GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

Grey River Argus, 19 February 1932, Page 3

GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

ORDINARY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Grey Hospital Board was held last evening. Present: Messrs J. W. Hannan (chair man), F. L. Turley, J. Mulcare, H. G. Carter, R. A. Barrowman, J. Kyle, R. AlcTaggart, R. E. Clarke and Mrs K. O ’Brien. The Matron, Rewa Hospital, reported as follows: Admitted since January 21, 9; discharged, 15; births, 9: remaining in, patients 3, infants 3. The Laboratory Nurse reported that 145 specimens were examined during the month of January, of a total value of £B4 14s? Accounts amounting to £1,060 15s 7d were passed for payment, and accounts amounting to £1,348 7s 10d were ratified.

The recommendation of a sub-com-mittee that no new agreement be entered into with the Westland Timber Workers’ Union, until the existing arrears are paid off, was adopted. The report of the Medical Superintendent (Dr. J. F. C. Afoore) for the month (‘riding 31st January, 1932, was as follows: Patients in at beginning of month—Hospital, males 47. females 25; Ohl People’s Home, males 33, females 9. Patients admitted during the month—Hospital, males 56, females 46: 0.P.H., males 10. Patients discharged during month—Hospital, males 48, females 37: 0.P.H., males 10. Patients died during month —Hospital, males 5, females 2. Patients remaining in at end of month—Hospital, males 50. females 32; 0.P.H., males 33, females 9. The report of the Afatrou (Miss C. G. Lord) as from 22nd January, 1932, was as follows: Sister Hoddinott had sick leave January 21st and 22nd, and from 29th January to 11th February. Nurse Samuels from February 4th and Nurse Mather from February 4th Nurse Browne is still on sick leave and Nurse N. AfcC'lurg is still on spec ial leave. Aliss L. Jobling resumed in laundry on February Bth. Afiss 1. Gillingham is still on leave. I have to acknowledge with thanks the fol lowing gifts to Hospital: Cream, Airs Sneddon: magazines, Air Afeldrum and Air Blackgrove; flowers from Messrs W. Murray. G. Burrow. Coleu and Cooper, Mesdames Palmer, Topp, Topliss, Hopgood, Bayes, Finlayson, John son, Knight, Paton. Sweetman, Cooper and Webster, the Misses Craig, and SI. John’s Flower Show. /V concert tendered to the inmates of the Old People’s Home by local talent was very niueli appreciated. The House Manager (Mr A. J. Fraser) reported for the month as follows; 'l’he unemployed have been engaged at the usual work. If the fencing of Rewa could be arranged the plot in front of the section could be placed in order. The existing contract for supplies expire on 31st March. 1932, and it is recommended that tenderers be asked to submit tenders for contracts for three months with the exception of coal, the period of the contract for which should remain at 12 months. Authority is asked to purchase six bed tables for the use of patients occupying private rooms. The Visiting Committee reported: A meeting of the Committee* was held on February 18th. Present: Messrs IT. G. Carter (chairman), R. Clarke and Jas. Kvle. The Committee proceeded to Rewa Hospital, where the Afatron’s report wa? read and received. The Committee then proceeded to the Grev Hospital. Arising out of the Matron’s report, the following recommendations were made: That a resolution be passed adopting the Nurses’ and Afidwives’ action re giving applicants for training who have had two years’ secondary education preference to those with primary education. Arising out of the Medical Superintendent’s report the following recommendations were made: That six bedside tables be purchased for the private wards at a cost of approximately £2 each. Sinks for Isolation Block: — That the tender of Messrs R. and T. Burt, Ltd., be cancelled, and Air Fraser obtain quotes with local firms re the purchase of these sinks for isolation ward. The Committee recommended that it be left in the hands of the Medical Superintendent, to arrange for a suitable relieving surgeon to allow hirn to attend the Medical Conference in Auckland, and take his annual leave; that the placing of a cupboard in the corridor rfor instruments for night use be left to the House Manager; that it be left to the Superintendent and Acting-Secretary to reply to the Department re certificate issued by Dr. Swift for Fireman Bone. Re clothing for O.P. Home inmates, it is recommended that quotes and samples be obtained for a suitable washing material, the matter to be left in the hands of Mr Kyle, who will report to next meeting, and clothes urgently required to be purchased by the House Afanager. The matter of rearranging the kitchen staff in the kitchen be left in the hands of the Medical Superintendent and Matron.

Regarding the recommendation that preference be given to nurses applying for training, Mrs O’Brien said she was not in favour of the suggested resolution being passed, as some who obtained their proficiencies and were quite capable could not get the job. Those with two years’ secondary school had precedence. Mr Carter said that there were many on the waiting list, which the Matron considered were totally unsuitable and it was thought it was better left to the Matron. The Chairman said that if applicants were not suitable they should never be put on the list. Applicants interview the Matron and if they were placed on the list and were not suitable, why place them on the list? On the motion of Mr Turley, seconded by Mrs O’Brien, the recommendation of the committee was rejected. All other recommendations in the report were adopted. It was decided to have the House Manager shift back the notice boards

at the Rewa Hospital, so as to allow the owner to erect a fence there. The Westland Hospital Board wrote Stating that regarding the Timbet Workers’ agreement, the conclusion a f the conference should he agreed to. Mr McTaggart said that outpatients at the Hospital were in attendance from early in the morning until the evening, and he thought it time the Board should cater for them, by erecting a waiting-room and also have available for them to purchase K they wished, a cup of tea and some biscuits, as it was not possible for them to go down town whilst waiting their turn. It would not cost the Board anything, and would be greatly appreciated by the outpatients. He thought a sub committee should be set up to go into the question. There was no

place for outpatients to sit down. The Acting-Secretary (Miss K Greaney) said that thirty or fortv outpatients were in attendance on Wednesdays, whilst there were a.' many country patients on Mondays. Mr McTaggart said that there would be nothing wasted, and if outpatients desired to purchase a cup of tea or a biscuit they could do so. One of the girls from the kitchen could come up tor an hour in the mornings ami afternoons. Mr Kyle suggested that a price be obtained for a small building. The • Board might get some private people to take on the rest room ami tea rooms. Mr Barrowman said that the Board’s | provision for outpatients was com- | pletely inadequate, and with winter

coming’ on. they would have to do something. He thought that if anything was done, they should have a respectable building with a fire place in it. On the motion of Mr McTaggart. it was decided that the House Manager and the Superintendent go into the question and report on same to the next meeting of the Board. The Chairman stated that the Board’s charitable aid accounts up to the end of January wore just within the Board’s estimates, and it would b-’ likely that the amount allowed would bo slightly over-expended at the end of the year, as there had been an increase of applicants for charitable aid in the past month. The Board should, however, finish up within £lOO of its estimates.