GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

Grey River Argus, 13 June 1935, Page 6

GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

ORDINARY MEETING. At the monthly meeting ot the Grey Hospital Board last evening*. thei;e were present, -Messrs R. MeTaggart (chairman), J. Mulcare, .1. B. Kent. A. 11. MeKane, A. ]\los-(\v. F. L. Turley, ,T. Smealton and 11. G. Carter. .Apologies for absence were received from Messrs F. Boustridge and A. Robinson.

Pursuant to notice given Air AteKane moved: (1) That the resolution moved by Messrs Turley and Mosley at the meeting of the board on Friday, the 24th instant, “thati the Hospital Committee comprise Messrs Boustridge. Smeaton, Alosley, MeKane, Mulcare and Turley’’ be rescinded. (2) That regulation 85. Section I), of the board’s by-laws be amended to road as follows; ‘‘That the Hospital Committee shall consist of the whoie of the board members.’’ Mr Carter seconded the motion.

Mr Smeaton. speaking in support of the motion, said he thought that he would not be doing the right thing if he did not support the proposal to have all the members of the board <>n the commitiLeo.

Mr Alosley opposed the motion. He fated that he eonsid'ered the business if the board could be con due Icd very iiicientlv hv committees as with

o'her local bodies. Al-.- Arulraro said that/ the Powe?’ Boa.rd and the County Council com niittecs were, comprised of the full personnel, the on?v exception being the Greymouth Borough Council. Mr Kent said it would be regrettable that three of dhe members actuary present had nor the right of questions of the Afatrc r . am' Sii, erintendent, whereas th. • other six

..H iiibcrs, those on 'lbe Hospital Comini’tic. would have this privilege. Air Turley opposed the resolution. Ho considered the committee wou’d be too unwieldly. He considered four members sufficient. Air AlcKane said his motion was ac/uated by commonsense. A threat had been made to him by a mcmbVr that ho would drive him (Air MeKane) Io do things; but he would ifot be driven by anyone. Tf certain motions talked about by Air Turlev were commensense motions, ho iwould support them, and, if not. he would veto them.

The first clause of the motion was carried. Afessrs Turley and Mosley dissenting.

The second chuise of the motion was seconded by Air Carter and carried, Mr Turley dissenting. "i’hV chairman said tin' new ru e would be subject to the sanction of ‘he Di rec,''or Gen oral of Health. A similar notice of motion, by Air Mr' me. was withdrawn. On i lie suggestion of Mr MeKane. it was dimiiled that the board meet •u Ibe second Tuesday of each month and that the eonrmit'tee meetings be he’d on the preceding Alondays.

It was decided that two members be appointed at each monthly me-et-ing as a A'isiting Committee, tin' chairman and Air AlcKane “o act for the ensuing month, with the chairman of the Hospital Committee (Mr Moslev) ex-officio.

Mr Mosley said he would like to get details of the staff of the hospital. showing who were on the stall and <fhe departments the different members were engaged in, and how many there were on the staff. lie moved that the chairman and secretary bring down a report detailing the members of the staff and their duties. 'The motion was seconded by .Mr Al Kane and carried.

.Mr Mosley reported thai‘; a ong iwith the chairman and other members, they had visited the Nurses’ Home, Office and Outpatients Department. There was no occasion for concern regarding the building extensions and alterations at tihe Nurses Home, as 'he contractor had erected an artificial partition to fill the gap in the wa I of the dining room. Tt was considered lhat for hea/ing purposes a double chimney should l)0‘ constructed near the side door of the board loom and office, and the partition removed so as to provide heat for both; whilst it was also considered necessary to build a single chimney in the ou.tpi•lients’ room. It was decided that fenders be called for the erection of the two chimneys, the same committee to deal with them at an early date. The Unemployment! Commissioner wrote asking for information of all bui'dings being erected by charitable, public, or semi-public bodies. The secretary was instructed to supply the information. The Director-General of Health, writing in regard to the 1935-36 os'ima/'cs, suggested that the difference between the value of the new X-ray plant and the old plant be treated as capital expenditure and the balance as maintenance. The Medical Director. Cashmere Sanatorium, wrote suggesting khat a T.B. nurse be employed for district visiting and for attendance on Dr Alacintyrc on his periodical visits. Tr. • his connection, the Matron suggested tha/ Staff Nurse Porter, who has been trained in Cashmere Sanatorium, and has her certificate for T.B. Nursing, he relieved from her ordinary duties on such days as may be* necessary to ’undertake the work required. REPORTS. The Alcdica’. Superintendent, Dr. J. W. Bridgman, reported as follows: — Patients in at beginning of month— Hospital 47 males, 33 females. —Old People’s Home. 36 males, 6 females; ; atients admitted during month —54, 37, —1,0; patients disenarged during month—s 4, 48, —1,0; patients died during month —5, 2 — l, 0; patients remaining at end of month—42. 20. - 35, 6. Radiological Department.— In patients treated 59, out patients treated 25, No. of fihns used 106, No. of exposures 132. Physiotherapy Department. —Tn patients treated 210. out patients treated 180. ultra violet ray 58. Bacteriological Department.— Specimens examined from—in patients 84, out patients 19 private practitioners 6. staff 3. Operating Theatre.— Operations: General 28. genito-urinary 5, gynaecological 8. orthopaedic 8, ear. eye. nose, throat, dental 20. The Matron of Rewa Hosp Mala l reported: Admissions 20 patients births 21. discharged 23 patients and 25 infants.

The ATatron of Grev Hosrf'al ronor'ed: Re Nursing Staff—Nurse J. Burrows reported for duly after sick leave; Nurse Hickey has been granted annual leave; Sister Peart reported for duty on Juno 5. Re Domestic Staff. —J. McDonald reported for duty after annual leave. The nurses have nronosed holding a dance in the United Pavilion on Julv 4 to obtain additional funds for the installation of a wireless s et. Re the collar machine for the laundry.—l would suggest that

if a collar machine cannot be procured, the collars be sent to a laundry for proper finishing. The bedside mats for the maids’ quarters at the O.P.H. have been condemned, and T would ]ike others to replace them. The following was the report of a subcommittee set up at a meeting of the Board on Alay 24 to interview the doctors concerning the supplying of certificates in compensation cases. The committee met on Monday, May 27; present, Alessrs F. 1.. Turley, A. Mosley. A. 11. AlcKane. Dr. Bridgman and Dr. Barrett. After a very full discussion, it was final'v decided tlia't the solicitor to the Hospital Boards’ Association be written to for an authoritative opinion as to what, would be the legal efTeet if an instruction was issued that copies of medical certificates in compensation cases be also

supplied the patient concerned. An interim reply from Air Cunningham has just been received in which he states whether (.1) such a regulation would intra or ultra vires the power of the Board to make; (2) the Alinister would approve such a regulation; and (3) , how far the hospital records arc entitled to be inspected by persons other than the representative of the patient. Air Cunningham states that, as it raises a very important question and as it may affect hospital boards generally, it may take him a liltlo while to look into it thoroughly, but lie .will endeavour to give his final opinion as soon as possible. May Receipts and Payments. The Secretary submitted the follow ing statement relating to receipts and payments for Alay, 1935: Receipts.— Patients’ fees £463 (is 8d; old ago pensions £ll7 2s 6d; miscellaneous receipts— bad debt s £7 8s J Oil. medical certificates £2 Ils 6d: balance c/f E 2252 ISs 4d; total £2843 7s JOd. Pay meats. —1/5/35 bank overdraft £51(1 6s Id; provisions £5lB 13s 10d; surgery and dispensary £135 10s 10d; domestic £351 17s 3d; establishment •8s 3d; salaries and wages £975 4s 7'l; administration £lOO 18 s lOd; chan table aid £156 (is Id; N.P. Fund £l2 2s Id-, total £2843 7s 10(1. Reconciliation Statement. —Cash Book: O/draft 30/4/35 £5lO 6s Id, payments May £2333 Is 9d; total £2843 7s lOd; reieipts £590 9s (id; O/draft 31/5/.”>5 a< per cash book £2252 18s 4d. Pass Book: O/draft 31/5/35 £1695 ISs 7d. add. o/s/ cheques £568 15s 50; total E 2264 14s; deposit in C/book n<*i in P/book £ll 15s 8d; total £2252 ISs 4d. The following Hospital Committee report was presented. The committee met on June 10; present. Alessrs R. McTaggart, F. Boustridge, J. Alulcare. A. Mosley. A. H. AlcKane, .1 Smeaton and F. L. Turley. Air Mosley was elected ehairman of the committee for the ensuing twelve months. The following arc the recommendations: That the Departmental reports be approvi'd; /.hat in connection with the Matron's report it is recommended that the question of procuring a

collar machine be referred to the Finance Committee; that in connection with the scale of charges for X-ray. he secretary bring down a scale of charges for the board's approval; that ten bedside mats for the maids’ quarters be procured; that the recommcn lation of the Afedical Director of Cashmere Sanatorium be. given effect to, and that Staff Nurse Porter, who has had the requisite T.B. training, undertake the work required: that the diet scale for the Nurses’ Home be put into operation for a period of three months and reportl at the end of that period as to its suitability or otherwise; that the resignation of Nurse Petrie be accepted; thru'; the Hospital Committee go into the mat‘er of sick pay for members of the staff amt bring down a report to the board The report was :ulo]Ved. The following F nance Committee report was tabled: Tlie CommitV'ec met on June 10; present. Alessrs R. AlyTaggart, J. Alulcare, IT. G. Carter, J. B. Kent. A. Aloslcv. J. Smeaton, A. fl. M<-Kane F. Boustridge. F. T-. Tur ley. Air AfcTaggart was e’erH’d chairman of the Finance ComiTrfTee f’»i‘he ensuing twelve mon.'hs (Air I urlev opposed resolution). The following are the recommendations of the committee: That accounts amoumting ‘o £835 5s 9d be passed for payment and that accounts amounting to £1824 17s be ratified; that the request of the Returning Offidey for Westland that a room be made available for election purposes towards the end of ‘he vear be agreed to; that the secretary’s action in supplying Ihe hospital ‘-'chenie for Friendly Societies to the Brighter Greymouth Lodge be approved; that the transfer of Hie hoard’s nroper'v in Preston Road 9o the original owne r and statements as per solicitor's letter he approved; that the suggestion of the Director-General of Health Iha*. the difference he'lwcen the value of the new X-ray plant and Hie nld plant- he treated as capital expenditure, he adopted; that Alessrs \V. Watson and Sons and the Dep'al and Afedical Supply Company’s letters ho tabled and brought up when testimonials regarding the tables have been received from the various hospitals; that the report of sub-eommi.‘-tee re certificate.; in compensation eases he approved, and that interim reply from Alessrs Luke, Cunningham and Clero he received, with no further action nonding a full report from ‘he •Lv-pif l Boards’ Association solicitor: 'hat the eha'rman of the Hospital Cnmmi'To and Finance Committee with the secretary of the hoard go into th n matter of heating the Nurses’ Homo during alterations, and also ins‘tal some suitable heating apparatus for the hoard room and outpatients’ department; and that re ambulance rates, the previous schedule of charges he cancelled and that a flat rate of ffil per mi’o. chargeable both ways, bo suhs/’ituted, with a minimum of 7s 6d. The report was adopted.