GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

Grey River Argus, 12 May 1943, Page 2

GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Grey Hospital Board was held last evening. Mr J. B. Kent presided and there were also present Mrs C. K. Eroad, Messrs J. Smeaton, W. Fisher, F Oakley, A. Mosley, J. Mulcare, H. G Carter, J. F. Laing, the secretary (Mr J. E. A. McKeefry), also the Matron (Miss Moffatt) 1 and > *he Medical Superintendent (Dr D. M. Two applications received for the position of Chief Surgeon at the hospital were referred to a sub-com-mittee consisting 'of the _ chairman, the secretary and the Medical Superintendent, with power to act. The secretary reported on the successful appeal of the Chief Surgeon (Dr Arnott) against the Manpower Officer's direction that he remain in the Hospital Board s employ As no application had been received for the position at that date the Director-General of Health was telephoned and in reply stated that he had communicated with the North Canterbury Hospital Board asking that one of the board’s staff be released to assist the Grey Hospital until a permanent appointment could be made. Mr Mosley said that he thought the time was appropriate to express appreciation of the work done by the Medical Superintendent (Dr Logan) at the hospital. Some of the public Had had no idea of the work he had done till it came out in the press after Dr Arnott’s appeal. He thought that the whole board appreciated that work for the hospital and the public generally. Other members of the board expressed similar views. Ministerial approval was forwarded by the Director-General of Health to extensions to the Nurses’ Home kitchen at an estimated cost of £5325.

The secretarj’ said that the contract was ready to be signed. The secretary of the Hospital Boards' Association wrote regarding honoraria, advising that the Commissioner of Taxes has decided to allow the same concession as the mayors, and the chairmen of harbour boards.

The secretary’s report on his visit to Wellington in connection with the appointment of a new surgeon at the hospital stated’ Owing to the Minister having to be present at a conference, the chairman and secretary were unable to interview him until 9 a.m. on Thursday morning The deputation was introduced by Mr. O’Brien. The chairman in addition to presenting the Minister with a written precis of matter leading uo to the position with which the Board was now faced, also pointed out that, but for the prior request from the Department, Dr. Arnott would probably not have applied for the position, and considered that the Minister and his Department should therefore accept responsibility for providing a chief surgeon. The whole question was ' thoroughly discussed and finally the Minister gave an assurance that he would do all that was possible, even to releasing a man from the Army to take up the position for the duration. That afternoon the secretary interviewed the Director-General Dr. Watt, and Dr. McNicol and the secretary of th e Department. It appeared from the conversation that the department had been' misinformed to some degree regarding the position in Hokitika and Greymouth, the statement have been made, which was perfectly true, that there were nine doctors in the Grey district whereas there were only two in Westland. It was pointed out however, with the exception of Dr. Logan none of the other Doctors performed anv major surgery. The DirectorGeneral was informed of the interview with the Minister and he promised to keep in close touch with tlie and also to help to the best of his ability. The secretary, North Canterbury Hospital Board, wrote advising that in future quarterly settlement of accounts was required. It was decided to write again drawing attention to representations which the Board had made regarding the admission of West Coast patients, pointing out that the Grey Hospital had surgeons with only the highest degrees, and say in that the fact that simple cases such as tonsils and adenoids had been admitted at Christchurch was proof-that the Board’s requests had been ignored. Mr. Smeaton moved a resolution-of which he had previously given notice, that the resolution of February 11 1941, that each third meeting of the Board be held in the afternoon to enable Board members to inspect the hospital and that this meeting be held on the Saturday following the second Tuesday of the month, be rescinded. He said that his reason for moving the resolution was that two members Of the Board would be disfranchised i£ the proposal to hold Saturday afternoons meeting were carried out. So far as he was personally concerned he had no feelings on the matter. The resolution was carried.

A notice of motion standing in Mr. Laing’s name was v:\Lidrawn with the permission of.the meeting, and he moved that a visiting committee meet quarterly, the first meeting to b e held next month. Alter some discuss’?::, in which Mr. Mulcare expressed the view that the members of the Board should not be called together as a visiting committee unless they could also meet as a board, the resolution was carried, Mr. Mulcare and Mr. Fisher recording their votes against it. Mrs. Broad, the chairman, and Mr. Laing were appointed a visiting committee for next month.

The Board gave authority for the Writing off of stores broken and unfit for further use amounting to £149 16s 4d and new issues amounting to £l3B 7s Idd for the quarter ended March 31„

Payment of accounts amounting to £5,834 OS 7d was notified. Thanks were expressed to the Municipal and Pipe Bands for playing at the hospital, and to Miss Craig for flowers. The Matron expressed thanks to ex-patients for gifts to the Maternity Annexe of flowers, two vases, and material for nursery curtains.

The Medical Superintendent presented the following reports for April;— Patients remaining at end of March; M 56, F 42; (M 19, F 3); Patients admitted during month; M 69, F 54; (Ml, F nil); Patients discharged during month: M 53, F 47; (M nil, F nil),; Patients died during month: M 4, F 3; (M nil. F. nil); Patients remaining end of April: M 67, F 45; (M 23. F 2). Operating theatre; General 38; Orthopaedic ID'; E.E.N.T. 8; Dental 6.

Physiotheraphy department: In patients 247; out patients 315. Bacteriological department: Hospital exams. 142; O.P.D. 28; Other hospitals 18; Miscellaneous 84. Radiological Department: No. of patients X-rayed 59; No. of out patients X-rayed 40; Films used 132; Exposures 183; Screenings 2. Maternity Annexe: Remaining March 31: Patients 15. infants 14; Admitted during April, patients 30, infants 29; Confinements 28: Births 29: Remaining at end April, patients

17, infants 15; Ante-natal attendances 116. The report added: The Matron desires to again draw the Board’s attention to the lack of bedrooms in the Nurses’ Home. The maternity nurses’ sitting room lias room for only six chairs and there are eleven nurses. The trial probationer class is on, and on this occasion as well as thp last, some of the class are living at home until room is available for them.