537 10s and the Reef ton account, for nine months, £177 Is 9d. “That is not the point,” syid Mr F. W. Archer. ' “If the Grey board chooses to pay a high rate there is no reason why we should. Most, of the electricity is used for heating and the heating rate is less than threepence.”

Mr Clayton: The. commercial heating rate is threepence, and I do not see . how we can have any complaint whatever.

Mr Archer did not agree that the hospital could be classed as a “commercial” user, but the discussion lapsed without a motion.

Mrs Yellowlees and Mr Topp were appointed the visiting committee for the ensuing month. PERSONALS Miss Jean Hannah, of Reefton, and formerly of Methven, has been appointed assistant clerk to the Inangahua County Council, in succession to Miss E. Buckley, who recently resigned on account of illness.

Mr G. Duggan acting-chief inspector of mines is on an official visit to the Reefton district. Sapper F.- E. Wells, son of Mr and ’Mrs A.’ Wells, Reefton, is to return next week, after service in Japan. At yesterday’s meeting of the Inangahua County Council, a vote of condolence was passed to the relatives of the late Mr J. Fitzgerald.