HOSPITAL BOARD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4476, 17 February 1917, Page 6

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING

Mr. G. -W. Humphreys presided over a meeting of the Hospital Board lass evening, at which there were also present, Messrs. Johnston, Mc.Gliskie. Jones, Lewis, Bright, . and j Jex-Blake. - ' The Department of Public Health forwarded circulars as under: Intimating that subsidies on account of | Christmas or kindred gifts to hospi-J tals had been withdrawn; opinion of , fcke Crown Law Office on certain ques- ] fcion of the maintenance of industrial j school children. This meant that the proposal of the Education Department to detain money received for the maintenance of children in the industrial schools was not legal. Tike limit of the Board’s liability was Sr, and the parents’ liability was KJs. —-Received. - Mr. W. B. Bailey applied for a month’s holiday.—The application was granted.—Mr. Bright expressed .appreciation of Mr. Bayley’s services, and said that the Board was not dispensing with his services because of dissatisfaction with his work, but because Ins office had been fused with that of the secretary.—lt was decided .to write an acknowledgment to Mr. Bayley for his. services. An application for a revision of liis salary was received from the Medical Superintendent.—The matter was referred •to the Estimates Committee when constituted. Mr, Humphreys referred to a misunderstanding which had arisen between the matron and a nurse at the hospital, mentioned at last meeting, and said that he had received a letter from the matron, and in fairness to her he thought that he should read it to the members of file Board. Tlie letter was. to the effect that the matron denied making the allegation referred to. and in an interview with the nurse in question before the Chairman of the Board, the misunderstanding had been cleared up. Mr. Humphreys said that the unfortunate position had been settled, and he read the letter so that the members of the Board could contradict any statements made against the matron in this matter. He moved that the Board send a letter to the matron, accepting her statement, «nd •expressing the desire to help her in her work as much as possible. Mr Humphrey’s motion was agreed to. The Treasurer’s report which was adopted, set down the receipts for tlie month as £1690 12s 4d. Accounts amounting to £9BO 14s 8d were passed for payment. The committee set up to consider the remits of the Hospital Conference reported that it approved of them with three exceptions. The committee did not think it an opportune tune to adopt a classification scheme and uniform salaries for the nursing staff. The committee did not consider that the Board should adopt a uniform scale of salaries for house surgeons. The committee emphasised its concurrence in the policy that -> Board should control its own nursing staff during training.—-Adopted. The Works Committee recommended that the old hospital buildings should be utilised as an Old People's Home, and the question of financial -ability of the Board to carry out the work be considered by the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee reported that an estimate of receipts and expenditure showed that there would be a debit balance of £1523 at the end of the year. This amount was for capital expenditure unforeseen when framing the estimates this year. The Finance Committee reported that in view of the Board having to find about £SOOO capital expenditure next year, the levy necessary to provide the amount being spread over a period of five years or more. The committee recommended that the question of refitting the old i hospital should be deferred until the ! next estimates were framed. I Mr. Bright pointed out that the .Board had the power, with the confv.'nt of the Minister, to mortgage the Board’s lands for the raising of the money and spread it over a period of years. If this were done it would ease the position of contributory bodies. ! The Chairman said that the works required were all necessary works. The laundry, consumptive shelters. ' and the Old People’s Homes were all necessary. | The Works Committee’s recommendation to proceed with the work m connection with the Old People’s Home at once, and that tenders be . .died for the work, was adopted. The work is to be supervised by the Works Committee. The Home will he able to accommodate 24 inmates. | The Works Committee recommend-, ed that an Inquiry Office with a lady attendant be placed at the entrance of the hospital.—Adopted. The Committee reported that it bad considered and accepted an offer of Mr. Johnson, Mangapapa, to supply shingle in any quantity up to LSO yards delivered to the hospital grounds at 14s 6d per yard.—Adopted. A report was received from the Medical Superintendent to the effect that there was no accommodation for typhoid cases except in the general ward, which was not ideal, and the new isolation buildings were not always available. The ideal position would be the segregation of these patients.—The Chairman said that a separate ward was needed for the typhoid patients.—Mr. Johnston thought that a children’s vyard ought co he built, and that would relieve two wards which would be ideal for tiio.se cases. After a little further discussion no proposition was placed before the meeting, and the letter was received. r J he Visiting Committee recommended the adoption of a scheme of colored plates over the beds of the various patients to indicate their religious persuasion, in order to simplify the work of visiting clergy.— Declined. The Committee referred to the higiy cost of obtaining sufficient expert aief in ■ administering anaesthetics.—The Chairman reported that ' the Board had written fully to the Minister in charge of Hospitals on the matter, and no reply had been received. Charges were suggested by the Medical Superintendent for .bacteriological examinations for patients outside the hospital.—Adopted. Messrs Johnston and Bright were appointed a "S isiting Committee for the month. An Estimates Committee was constituted. the following members being selected: Messrs. McCliskie. Jones, Sherratt. Collins, and Kenway. The secretary was granted an allowance of 10s per week for the upkeep of his motor cycle when used on the Board’s business. REPORTS. District Nurse'Clark reported having attended five cases during .the month of January. Native District Nurse Jarrett reported having attended 9 cases during Hie month and visited 12 pas. ~ The Health Inspector, Mr. E, U. York reported having made mv.estiorations in the following case#: b cases of diphtheria, 4 oases of typhoid fever,. 4 cases of scarlet fever, bamtarv inspections and visits have been made at Waikanae, Fatutahi, ■ Miiriwai. Te Arai. Manutuke, Male a 1 aka, Matawhero, Bepongaore. The Ladv Superintendent acknowledged the following donations :—1 lamb from . 6 ladies’ complimentary race tickets, children’s clothes. 9 6 articles from Womens National Reserve, fruit for the nurses from Mrs Jex-Blake', fruit for the nurses from M : ss Yates. , hooks from Mr Humphreys. Omitted from last ,:month’s report: Fruit from Mr. Me- ," Cliskie_7^ooks i ro-r - M.r. Humphrey s, ; £5 from Mr. Holcen £1 Is from Mi, lex-Rlako. 10s from;Miss Godfrey tor