HAWERA HOSPITAL BOARD

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 16 September 1924, Page 4

HAWERA HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. / v

At the ordinary meeting, held yelterday, there were present: Messrs F. Gillanders (chair), G. W. Tayler, J\; Jl Meldon, A. L. Campbell, A. T. Willi, E. A. Washer, J. S. McKay, arid E.

J. Gifford. The secretary (Mr C. M. Haggett) was present. i

REPORTS. Medical Superintendent. The report submitted showed that; during the month 78 patients were ad--mitted, four died, and 65 discharged; leaving 65 in the hospital. The daily "; tally of occupied beds was 52.87, arid; daily average for first five months was 56.6. Operations totalled 30, and anaesthetics cases were 38. Of X-ray cases 27 were treated, 19 hospital and eight private ! cases. Of inasshg® patients 10 were admitted for treatment and nine cases discharged, nine still remaining under treatment. In regard fo X-ray fees, notice of motion was given in reference to an alteration in method to be adopted. Reporting on the initiation of the honorary medical staff system, inaugurated. two months ago, the Ule.dica] superintendent said it had proved perfectly satisfactory. Secretary. Ir; regard to excess electric light, he made a recommendation that economy could be secured in the use of the electric irons, and suggested consideration' of .the installation of power, points- for * use of these irons. The sisters entered into-possession of the new. cottage ;at the -: beginning of , the month, arid plied. Miss I. Rigg has been arinpinted typiste in place of Mrs Twaddle, resigned. Complaints in regard 'to feeding and also. X-ray treatment were investigated by a sub-committee consisting of the chairman and Messrs Campbell and Wills. •The question of electric -power for . ® irons used by the nurses was considered, and after consultation with the matron a suggestion to try to instal a scheme for taking power ' from the laundry was made, to come up at next ordinary meeting. _ln regard to the enquiry re food supPh®d to patients, a general , discussion took place in committee, and on resurning it was resolved that the report be received, the result proving that no complaint made against the supply of the patients could be upheld. Campbell, said it was good . for members to • take. a practical interest m the internal working of the hospital.

, Matron. , Tfie matron reported as follows: Sister Nelson , has commenced her second year as theatre sister. Nurses Sage, Murphy, Lawrie, O’Dowd, Faragher’ Carmichael; Grant and, PAifitt passed cooking examinations with credit. Lectures were given ,to seniors by Dr. 1 homson , aritj. ; jUniors by matron, and exammation papers by " Dr. Sinclair, lhe superintendent recommended six months’ leave to -Nurse- Connery, and tpe board Were asked to discuss the question of salary during this 1 time Siste.r-Nelson and- Nurse Faragher are on holiday leave, and Nurses O’Dowd and Murphy go off next week. Several. applications for position , as- probationers have been received. It was decided to grant Nurse Connery six months’ sick leave on half pay. The- doctor reported that the nurse could not . hope to get back .to work before the expiration of that period... _ ~ ' Leave of absence, for three, weeks on tull pay was granted to Miss B.’-Wood, housemaid, who has- been; eight, years > tw ™e_hospital service.- It ,was stated.; - . she had - done good service,- arid U-isfied to go home to Her people in North Auckland.

I GENERAL. The necessity of careful scrutiny of ‘ accounts was mentioned by the chair- ■ man, who said the half-hour befdre the meeting was insufficient in, view of the increase in number and amount. He considered that the Finance Committee should arrange to give more tune to: the business. It was arranged fchat the and Messrs Wills and W asher meet earlier to clear the accounts before the meeting. Mr J. A. Diiffill was present at the meeting, find submitted a report on the progress of works under their con- ' troJ. The plans for the ’new hospital, he said, would be completed at . the e S xv September, and it was suggested that a special meeting of the board :held for the purpose of adopting the-plans or otherwise. It was arranged that a special meeting be held on Saturday, ‘October 4, ■ P- m -> to go thoroughly into the plans and \ finally approve them. Mr Cnehtonvdf Wellington, and Mr Dufhll, of Hawera, will be present at the meeting. It was stated by the chairman that two patients who had previously been in several other hospitals were complimentary in their reference to their treatment in .the Hawera Hospital, a PP of the attention paid to them while in, the hospital. Accounts were passed for payment, and the board adjourned.