HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 257, 13 October 1932, Page 3

HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION

THE WAIPAWA BOARD BUSINESS OF THE MONTH (Special Representative.) The monthly meeting of the Waipawa Hospital Board, was held at Waipukurau yesterday, the chairman, Mr W, H. Rathbone presiding over Messrs W. Matthews. N. G. Hawthorn, T. P. Hunter, R. A. Fraser, D. Eddy and B. G. Atkins. The secretary, Mr P. R. Smyrk, was also in attendance. The secretary of the Wairoa Hospital Board wrote expressing thanks for the board’s expressions of sympathy and offer of assistance, the latter fortunately not being required.— Received. The acting managing secretary of the Hawke’s Bay Hospital! Board wrote informing the board that as the Hawke’s Bay board hoped to be able to accommodate its own isolation cases within about three months or so, it would not be necessary for them to avail themselves of the Waipawa board’s kind offer. The writers conveyed their sincere thanks for the board’s offer of assistance in this matter. “Good luck to them if they can accommodate their own isolation cases within the next three months. Personally 1 can’t see them doing it,” remarked the chairman in moving that the letter be received. “A PEREMPTORY LETTER.” The Nurses' and Midwives’ Registration Board advised that after July 1, 1933, appointments to the position of matron of hospital required both general! and midwifery certificates. “That’s rather a peremptory letter 1 wasn’t aware that we were subservient to the Nurses’ and Midwives’ Board, but thought that we were only responsible to the Department of Health,” remarked the chairman. “1 think that the best way would be to write to the department and notify them that we have received the letter, and ask them if they (the Nurses’ and Midwives’ Board), have the authority to dictate to us.” Members expressed surprise at the peremptory tone of the letter, and desired to ask whether or not the writers had such authority. “There’s only one thing that we are governed by, and that is the Health Act,” the secretary stated. “The attention of the Director-Gen-eral of Health should be drawn to the tetter, and we should point out to him that we expect our instructions to come from him, and from no one else,” said Mr Hawthorn. “It is absurd that matrons should have to be doubly certified. Personally I think that if we have one sister at the institution who is the possessor of a dual certificate, that would be quite sufficient,” said Mr Atkins. “I don’t agree with that at all. 1 maintain that matrons should be doubly certificated and should not have to reiy on an under-sister,” Mr Hawthorn replied. Mr Hunter did not agree with Mr Hawthorn’s views. “I agree with Mr Hunter, and think that we ought to just receive the letter,” Mr Atkins stated. “I think that we should go further than that,” said the chairman. NO RIGHT TO DICTATE. “There are two points to be considered,” said Mr Hunter “The first is whether we are to be dictated to by a body which we contend has no right to dictate, and the second is the introduction of what I consider a very bad principle. There are plenty of nurses with only one certificate, qualified to hold the position of matron in a hospital such as ours, where no maternity cases are dealt with. We should protest not 'only against the way the instructions have been issued, but afeo against the principle which it embodies.” Mr Hawthorn held that every matron should have the double certificate. Ho considered that the matter should be brought before the Director-General of Health, and that it be pointed out that the board recognised him as its official head and took instructions from him only. Further, that a letter of this description was out of order, the board emphasising once again that it considered only the Director-General of Health as its official head. Mr Hawthorn’s suggestion was then embodied in a motion and carried. “We should object to the principle of the letter regarding the double certificates for a matron,” said Mr Hunter. Mr Matthews was of the opinion that the matter rested with the nurses themselves, rather than with the board. The nurses knew that the certificate was considered desirable, and it was up to them to avail themselves of the opportunity of sitting for it. The chairman remarked that only in recent years had such a double certificate been available, and it seemed very unfair that the older nurses should be penalised, when in thir training days they had not had the opportunity to take the course. Mr Hawthorn reiterated his opinion that doubly certificated matrons were necessary from the point of view of general efficiency. Mr Atkins: Well, I’d just like to know how many matrons in New Zealand possess the double certificate. Mr Hunter: It is only a recent innovation, and it appears unfair that the older nurses should be penalised oh account of it. Mr Atkins: I agre with Mr Hunter. I think it is grossly unfair. Mr Hawthorn: Well, 1 don’t. After further discussion it was decided to reply to the letter and to point out that the board objected to the proposal that only matrons with the double certificate should be appointed. COMMISSION’S REPORT. Correspondence containing lengthy criticism of the recommendations of the National Expenditure Commission regarding hospital administration was received from the Hospital Boards’ Association. The chairman said that the report was a good one. The association had very concisely answered the report of the commission, which was purely I theoretical and had nothing practical

about it, and it would only tend to increase administrative costs. The Hospital Boards’ conference which had met in June last had been emphatically against the proposals as outlined by Dr. Campbell-Begg, and far from there being any saving, the total costs would be greater. It was decided to reply to the association expressing appreciation of the concise manner in which they had made their reply, and to support them in their protest. MEDICAL REPORT. The medical superintendent (Dr. J. L. Reed) reported as follows for the past month:— During the month of September 74 were admitted to hospital, of which 42 were males and 32 females. There were discharged 89, of which 46 were males and 43 females. There were four deaths, all males. At the end of the month there were 73 remaining in hospital, of which 40 were males and 33 females. Of this number three were in isolation and seven in the Rathbone Annexe. The daily average of occupied beds for the month was 80.8. On September 30 there were 19 patients in hospital who have been inmates for three months or more. Surgical operations: During the month 23 surgical operations under general anaesthesia were performed in the theatre, of which nine were major and 14 minor. X-Ray department: There were 39 radiographs taken, of which 28 were of hospital patients and 11 of outside private patients. Chronic cases in hospital: In regard to the number of patients (19) who have been inmates for a period of three months or more, I should like to point out again that so long as we include chronic, senile, and tubercular lung cases, the number of these long-stand-ing cases must remain at a comparattively high level. Of these 19 cases, there are 10 (apart from the T.B. cases) who have little or no chance of ever being fit for discharge, and these must necessarily remain as in-patients until such time as an old people’s home and a chronic ward have been instituted in the district. Of the remaining nine cases, three are T.B. lung cases, which leaves six patients who have suffered from severe general illnesses which normally require lengthy periods of treatment. In view of the clinical condition of these cases, one is justified in saying that, with the possible 'exception of one case, none have been inmates for an abnormal period, or for a longer time than was necessary to complete their treatment. One of these cases has since been discharged and the remaining five will probably be fit for discharge in the course of a week or ten days. The medical and surgical work in every department of the hospital, with the exception of the Rathbone Annexe, has lessened very considerably during September, and in this regard I have nothing special to report.