HOSPITAL AFFAIRS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 14 August 1929, Page 6

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS.

I’.VTKA BOA I IT) .MOOTS. There were present at the monthly meeting of the Patea, Hospital Board yesterday Messrs C. R. Honeyfichl (chair), ,J. Lupton, R. J. Watt, R. S. Seown, W. Back. O. Johnston, W. H. Watkins. The medical superintendent (Dr. Simmons) reported for the month that there were 28 patients in hospital on July 1. 28 had been admitted, and 29 discharged. leaving 27 in Die hospital at July 31. The matron reported that Nurse I-rw.in had resigned! on account of illheailth. Nurse Sotmdy was off duty on account of sickness. Scarlet fever cases were still comingin to the hospital, there feeing at present seven in isolation.

CHILTXRJE/N S S AVARD. In connection with the plans for the new children’s ward, the medical superintendent, andi Mr J. A. Duff ill (architect) waited on the hoard to discuss the question and to endeavour to come to some iinaility in regard to the erection oif the (building. Mr Puffilll said that the 'board should use every effort to secure the whole of the ward accommodation with the verandah room because of the certainty that there would be, an increase in the number of patients and that the whole of the (building as planned would be required l . He suggested that a deputation should be sent to AVelliugton to discuss the matter with the department. The; medical superintendent emphasised the need for all the ward room possible, ate well as the verandah. The board decided that the chairman. Dr. Simmons and Mr Puffil! should secure the co-operation of Mr H. G. Dickie, M.P. for Pate a, and thoroughly discuss the matter with the department’s officials at AVellington, pointing out the need for proceeding with the work during the summer months.

GENERAL. The visiting committee stated that there were few matters to report and that everything was id good order at the hospital. Repairs were necessary to spouting and- these were left to the chairman to arrange. The chairman reported that the new operating table had -been received and erected and was in every way up-to-date. The resignation qf Nurse- Irwin was received with regret. Mesrs Back and Watson were elected a. visiting committee for the coming month. lii connection with hospital taxation the chairman stated recent agitations luad been nualde by local bodies. Many considered the present system inequitable, hut he had not .noticed any new scheme put forward. The Patent Freezing Works Employees’ Union advised that its members were -contributing Gd each a week to cover hospital -maintenance of any employee admitted. Would the existing arrangement continue P The hoard agreed! to Jet the present arrangementsstand for six months mind then to- review the .position. OPERATION FEES. The question of the increase over a period- of years in tin*- cost of anaesthetics was raised by the chairman, who said a, committee had been set up to investigate the posit ion. In 1923-2-1 the cost bald been £lB4 lGs; 3924-25, £lsl 4s; 1925-20, £26S lGs 9d; 192 G-27, £258 6s; 1927-28, £369 15s Gd; 1928-29. C3OS il ls. “It is evident from those figures," said the chairman, “that the outside doctors are getting more than our own doctors." The board, had two isugges-t-ion-s to consider. Firstly, that it pays flu* present, rate but add 10s Gd an hour after the first operation, and secondly, that it pays £l5O a. year with the hospital doctor to w.ork in conjunction. j.t was decided to adopt the first proposal, that the doctor receive £2 2s for the first operation up to an hour and 10s Gd for every half hour afterwards. | It was decdd-act to increase the medical ( officers’ salary by £SO per annum. )