A BUSY MONTH

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 232, 13 September 1934, Page 11

A BUSY MONTH

AT WAIPUKURAU HOSPITAL OFFICERS’ reports. I From Our Own Correspondent. WAH’UKURAU, Sept. 12. "lu spite ot the very busy; state ot the wards and an unusual amount ul sickness amongst the staff, everything appears to have gone on most satisfactorily, and Uns reflects great credit on all concerned. The hospital grounds are in excellent order order, and the spring planting in the vegetable garden is already showing results. The new concrete path from the main building to the isolation ward is now being laid down and should prove a great boon,” said the visiting member, Air B. G. Atkins, in his report to this morning's meeting of the Waipawa Hospital Board.

In reporting to the board the farm advisory member, Mr R. A. Fraser, said: “The work of planting the shelter belts has been completed and good progress is being made with the removal ot the fence lines near the entrance and behind the shacks. The old orchard is being kept in good order and the gound has turned over splendidly. The oat paddocks have bad their last eatiug off and will now be shut up for cropping There has been a good lambing and many of the forward lambs are in splendid condition. The feed is coming away well and the formmanager anticipates that there should be the usual abnormal spring growth, and that it will not be long oefore he will require additional stock.” “As briefly mentioned in the matron's Red Cross report, Mrs T. H. Lowry made a special visit to the sanatorium. She has always taken an interest in the welfare of the sanatorium patients and, not only has Airs Lowr,. made a cash donation of £2, enabling us to purchase badly needed radio earphones, but in addition has given a supply of new cloth for one of the billiard tables, and a croquet set for the patients’ recreation. “A cash donation was also received from Mi J. F. Dunbar. These gifts, in addition to the usual supplies received from the Red Cross Society and other organisations already acknowledged are very gratefully appreciated,” reported the medical superintendent of the Pukeora Sanatorium, Dr. G. Maclean. The secretary, Mr P. R. Smyrk, in his report for the month stated: ‘‘The month closed with a credit balance oi 1.670 15/4 plus outsanding fees accounts of £448 10/4. It will be noted that there have been large commitments, which have been due to the final payments on reconditioning contracts. On the board’s instructions no fresh reconditioning work of any large dimcnsious will be gone on with in the meantime, pending an increase in the revenue returns, as it has to be remembered that we estimated to close the year with a credit of £6OO to be placed as a reserve for reducing fees, and it will be wise to make sure of this amount being in sight before going further with the reconditioning scheme.” In her report the matron of the public hospital, Miss H. M. Turnbull, stated: “I regret to state that the month has been a very unfortunate one as far as sickness is concerned amongst the nursing staff. Sister Cairns who was a patient, has now returned to duty. Sister Black was compelled to be off duty owing to sickness. but was not admitted as a patient. Her period of time off has been compensated for by “days off due”. Sister is now on light duties. Staffnurse Loye was also off duty for a few days owing to illness, but her time off has also been compensated by “days off due”. Nurse Black was also off through illness for a few days, and her time is compensated for in a similar manner. Nurse Lovell-Smith was admitted to hospital, and is still a patient. Nurse Olliver has been discharged from hospital and is now on sick leave. Nurse Rice was admitted to hospital, and is still a patient.” A letter was received at the board meeting from Mrs M. Arcus, expressing appreciation of the care and attention to her son during his stay of nearly two years at Pukeora Sanatorium and stating that she was confident that his present condition was due entirely to the -killed attention he received while at Pukeora Sana-

“It i« very pleasing to receive a letter like this from the mother of an ex-patient.'* said the chairman. “It is also *n direct opposition to a statemi r- made by the chairman of the Aue uid Hospital Board that patients sent down from there to Pukeora Sanatorium had returned not one whit better.”