HAWERA HOSPITAL BOARD

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 17 September 1934, Page 6

HAWERA HOSPITAL BOARD

PURCHASE OF NEW APPARATUS. COST OF DISTRICT NURSE. A decision to purchase immediately the surgical clatiiermy and ae.toscope ror wiiivfl a campaign ror funds was recently mstituteu, was reached at a meeting of the Jtiawera Hospital .board tins morning.

ivlr J. S. McKay presided, there being also present" Messrs. F. Giiianders, tV. cl. Simpson, A. L. Campbell, T. A. VViriks, S. J. dbennett, A. Larcom, E. A. Washer, 1. J. Bridger, E. J. Gifford, Dr. J. Cairney (medical superintendent) and C. Harrison (secretary). In reply to the board’s application to expend £2OO annually towards the upkeep of a district nurse, Dr. M. ±l. Watt, Director-General of Health, advised that the department considered the amount ansulticient for the project. In the opinion of .the Health Department the estimated cost, details of which he supplied, would be in the vicinity of £275 to £3OO per annum. He would suggest, therefore, that the matter be deferred until his visit in October, where he would be pleased to discuss the matter with Dr. Cairney arid Dr. Mary Champtalottp.—To this course the board was in agreement. Trie Minister of Health, Hon. J. A. Young, wrote that it was not possible to alter the existing conditions of the fluid examinations for pupil nurses conducted under the auspices of the Nurses and Midwives’ Registration Board. The ruling was laid down that the examining medical man should be One who had taken, no part in the teaching of the trainees, and this would have to be adhered to.

The matron (Miss C. Hunter) reported that Sister Niciiolson and Nurses Perry and Adlam had returned from leave. Sister Leicester and Nurse Foklen commenced their holidays on the 1 10th and 20th inst. Nurses Ohittenjden and 'Greager had each had some 'special leave. The services of tem--1 pofary. nurses, Harris and Palmer, had been dispensed with, and after August 31 relieving nurses (Cannell and Yorke) would probably finish up also. Nurse N. lvnapton was off duty for seven days and probationer Benton for 10 days on account of sickness. I Applications for training had been received from Miss A. Green of Paeroa. and Miss 33. Lloyd of Hawera—both were submitted for approval. The engineer (Mr M. Smith) reported that work throughout the month had been more of a routine nature I owing to the heavy demand on steam for heating purposes. No. 2 ward had been heated since being occupied, and isolation had reopened during the month. The boilers had been blown down, cleaned and inspected, and all machinery was working satisfactorily. The suction apparatus had been put into commission in the operating theatre and was working satisfactorily. Work was still proceeding With the strengthening of the trenches under the kitchen block, and when finished the piping would be put in better condition.

The Master at the Old People’s Home (Mr P. Rastall) reported that there were 2Q men in the home, and three were in the hospital. Thanks were extended to the junior Red Cross Society for concert, toi the public library for hooks, and to the Salvation Army Boys’ band from Eltham for a concert.

That the total number of patients in the hospital at July 31 was 66 was reported by the medical superintendent, Dr. J. Oairney. The admissions during August totalled 104, while the same number were discharged or died during the month. Sixty-six patients remained at August 31. The daily average of occupied beds was 61.1 for the month, while for the five completed mohths of the year the daily average was 60.7 which was about the same as last year for the same period. X-ray cases dealt with totalled 35 and the number of massage treatments during the month was 402, which was an average per day of 16.1. The number of out-patients attended during the month was 187, while the number of treatments given was 682. That he had supplied 519 gallons of milk and 62 pints of cream, of a. total value of £23 Is 3d to the hospital, and milk valiled at £3 0s 9d to the Old People’s Home during the month of August was reported by the farm manager. Mr P. Mc-Donakl. tiie porter, Mr L. Lav, reported that 78 dozen eggs and five fowls of a total value of £6 4s 6d had been supplied to the hospital during the month.