TAKANAKI HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7367, 21 January 1902, Page 2

TAKANAKI HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

[Continued from yesterday, ,]

NKW PLYMOUTH HOUSE COMMITTEE.

The New Plymouth House Committee reported having made a general inspection of the Hospital grounds, and finding various matters requiring attention. The following recommendations were made for the Board's consideration :—l.: — 1. That it is desirable to erect quarters for the nurses, and accommodation for doing hospital washing and laundrying on the premises. 2. That tha operating theatre be renovated and brought more up-to-dato, in terms of the surgeon's request. 3. That the present two rooms used for nurses be made suitable for a pneumonia ward, chimney to be erected. 4. That the rooms recently occupied by the old women near the isolation ward be made available for attendants on isolated cases. 5. Tbat the road and pathway in front of the Hospital be asphalted similar to the back. 6. That the Committee be empowered tn engage an architect to prepare plans and specifications for alterations required, and call tenders for same. 7. That the committee be authorised to have minor matters required in tho hospital attended to. 8. That permission be given the Committee to obtain necessary hose for fire extinguishing. The Committee reported that the new furniture ordered for the operating theatre on the recommendation of the surgeon is to hand ; invoice cost, £48. A voluntary subscription of £41 4s 6d has been received from Mrs Henry Gray, acting in connection with ping-pong tournament. With Government subsidy, this will give a total of £90 13s lid.

Dr Leatham, house surgeon at New Plymouth, attended to speak as to the improvements suggested at New Plymouth.

The Chairman moved that the report be adopted.

Seconded by Mr Stohr. Mr Mackay moved, as an amendment, That copies of the report be distributed among members, and consideration of the recommendations be deferred till next meeting, and that in the meantime tho House Committee employ an architect to prepare an estimate of cost of proposed work. The expenditure would be considerable, and he would like more information on the subject. Mr Moir seconded.

Dr. Leatham pointed out that in the past three years the average number of patients in the hospital had increased from 227 to 270. The work of the hospital was daily increasing, and the appliances were not up to-date. This was especially tho case as regarded the operating theatre, and the light was bad. The expense for the theatre would not be large ; wash basins were required, and the walls should be renovated, and made germ-proof. A borne for nurses had been wanted for a long time. Each room now contained two nurses, and the day nurse was bound to disturb tho night nurse, besides which the rooms were close to the noises from the corridor. The nurses required ample and healthy sleeping accommodation, and the medical staff thought it was time a home for the nurses (only a small cottage of five or six rooms, with lavatory, bath room, etc.) should be erected. It was necessary to have an isolation home for attendants on isolation cases. If they had such accommodation, relatives of fever patients might temporarily reside there, and aid iii the nursing. The whole successful working of tho institution depended on the efficiency of the nursing staff. As to wash-house, the matron was of opinion that the work could be done more cheaply and expeditiously if there was a wash-house. Tho doctor also urged the need for a pneumonia ward, a ward where the temperature could be kept up and the patients be away from the noise of the general wards. Mr Stohr said the present nurses' room was never unoccupied ; as soon as tho day nurse went out the night nurse came in. He agreed wish Mr Mackay that copies of the report might have been sent to members of the Board, who would then have come prepared to discuss the question. Mr Stewart asked if it would be necessary to have separate washhouses for hospital and refuge. Dr Leatham could not see why one washbouse woald nob do. Of course there would have to be separate tubs, etc., for fever patients' clothing, etc. The Chairman said the doctor was better able to speak as to what was required than any member of the Board. It was merely a question of £s d. The hospital should be brought up to date.

Mr Mackay said that it was certainly a question of £. s. d. There was a movement to get a hospital at Stratford, and if it was successful the question of £. b. A. would enter very strongly into matter for the Board's consideration. Small hospitals were costly, and he believed a hospital at Stratford would cost the Board £1000 a year. [Mr Liardet : Are we discussing a Stratford hospital, sir ?] He would like some time for consideration before voting on the recommendations,

Mr Sutton said members at last meeting were of opinion that a nurse's borne and wasbhouse were necessary. He would support Mr Mackay's motion, provided he withdrew reference to the theatre, because that was a work which should be gone on with at once. While believing that all the works recommended were necessary, he still considered full information as to cost should be laid before the Board. He did not think the cost of 'the improvements would be less than £1000. If the matter was one of urgency, a special meeting could be held or a committee be set up. He considered the balancesheet was a satisfactory one ; the overdraft was only £2600, and he bad fully expected it would have been over £3000.

Mr Mackay was willing to withdraw from his motion reference to operating theatre.

Mr Liardet asked what the cost of the renovation would be.

The Chairman said the money for the work at the theatre was partially to hand as the result of a tournament.

Mr Stohr explained what wae required. The cost would not be great. Mr Gray said if on outside medical opinion had been given he would not accord to it so much weight as one coming from the surgeon of the institution, who knew its requirements. Mr Stewart thought it was a pity this discussion bad taken place at a town 50 miles from New Plymouth. He would not vote for the recommendations until there were complete estimates before the Board. He did not believe in committees dealing with matters of this description ; the full Board should discuss them.

Mr Moir also spoke- He was in favour of deferring consideration of the recommendations until members had an estimate before them. The amendment was carried.

Mr Soott asked as to architect.

The Chairman moved, That Mr Messenger be asked to prepare plans and estimates for works proposed. The resolution was carried.

'Continued on fourth page.)

I (Continued from page 2, ) On Mr Sutton's motion, a vote of thanks was accorded Dr Leathani. The Chairman moved, That the Committee be empowered to go on with the work at the operating theatre. Seconded by Mr Sutton, and carried. On Mr'.Maokay's motiori it waa de« ciSed that the New Plymouth House Committee be asked to get alternative estimates of cost of tarring and asphalting on the northern side of the hospital. It was decided to procure fire hose for refuge. HAWERA. 9 The Hawera House Committee reported that Mr Sutton had been reelected Chairman of the Committee. OLD AGE PENSIONS. The Westland Hospital Board for* warded circular conveying resolution asking tbe several boards to co-operate in an endeavour to have the questions put to old age pensioners modified in regard to age, whether a person bad been in gaol, and as to moral character. In some cases it was awkward to prove tbe age of applicants. Mr Stewart said the system had already been abused in cases, and he thought that instead of precautions being relaxed they should be made more stringent if anything. Mr Mackay moved that the letter be received. LEAVE. Mr T. L. Oliver was granted leave of absence. PING-PONG. Mrs H. Gray, one of the promoters of a ping-pong tournament in New Plymouth, was, with those who assisted her, accorded a vote of thanks. PROBATIONER. Miss F. Crozier asked that her name be placed on probationers' list. Granted, subject to doctor's certificate. REDUCTION WANTED. Mr Corrie, Okato, will be informed that the Board cannot make reductions in accounts. CHARITABLE AID. In reference to a Midhirst case, the police, who had been asked to enquire as to the relatives of a destitute person, drew the Board's attention to the clause in the Act defining the meaning of 11 relative " from whom aid could be claimed. Mr Mackay thought as guardians of the public interests the Board should see to it that those who could pay for the keep of destitute relatives were made to contribute. Further information will be got from the police. Mr Liardet reported on the application of a person at Stratford for an increase of charitable aid allowance. The matter was referred to Messrs Liardet and Mackay, with power to act. The Board's solicitors wrote regarding a Hawera case, in which it was proposed to get aid from the putative father of a child. They advised the Board not to take action. The Auckland Board wrote forwarding account for maintenance of an alleged Okaiawa resident in Auckland Hospital. The Clerk stated that he had advised the Auckland Board that the man really belonged to Auckland. The Board decided to take no action. An anonymous letter from Eltham, regarding recipients of charitable aid, was not considered. Several other cases were dealt with. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £1021 15s lOd were passed. The Board rose, after passing a vote of thanks to the Borough Council for use of room.