HOSPITAL CONTROL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 80, 16 March 1933, Page 10

HOSPITAL CONTROL

THE WAIPAWA BOARD. BUSINESS OF THE MONTH. (By Our Special Representative). The monthly meeting of the Waipawa Hospital Board was held at Waipukurau yesterday, the chairman, Mr AV. H. Rathbone, presiding over Messrs B. G. Atkins, L. Glenny, D. Eddy, R. A. Fraser, T. P. Hunter, H. W. AVhite, N. G. Hawthorn, and AV. Matthews. The secretary, Mr P. K. Smyrk, was also in attendance.

The secretary of the Hospital Boards’ Association, forwarded an outline of the association’s activities in endeavouring to obtain sales tax exemption, and intimated that exemption was first of all granted, but afterwards deleted. The association estimated that the sales tax payable by all hospital boards on, consumable goods would be not more than £7250.

The chairman stated that the board could only receive the letter and thank the association for its efforts in endeavouring to get hospital board’s exempted from the tax. A letter was received from the , Hawera Hospital Board, asking for a reciprocal agreement under Section 92 —i.e., the treatment of patients from I other districts. The secretary’s action in refusing to fall in line with the agreement, as it : was not in Hie best interests of the Waipawa board, was confirmed. A letter was , received from the Director General of Health, conveying Ministerial approval of the Friendly Societies’ agreement for a further J 2 months. The action of the chairman and secretary in notifying the lodges accordingly and offering a renewal of the existing agreement, was confirmed. the chairman expressing his satis- i faction at the success that had been ■ obtained. Correspondence was received from i the various lodges, agreeing to ths re- ■ newal of the existing Friendly Socle- ; ties’ agreement for a further 12 , months, and expressing appreciation of • the board’s efforts. HOSPITAL STAFF EULOGISED. Mrs M. Major, AVaipukurau, wrote conveying thanks on behalf of herself and her daughter, for the treatment received by her late husband by the I members of the AVaipukurau Hospital ; staff. Mr. A. C. Holms, also wrote, ex- ; pressing appreciation on behalf of him- I solf and his wife for the courteous and | efficient treatment received Gy two of his family who recently underwent surgical treatment at the Waipukurau Hospital.—The letters were received and it was decided that they be communicated to the members of the nursing staff. The Director General of Health, wrote intimating that as from September 1, 1932, the interest on overdue levies had been reduced from per cent to 6 per cent. The secretary said that the board was in the fortunate position that its contributing local bodies did not have overdue levies. Mr Rathbone said he was struck by the inconsistency of the department, in that whereas the banks had been compelled to reduce their overdraft rates to 5 per cent, interest on overdue levies had been reduced to only 6 per cent. The secretary commented that no doubt n further reduction would come later He also expressed his appreciation of the various local bodies’ action in pax mg the levies before they actually were due. The Director General of Health, wrote enclosing the. annua] report on New Zealand Hospitals for the year ended March 31, 1932.—Received. The chaiiman stated that the board bad had the lowest bed costs for the Dominion and could congratulate itself. Members referred in eulogistic terms to the very fine efforts of all members of the ailnunistrative staff in this direction, an I letters of appreciation are to be forwarded to the inembeis of this staff The inspector ol Police Napier, in a letter to the board stated his approval of the appointincnl, of Constable Sutton as almoner for casual cases 'n AVaipnkuv.i l, but intimated that the matter of remuneration would first of ali have to receive the approval of the Commissioner of Police On the motion «,f )!r .Atkins it was decided to forward a lotte. - of appiec‘iation to Mi John Butler, former o instable. who had acted as almoner in the past. The board further sought the Commissioner of Police’s ratification of Consiabl" Sutton’s appointment. The Cook Hospital Board wiote asking .or a uniform fee for ii'te.--charge between the two boards for treatmeni of |.aliir.ts under Section 92.—Th., secreuii'y s action in replying slating that he had already writt' n to the Depailment of Health suggesting than 't lax dawn a uniform fee for such treatment, vas confirmed. SECRETARY’S REPORT. The secretary, Mr. P„ R. Smyrk, reported for the mouth as follows: — “The bank credit balance at the close of the period was £1852 1/11, “Annual Report.—The annual report

of the Department of Health for the year ended March 31, 1932, is now available, and I am please! to state that the Waipukurau Hospital obtained the best net costs per occupied bed for the Dominion, this figure working out at £55, representing maintenance expenditure of £141.8 per occupied bed and maintenance receipts of £86.8 per occupied bed. We were actually beaten on the maintenance expenditure side by Waikato Hospital, whose bed costs were £138.6, but their receipts per bed were £60.8, making a net cost of £77.8. Admittedly, our receipts were considerably inflated by revenue from earthquake cases, but as our previous three years’ receipts averaged approximately £7O per occupied bed, it would appear that our position on the list would have been maintained without this extra revenue.

“Water Supplies.—By direction of the chairman, I obtained certain information and have applied to the Borough Council for a reduction of water charges, setting out the reasons for the application. These are fully covered in my letter on the question, which is on the outward correspondence file for the board’s consideration. ‘ ‘ X-Ray Services.—Messrs. Watson and Sons’ contract of £l2 per annum for maintenance service to the X-Ray plant has expired. This work has proved very beneficial, and I would ask confirmation of the action of myself and the medical superintendent in renewing same for a further twelve months. “Cases in Special Institutions.— Members are aware that a considerable figure is paid out annually for our cases treated in special institutions. The chairman and myself have therefore male a thorough revision of these, and have asked for full reports from the institutions concerned. These are now available for consideration by the board, with our recommendations thereon. “Accident Fees. —Members are no doubt aware that the 1932 Amendment to the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act covers boards for hospital fees arising out of accidents wherein damages claims are made. I beg to report that our first claim under the new amendment has now been settled, we having received full fees on behalf of two men injured in an accident some little time ago, and on which magisterial decision has lately been given.

“Social Welfare: There has been one fresh application during the month, the bread-winner being a patient in hospital. The chairman, deputy-chairman and myself have gone into the matter, and have granted temporary ration orders. Application has been made for the widow’s pension in one case, and when this is granted, further assistance from the board should be unnecessary. “Preventative Measures—lnfluenzaFollowing upon the board’s decision, arising out of the recent circular from the Department of Health, consideration has been given to the matter by the chairman and myself, together with the matron, and a skeleton organisation has been mapped out. This could be put into operation at very short notice. The board’s thanks are particularly due to Mrs. P. Eadie, who, upon being approached, promptly offered to take charge of a district nursing service, consisting of ladies of the district who hold trained nurses’ certificates, and from the information supplied by her, we are confident that the services of a team of 25 trained nurses would be available as temporary district nurses. Fortunately, the risk of an influenza outbreak is, at this juncture, very remote, but particulars of the skeleton organisation being now on file, will be available promptly at any future time they may be required.” ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer, Mr. F. Henaman, reported the coal consumption for the month of February to be 26 tons. Laundry. Steam has been on the laundry 120 working hours, last year 142-J working hours. The usual maintenance work has been carried out.