GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

Grey River Argus, 9 February 1938, Page 3

GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING HELD. At the monthly meeting of the Grey Hospital Board last evening, Messrs J. Smeaton (Chairman), J. Mulcare, J. B. Kent, A. H. McKane, J. Kyle, R. McTaggart, A. Robinson and H. G. Carter were present. Apologies for their absence were received from Messrs F. Boustridge and A. Mosley. In reply to the Chairman the Man-aging-Secretary (Mr J. E. A. McKeefry) stated that no further advice had been received from the Health Department regarding the T.B. Block. No doubt the intervention of Christmas had had the effect of causing further delay. The Chairman: Coupled with the fact that all Departments are snowed under.

The House Manager had informed him, stated the Chairman, that the chief chef had resigned. It was decided to call applications for the position, and as it was a matter of urgency in making the appointment, this was left to the Chairman, Secretary and House Manager to deal with it.

The Chairman said that apparently their present chief chef had secured a better position. The salary was £6 a week, and the hours were something in the vicinity of 40 per week. Highly qualified men in the line were able to command better positions in hotels to-day. The following reports were read and adopted:— Hospital:—Operating theatre operations: Decemoer, General 32; Orthopedic 5; Ear, nose and throat 20; dental 2. January: General 23; Orthopedic 7; Ear, nose and throat 40; Dental 5. Radiological Department: December: No. of out patients 14; No. of in patients 40; Films used 63; Exposures 71; Screenings 1. January: No. of out patients 27; No. of in patients 39; Films used 85; Exposures 115; Screenings 2. Bacteriological Department, December: Hospital examinations 1'20; out patients 13; other -hospitals 7; miscellaneous 20. January: Hospital examinations 135; out patients 15; other hospitals 24; miscellaneous 17. Physiotherapy Department: December: In patients 204; out patients 194; Ultra Violet Ray 12. January: In patients 216; Out patients 103; Ultra Violet Ray 9. Medical Superintendent: December: Patients in at beginning of month Hospital 45 males, 33 females; Old People’s Home 36 males, 4 females; Patients admitted during month Hospital, 69 males, 47 females; Patients discharged during month, Hospital, 67 males, 51 females; Patients died during month, Hospital, 4 males, 1 female; Patients remaining, Hospital, 51 males, 27 females. Old People’s Home, 36 males, 4 females. January: Patients in at beginning of month, Hospital 51 r males, 27 females. Old People’s Home 36 males, 4 females. Patients admitted during month, Hospital, 74 males, 60 females. Patients discharged during month, 46 males, 62 females; Patients died during month, Hospital 4 males, 1 female. Patients remaining, Hospital: 53 males, 25 females. Old People’s Home: 36 males, 4 females. Rewa Hospital:—December: Admissions 20, births 12, discharged 23, remaining 13. January: Admissions 28, births 28, discharged 3, remaining 7.

Matron, Grey Hospital: Nursing Staff; Commenced annual leave, Sister Becker, Nurses Scott, Shannahan, Bradley, Johnston, Nursing Aid Mrs Mason. Returned from annual leave: Sister Becker, Nurses Scott, McGlashan, Nursing Aid, Mrs Mason. Sickness-Nurse McGlashan one week on recommendation of Dr. Bennett (Medical Superintendent, Nelson Hospital), Nurse Callan off duty 12 days. Trial probationer, L. Buttress 18 days. Nurse Thompson 46 days. Nurse Hughes 3 days. These have all commenced duty. Trial probationer, E. Galpin 9 days. Terminated duties—Sister O’Meara, January 31. Sister Becker, January 18. Staff Nurse Daly, December 29. Staff Nurse Burrows, December 19. Probationers Horan, Walker, M. Wilson, L. Duffy, Y. Brown. Sister Mannex who was relieving on the staff terminated duties on December 29. Sister O’Meara was granted six days’ leave during December to visit her sister in Christchurch. Sisters Leach and I. Gibbs were relieving on the staff during December and commenced temporary. The following commenced in the trial probationers' class duty in the wards: —C. Blundell, L. Colen, W. Campbell, W. Robinson, M, Park and C. Byrne. Nurse E. Rowe commenced duty as second year nurse (recommended by the Registration Board.) State Examinations: The following are the marks for the Nurses who sat for their State Examinations in December—V. Callan (pass) ‘Medical (possible) 100—obtained 50, Surgical 52 per cent. Nursing 56. H. Johansen (pass with honours) Medical 93, Sergical 70, Nursing 75. L. Scott (pass) Medical 50, Surgical 50, Nursing 51. The significance of a pass with honours will be seen in the fact that only six nurses in New Zealand obtained honours, two in Auckland, two in Wellington, one in Dunedin, and one in Greymouth. Trial Probationers Bell, Parkinson and Shepnerd passed their three months’ examination and are recommended for further training. Resignation received from Probationer L. Buttress. Nurses McGlashen and Simons, passed their twelve months’ examination and are recommended for further training. AU nurses have been given one extra day’s leave during this month. Recommended by myself and Dr. Bennett, Sister Wood be appointed Ward Sister instead of Night Sister (her own request). Sister D. Cambridge of Nelson Hospital as Night Sister. This Sister was recommended to apply by Miss Lambe, and has previously been in Palmerston North Hospital Her training was in Timaru, where she held a Staff Nurse’s position and later was. afternoon Superintendent there. She has her general and maternity certificates Also recommended that Nurse Callan and Nurse Johansen be appointed Stait Nurses. I nave received a lette from Nurse Dowling, who had been given leave for health reasons The letter was from Papeete, Tahiti, and dated November 17th, stating she was unable to get away from that. place until the next steamer on February 2nd, owing to other sailings being cancelled. I wrote to her, after consultation with your chairman, ex tending her leave until return Domestic Staff —Commenceu annual leave: S. Kenning, L Amory, J Honey, R. Kyle, J; Glynn (maids). M Kelly (laundress). Returned from annual Rave: S. Kenning L_ Amory, and J Honey. Relieving. E. CiarK, Christina Russell (from timber 17th to January 3rd) Mrs Gilmore in laundry. N. Baird was granted one week’s leave with-

out pay. Sickness: M. Buckman, 25 days, has returned to duty. J. Glynn 12 days. Resignation: M. Phillips terminated December 18th. M. Stacey recommended as wardsmaid in place of M. Phillips. M. Buckman to replace M. Phillips in Nurses’ Home. I recommend that Miss A. Grundy and M. Kelly be kept on in their present positions in the laundry. A successful dance was held in the Nurses’-, Home on January sth, in aid of tne Hospital Tennis Club. I wish to thank the following:' Boustridge & Hall for cordial; Snow Flake Ice Cream Co. for ice cream; Mayfair for decorations for wards; Harker's for balloons and decorations; Girl Guides, Kumara, for toys for children; Josephine Claire for a Red Indian doll; The Brownies, for gifts for children; Mrs Oliver, Mrs Hughes, Mrs Shapcott, West Coast Florist Company, Miss Craig, and Mrs Howson, for flowers; for books for patients, Mr Ellis, Mr James, Mr McKenzie, Miss McDonald, Mrs McLennan, Mr H. Smith, Mrs Simmons. Books for nurses, Mr James, Mr Inkster and M r H. Smith. Further gifts were received from Mr Meldrum (donation to Tennis Club); Mr Brayner, donation to Nurses’ Christmas cheer 10s; Mr Arthur, box of cherries; The Civic and Municipal Bands, for playing at the Hospital on two occasions; the St. Vincent De Paul Society for a concert palty at the Old People’s Home; Mr Duffy for a concert in the Hospital on January 18th. Those were much enjoyed by both patients and staff. The Nurses’ Library now contains ninety-three books. A purchase made from the funds of the dance held last June, was that of two lunch boxes suitable for picnicking, these have proved very popular. The Visiting Committee, Messrs J. Mulcare,' R. McTaggart and A. Mosley, reported that it met on January 28th. Mr R. B. Smith met the Committee and complained that urgent and necessary work, which he stated was needed, at Rewa Hospital, had not been carried out. After hearing he and the House Manager (Mr Fraser), it was resolved on the motion of Mr Mulcare that the matter be referred to the House Manager for attention—he to report to the Chairman, Visiting Committee before the date of the next meeting. It is evident from the discussion that Mr Smith is in possession of information of Happenings at Commitee meetings and if possible, the person or persons responsible for divulging information of this nature should be dealt with accordingly. A visit was made to the additions to the Nurses’ Home and work there is proceeding satisfactorily in view of the difficulty the contractor is experiencing in consequence of the shortage of carpenters. As none of the executive officers had any matters to bring before us we can assure everything is going along satisfactorily. Since the Committee met, complaints have been received by me from two residents in Shakespeare Street and one in High Street regarding the smoke and soot nuisance from the boiler house chimney and it is imperative that this matter should be fully investigated and a remedy effected if at all possible. The report was adopted and it was decided to ask the House Manager to submit an estimate of the cost of repairing spouting and down pipe at the Rewa Hospital. The Hospital Committee in its report, extended its congratulations to successful nurses at the recent examinations. It was recommended that further application be made to the Department for approval to a suggestion that the Night Sister be granted two weeks’ leave after six months’ continuous service in addition to annual leave of four weeks at the end of twelve months’ service. The report of the Sub-Committee on work considered necessary at the Nurses’ Home and Sanitary Annexes of the Hospital was brought down by the Chairman, and it is recommended that the work outlined be placed on the estimates for the ensuing financial year, details of the scheme to be submitted to the Health Department for the necessary Ministerial approval. The report was adopted. The Director of Maternal Welfare wrote, , advising the awarding of £3,500 damages to a patient who had contracted puerperal fever and advising the Boards to see that adequate precautions are adopted to prevent any occurrence, in New Zealand.— It was decided to convey the contents of the letter to the Matron, Rewa Hospital. The Director-General of Health advised in reply to the Board’s application, that the Department is of the opinion that extra leave of one week in addition to the annual leave of one month should be sufficient leave for the Night Sister, and suggested the framing of a suitable amendment to By-law 6, Sub-Clause B. The Chairman, Christchurch Central Council, Federation of Health Camps, wrote, enclosing copy of minutes of the meeting of the Advisory Board at Wellington, and advising that a further meeting will take place as soon as the Director-Gener-al of Health had an opportunity of visiting districts in which it was proposed to establish permanent Health Camps. The letter was received. Accounts amounting to £1,309 5s Id were passed for payment. Accounts paid amounting to £3,663 19s sd, were ratified. The Under-Secretary, Department of Internal Affairs wrote giving extracts from legislation passed during last session, affecting local bodies. The Secretary was instructed to obtain a copy of the Physical Welfare and Recreation Act, 1937, and the special reference to Section 11., which authorises the making of grants towards the expenses of Local Authorities in providing facilities for physical training, etc. The Secretary, New Zealand Standards Institute wrote forwarding annual report of the New Zealand Standards Institute, including specifications of the most efficient and economic commodities, materials, equipment and practises. The report was received. A further letter from the J. B. Ford Company, re. a trial of their products was received, but no further action, taken. Quotation was received from Taylor’s Ltd., for the supply of an Iron Fireman Mechanical Stoker, at a cost of £155. After a discussion, it was recommended that the matter be left in the hands of the Chairman to endeavour to have the nuisance overcome before considering the purchase of mechanical stokers. The Director-General of Health forwarding a report of the Department’s Inspecting Architect on the hospital buildings, and listing a number of repairs which he considered necessary. It was recommended that the work be put ip hand and a price > obtained for same from the contractors for the new buildings. Mr G. Brown applied fop extension of leave of absence until June, 1938.