HAWERA HOSPITAL BOARD.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 15 March 1926, Page 7

HAWERA HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. There were present at the ordinary meeting of the Hawera Hospital Board held this morning Messrs. F. Gillanders (chairman), J. J. Mcldon, A. L. Campbell, J. S. McKay, E. A. Washer, A. Lareom, and E. J. Gifford. NEW HOSPITAL. The architects (Messrs Duffill and Gibson) handed in certificate of progress payments in favour of T. C. Young, £1240 (for buildings) and D. A. Morrfson and Co. £244 (for electric light). They also advised that cover notes were taken out on the building, which would be increased as required. The total paid on building was £51,504 and on electric light £544. REPORTS. From the medical superintendent:— Patients on January 31, 36; admitted during February, 69; discharged, 66; died, 3; remaining, 36; daily average occupied beds, 39; total patient days, 1097; operations, 47; consultations, 2; anaesthetics, 49. X-ray department:— 41 cases, including 26 from hospital; 15 private cases. One case had seven exposures, two had five, four and three respectively, sixteen had two exposures, thirteen one exposure and five Bismuth meal. Massage: —Receiving treatment, (i; new patients, 9; discharged, 5; still receiving treatment, 10; treatments, 155; average per day, 6.4; diathermy, 12. Four of the patients had been more than eight weeks in the hospital. Matron’s report: —Nurse D. Brown has completed her second year’s training and Nurse*M. Smith has passed her first hospital examination. Dr. Stokes has given four senior lectures and the matron four junior lectures. After sick leave granted to Nurse E. Nicholas, she has resumed duty, while Nurse D. Brown is next due to have annual leave. Sister Bretherton has resigned as sister of women’s ward, while Nurse L. Grant has filled the position of nurse in charge of the staff (afternoon) vacated by Nurse Laurie. Nurses Grant and Carmichael are entering St. Helens’ for maternity training, and expect to. be called in June. In consultation with the superintendent, the matron has asked Nurse Carmichael to come on in place of Sister F. Bretherton in charge of women’s ward temporarily, and this has been arranged. Nurses M. Smith, A. Sturroek, E. Nicholson, H. Chatterton, and O. Sorenson have passed physiology and anatomy examinations. Nurses E. Adlam, M. Kime, 0. McCarty and M. Washer are sitting for final “State examination in June. Charitable aid officer:—Visits have been, paid to persons in receipt of aid to the number of twenty and various accounts investigated. Old People’s Home: —Eight men are in the .home. The matron was away

on leave from February 13. During the month the Salvation Army held one service, and its band gave a performance on February 21. Donations were received from Messrs. Elliott and Sturrock : (fruit) , Mrs Hart (papers) and Mrs Travis (Auckland Weekly). Farm manager:—Milk supplied to hospital, 365 gallons; cream, 84 gallons; milk to Old People’s Home, 45$ gallons; vegetables, £1 ss; bacon to hospital, £l4. 15s, and to home, £3 ss. GENERAL. A summary of proceeding? at the second annual conference of the hospital boards was received from the secretary, including a list of resolutions passed at the conference. Advice was received from the medical officer of health that 66 vacancies were open in Pukeora and 18 in Queen MaTy Hospital. The superintendent of the National Provident Fund asked for complete records of alterations in nursing . and clerical staff. The resident medical officer drew attention to the fact that two Coolidge tubes of the X-ray plant were nearing the end of their usefulness, and that he would advise the board to set aside £IOO to cover cost of replacing them in next year’s estimates. An application for probationship was received from Miss E. Roberts (Wellington). Miss M. A. Stringfellow (Greytown) asked for consideration when any vacancy should occur as masseuse. It was stated that at present there was not a vacancy. Correspondence was handed in as sent to the United Friendly Societies’ Assiciation in connection with various members who were owing amounts to the hospital. . . The chairman reported on the visit of Mr Allen, of the department, that a misunderstanding had arisen between the departmental officers and the architects, and he had asked Mr Allen to come up to look into the matter. The scientist at the bacteriological laboratory at New Plymouth reported that during the month 237 tests had been made, and that fees were due totalling £lB. The Director-General of Health wrote referring to expenditure on piano, gramophone records, cinema, etc., stating that the question of how far such expenditure is authorised was being considered. The matter of value of piano or gramophone donated, said the chairman, had come before the Boards’ Association, and it w-as agreed the expenditure had to lie kept within bounds, and that it was not fair to expect the Government to subsidise such amounts to an unlimited extent.. Gifts of great value were given by donors in the citids. The matter will be carefully watched.

The question of accounts due an i their recovery was the subject of coasiderable discussion, and it was agreed that a meeting of the finance committee be held once a month, and -that a statement of amount due by patients be supplied to every such meeting. The resignation of Sister Bretlierton was received and accepted. It was agreed that the date of taking over the hospital by the newly appoinred matron (Miss E. M. Nutsev) be altered to April 16 to enable her to have a holiday after leaving Stratford.