HAWERA HOSPITAL BOARD

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 20 February 1933, Page 7

HAWERA HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING HELD. GENERAL BUSINESS AND REPORT'S. Members present at the monthly meeting of the Haver a Hospital Board to-day were Messrs J. S. McKay (chairman),’ B. J. Gifford, W. G. Simp- 1 son, A. E. Washer, T. A. Wink's, A.. La,room, A, Kemp and E. Gillanders. The medical superintendent (Dir. J. Cairney) and managing-secretary (Mr. C. Harrison) also- were in attendance. With reference' to a further extension of the board’s building account loan the finance oofnniittee’s recommendation that the chairman and Mr. Winks proceed to Wellington to interview tlie general manager of the Bank of New Zealand was adopted. Mr. Winks remarked 1 that it would assist the ratepayers over a very difficult period if payment of the loan could be postponed. He did not doubt but that the Government would welcome a postponement to obviate payment of its share, namely ._ £4OOO. From the point of view of the banks the loan was a satisfactory investment. Mr. Campbell suggested that while the deputation was in Wellington an endeavour should be made* to obtain a reduction in interest to five per cent. The chairman: There are rumours •of a possible reduction in the bank rate of interest. The Department of Health advised that from April I the control of the Otaki, Sanitarium for female tuberculosis patients would be taken over by the Palmerston, North 'Hospital Board. Letters were received from the Wairarapa and Waikato Hospital Boards asking whether the Hawera. Board would he prepared to enter into a reciprocal arrangement in connection with the payment of hospital maintenance fees incurred by individuals domiciled in the respective districts and who receive treatment in the hospitals controlled by the respective hoards. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. Simpson seconded by Mr. Gillanders, that the request be acceded to and that other hoards be written to ok the same subject. Mr. Kemp referred, to the number of unemployed passing through Eltham and the appeals made for assistance. On behalf of the Mayor of Eltham (Mr I. J. Bridgor) he inquired whether it would be possible for the board to donate a stretcher or tvo for a shelter to be provided in the town. On the suggestion, of the chairman, Mr. Kemp said he would discuss the matter with Mr. Bridger with the ob- v ject of procuring the services of some organisation to : ,tak©‘ change of the shelter. In the event of suitable premises being obtained for that purpose it was decided by the board to pay tlie same subsidy as that received by those in charge of the Hawera shelter, namely, l.s per bed occupied per night. On the recommendation of the finance committee the board agreed to the suggestion of the Cut Elate Providers Ltd., of Hawera, to charge goods affected by the- rise in exchange at the invoice cost and to vary its con*tract accordingly. t SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. , -• y" • In liis report for January the medical superintendent (Dr. J. Cairney) stated that 47 patients remained in hospital at the end of December and 80 were admitted in January. Eightytwo patients were discharged and 45 remained at the end of the month. The daily average of occupied beds for January was 49.2, and ' for the past 10 months 61.6, compared with 69.2 for the corresponding period last year. The daily average of occupied beds to each member of the nursing staff was 2.14. A total of 19 hospital and six private N-ray eases were dealt with during the month. In the physiotherapeutic department 14 cases remained from December and 18 new cases were admitted during January. Fourteen patients were discharged and 18 were still receiving attention. A total of 302 treatments were given—an average of 13.8 per day. In the outpatients’ department 121 patients were admitted during the month, when 406 treatments were given. , 'j DOMESTIC MATTERS. ■ The matron (Miss C_ Hunter) reported that Nurses Hatton, Cottier, ■ Canned and Preston have returned from leave and Nurse Foden has had four days off from the Isolation Ward. Sister Davies arrived on January 31 and commenced her duties as sister of ward 1 on February 1. Probationers called up were Misses Fyfe, Langman, Apps and Wheeler, and all had commenced their preliminary three months’ training. An application for training was received from Miss Joan Cornelia O’Dwyer (Manga weka) and was submitted for approval.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Sir. AI. Smith) re-' ported that the steam laundry machinlery was in good working order, with the exception of the hydro extractor, which showed signs of wear on the main spindle. A new liner had been fitted, and this would serve as a bushing for a few months. The heating system in the administration block had been tried out and all radiators heated up satisfactorily. There still remained a few minor alterations to the pipe lines, also a considerable amount of “lagging” to be done. This was being proceeded with. The engineer said he was taking charge of all the bricks at the Old People’s Home, as they would be required under the

kitchen and administrative blocks to prevent the earth falling into the trenches along the pipe lines. ’ FARM AND GROUNDS. The farm manager (Mr. H. J. Webber) reported that 518 gallons of milk, 33 pints of cream, 1791b 1 -bacon' and 931 b pork were supplied to the hospital; and three gallons-of milk daily and 361 b bacon to the Old People’s Home during the month. The value of this produce was estimated at £42 19s 3d. and in addition 31641 b of cream were supplied to the factory. There were 15 cows still on hand (12 in milk and three dry), four heifers, three* calves and one bull. There were' 29 pigs on hand at the beginning of tlie -month, three had been killed (two for bacon arid- one for pork), and three young sows sold (two at 54 guineas each and one at £2 10s). A litter of eight'had been born and there were 31 still- on. hand. The third cut of lucerne was made into bay at the beginning of the month and he was cutting a load per day for green feed. The hospital porter (Mr. L. Lay)' reported that 100 dozen eggs and 13 fowls were supplied front the grounds,the value of the produce being - estimated at £8 8s 9d. OLD PEOPLE’S HOME,

The master of the Old People’s Home (Sir. J. Mitchell) reported that there were 17 inmates, - including one new inmate front W aver ley. Thanks were extended to- a number of Hawera ladies who had supplied cakes to the institution.