GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

Grey River Argus, 14 February 1940, Page 12

GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. Mr H. G. Carter (chairman) presided at the monthly meeting of Grey Hospital Board e ning. There were also present Messrs JSmeaton, A. Robinson, J. Mnicare, R. McTaggart, J. B. Kent, A . Kane, J. F. Laing and Q. C. Joyce An apology for absence 'was received from Mr A. Mosley. Departmental reports were adopt ed as follows: — .. . . Medical Superintendent: Patients at end of November, Hospital, bo males, 35 females; admitted, 57 males 52 females; discharged 68 males, 58 females; died, 5 males, 1 female; remaining at end of December, 39 males, 28 females; admitted during January, 63 males, 43 femaids; discharged, 5b males, 38 females; died, 2 males, 1 female; remaining at end of January 45 males, 32 females. Maternity Ward: Patients admitted in December, 40; discharged 37; births, 39; admitted during January 20; discharged 24; ante-natal attendances 28; remaining at end of January 19. Operating Theatre, December, General 47, E.E.N.T. 22, Orthopaedic 13, dental 2; January, General 32, E.E.N.T. 22, Orthopaedic 4, dental 4. Physiotherapy Dept, December, in. patients, treated 206, out patients treated 192, U.V.R. 65; January, in patients treated 286, out patients treated 116; U.V.R. 19. Bacteriological Department, December, hospital examinations 108, out patient examinations 19, other hospitals 5, miscellaneous 41. January, Hospital examinations 99, out patient examinations 10, other hospitals 5, miscellaneous 33. The Matron (Grey Hospital) reported that in the State Final Examina 1 - tions, Nurses Revell O’Grady and Hughes passed with good marks. In the State Preliminary a full pass was secured by Nurses Allan, Clark, McGuigan and M. O’Grady, and partial passes by Nurses McAulay, Burke, Croft and Mulcare. There were three failures. Thanks were extended to Mr Forbes for concert in hospital; St. John’s Kindergarten for books and toys; John Burns and Co., sweets for children; West Coast Florists and Miss Craig for flowers. The congratulations of the board were ex- ■ tended to those nurses who had been successful in the State Final and ’ Preliminary examinations. The Director General of Health ' advised that the course for 1940 will ’ begin on the 23rd February and that ’ in addition to “Public Health Nurs- ‘ ing” and “Hospital Administration” a third subject will be "Social Work.” 3 The Director General also advised 1 that in view of the increased cost of ' board and lodgings it was recommended that the bursary of £BO pre--1 viously paid to post graduate students be increased to £lOO. The re--1 quest was granted. ' The Director General of Health advised that as a result of the meeting lof hospital matrons prior to Christfmas it was decided that the names of nurses volunteering for active serj vice would be submitted to the matrons of the various hospitals, who would make recommendations as to who could best be relieved from the staff. Referred to matron for action when necessary. The Director General of Health, B wrote suggesting that in view of the shortage of nurses, hospital boards be recommended to waive their practice of not employing married nurses and that if necessary they be grant--1 ed living out -allowance; also that in the case of pupil nurses, who * marry-before terminating their training, they be encouraged to complete - same provided that the husband is 1 leaving on active service.—lt was des elded to advise that the recommendations were acceptable to the board. The House Manager reported that 1 Messrs Vale and Co., advised that the work of installing the automatic stokl» ers would be commenced at the end of February. The Matron and House 5 Manager were instructed to inquire into ways and means of handling the hospital laundry and to obtain prices for doing work from laundries in Christchurch and report to the next e meeting, and were empowered to take any steps they consider necessary to meet the situation in the meantime. The Minister of Public Works is to be asked to have expedited the remedying of defects in the new buildings.

The report of the Finance Committee stated that at the meeting on Monday, there .were present: Mr H. G. Carter (chairman), Messrs J. B. Kent, J. F. Laing, A. Mosley O. C. Joyce, R. McTaggart, A, Robinson and J. Smeaton, and the following were the recommendations of the committee: That accounts paid, amounting to £5545 19s sd, be ratified; that the Hospital Boards’ Association be informed the board is treating those of the staff who enlist for active service in accordance with the decision of the New Zealand Local Bodies’ Association. The Director General of Health advised that Collectors of Customs are being authorised to grant applications from hospital boards for licences to import crockery. Mr J. O’Brein, M.P., forwarded a letter from the Minister of Customs covering the board’s representations re mosquito netting. The Director General of Health advised that monetary benefits received by boards in respect of beneficiaries in institutions be brought into account in the financial books of boards. The Director General forwarded a ruling as to payment from the Social Security Fund of patients who obtain leave of absence from an institution maintained by a hospital board, and also outlined the position as regards contributions to patriotic funds. It was agreed that in the event of any aide being engaged on the staff, the secretary immediately take the necessary action to have the board fully covered by insurance. Mr J. Bunt’s offer to let a flat to the board was declined and the chairman and Messrs McTaggart and Kent and the House Manager were appointed a committee to arrange for preparations of plans for a residence for the doctor and empowered to determine the site upon which such residence shall be erected and the roof of the doctor’s present residence be painted. Messrs Laing and McTaggart were appointed visiting members for the month of March. The report was adopted. The report of the Visiting Committee was adopted as follows: The visiting committee (Messrs J. Smeaton and A. Mosley) visited the hospital on February 7. Mr J. B. Kent was unavoidably absent. The T.B. block is progressing satisfactorily and presents a pleasing appearance. We are hopeful it will be possible to open and occupy this new block in March.

A start has not yet been made with ( the installation of the automatic stoker and the House Manager is making enquiries regarding the delay. The laundry building and equipment requires early and serious con- ; sideration by the board as the present facilities are totally inadequate for the purpose of the hospital. The Nurses’ Home kitchen, work is held up owing to the difficulty of securing j a bricklayer. Leaks in the new build- j ings are still a source of annoyance I and worry. Water is trickling, down the south wall inside room No. 3 of I O’Brien Ward, and there are still I several' bad leaks in the new lecture ; room at the Nurses’ Home. Numer-1 ous complaints to the proper authorities have been made by the board’s officers regarding these, but the results of such complaints are far from satisfactory. A vigorous pro-j test should be lodged by the board to j finalise this matter. i DONATIONS TO HOSPITAL. j The chairman said that he wished, on behalf of board members to ex-| press thanks for the manner in which | the people and businessmen had | made donations to the hospital pati-1 ents’ Christmas Cheer Fund. As far 1 as circumstances allowed, Christmas I at the hospital had been most enjoy- > able for the patients. He wished also ! to refer to the presentation of two chairs made • by the Greymouth Enginedrivers’, Firemen’s and Cleaners’ Association of the railwayrfien. The association had thought that the treatment given its members at various times should be appreciated, and they had made their gift, which spoke well for the service the board’s staff was giving. He also wished to thank the Greymouth Toe H. Committee for a similar donation. They also prOfg posed to establish a circulating library at the hospital, and n place had been arranged for the books, which would be distributed by committee members. Harley and Co. had also donated chairs to the wards and the board was deeply grateful for the gifts. Since Christmas the Petrie and Hannan Wards had been renovated, and Hannan Ward was now being occupied as the children’s ward. For this ward, the board had received some fine donations, particularly from Runanga and other places. He understood that a Cobden committee intended to offer beds and equipment. Now that the children’s ward had been established, the board hoped that the lead given would be followed by other organisations. The new Hannan Block, comprising the O’Brien and Maternity Wards had now been occupied, and the Maternity Ward had already been fairly well patronised. This meant that they could now establish a school for the training of nurses to complete their studies. The new matron had expressed herself as being very pleased with the appointments, and had assured him that the ward compared very favourably with any other in New Zealand. He trusted that the board members would be satisfied with the wards, and with the manner in which the staff had carried out its duties. Other members supported the chairman s remarks of thanks for the gifts made. b