GREY RIVER HOSPITAL.

Grey River Argus, 29 October 1926, Page 6

GREY RIVER HOSPITAL.

The Additions. MEETING OF BOARD. A meeting of the Grey Hospital Board was held last evening, Mr J. Brislane, acting-Chairiuan, presiding. There were also present Messrs F. Williams, J. Greaney, E. Ashton, W. H. Parfitt, F.' L. Turley and J. Lamberton. A welcome was extended to Mr W. A. Keeble, and the Chairman said they hoped that during his term as Secretary, he would get the Board out of its difficulties. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. The Superintendent reported on the Hospital Statistics for the month ending September 30th as follows:— Patients in hospital at the end of August, males 42, females 29; in Old People’s Home, males 39, females 6; admitted during the month: Males 32, females 26, (Home) males 2; discharged during the month (hospital) males 30, females 26; died during the month (hospital) males 5, ‘females 1; (Home) males 2; remaining in the hospital at the end of September (hospital) males 49, females 28, (Home) males 39, females 6; total under treatment during the month 186.

The Superintendent stated that as the completion of the addition was an event of the near future, it would be /necessary to purchase furniture. The greater part of the furnishings was already in hand, as the wardrobes and dressing tables were built in, while there were beds already in use. For each room it would be necessary to purchase a rug and chair and small table. In the dining room, five small (tables, each ‘ seating about six people, were required. The nurses’ sitting room needed furnishing. With regards to the kitchen arrangements, it would be necessary to devise a method by which food could be transferred from the Hospital Kitchen and be served hot ■into the nurses’ dining room, as no cooking on a. large scale would be done at the Nurses’ Home. For this purpose, he recommended the purchase of a food conveyer at a cost of £BO. The order would have to be made so that t e apparatus would be in hand ready for use when the Home was opened. The Nurses’ Home was already wired to the Power Board’s regulations, and as the Superintendent did not think the Hospital’s dynamo capable of supplying the necessary power, he recommended that the Home would be linked up with the Power Boarcr's supply. A plan of the storeroom was enclosed. The cost was approximately £2OO, and the erection of the building would entail an efficient system of keeping stores being established. The Superintendent strongly urged that the Board proceed along the lines of building the store, and, on its completion, appointing a storeman or steward in charge. This course was likely to be insisted upon by those officials regarded by the Health Department as experts. The recommendation regarding the lighting of the Nurses’ Home was approved. It was decided to hold the matter of the store over until the next meeting of the Board. Mr Turley moved that the various committees, such as the Visiting Committee or the Finance Committee, meet nt a date prior to the date when the Board meets. He thought the members of the Board should each have a typed report and time yo consider it. Mr Williams considered that it was a difficult matter to attend meetings on separate days. The motion lapsed for want of a seconder.

The Matron of the Rewa Maternity Home reported that for the month ending October 28, 14 patients were discharged since September 20, and 21 patients were admitted. There were 20 births.

Tne Finance Committee recommended that the accounts presented, amounting to £1,423 3s, be passed for payment, and that the Marine Department account be passed, also that a second progress payment of £lOO to Mr W. McDougall be paid on the new morgue, and that a fourth progress payment, of £lOOO, subject to certificate, be paid to Mr W. Williamson. The recommendations were adopted, Mr Turley dissenting, on the grounds that he did not approve of any of the members of. the Board dealing with accounts incurred without nis knowledge.