HAWERA HOSPITAL BOARD.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume L, Issue 9047, 20 March 1906, Page 5

HAWERA HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Hawera Hospital Board was held on Monday ; pre « en !~T Me ?f ? Rob bins (chair), Brennan, Boddie, Bridge Maa-x MEDICAL OFFICER'S REPORT Dr. Westenra reported that- since last meeting 16 patients had been admitted to the hospital, 20 discharged and there were <ib under treatment. Miss FairhaJl having undergone the necessary month's probation, he recommended that she be. appointed ;i probationer. Misses Collins and Hardy, the report stated, had arrived and commenced their duties. GOVERNMENT- SUBSIDY. lhe Treasury Department notified that Government subsidy to the amount of ±,135 14s 2d had been lodged to the credit of the board iai the Bank of New Zealand. ! RATEABLE CAPITAL VALUE ! *i j. Valuation Department forwarded the following information re lateable capital values as at March 31, 1905:— Ha,wera. County £2,646,641, Hnwera. ~?TI& £ 311 > 858 > Eltftam Borough »168,316, E:tham County (part) £465,- , 410 (includes some native: lands subject I to payment of rates); TRAINING MAORI GIRLS. In reply to a letter from the secretary regarding the proposal to enter a number of Maori girl© into hospitals for the purpose of training them, Inspector McGregor wrote stating that care would be taken to select girls of good education and that those chosen would not be confined to a. particular .hospital district. The. Visiting Committee recommended that the letter be replied to to the effect that although the Board, recognised it it would be a good thing they could not at present entertain' the idea as they have no accommodation. The Chairman thought there were other objections than that of the question of accommodation and he did not think it would be altogether a success. It would come to this, he thought, that the Government would have to erect separate nursing and training homes for European and Maori girls.. BIBLES FOR PATIENTS. The Chairman said that he had teen, written to by the local branch of the Bible Union, who had offered to donate babies to be placed in the patients' lockers. - - . Mr Marx thought it would not- be right to encroach, on patients/* private lockers, and for other reasons the matter was one better left alone. He moved, That the donors be itihanked, but that the books be not put in the lockers. Mr Brendan, seconded, and pointed out that friction, might be caused through the bibles not suiting all denominations. The motion was altered to read,: -That the matron be instructed to see that the Bibles were not placed in lockers of any to whom they might give offence. In this form the -motion was carried. SCARCITY OF NURSES. On February 13, the Premier wrote to the Board as follows: — -"As you_ are aware, the matter of training nurses has had the attention of the Government for some time, and I .shall be glad to know if you will co-operate with us and assist in maturing a scheme which will be of great service to suffering humanity, of advantage to the. nurses themselves, and prove a benefit to all concerned. It will help me if you will kindly supply the follow ing information : — *■ "(L) The number of nurses now requir ed on your ordinary staff. "(2) Whether your Board .would agree to toko on a number of probationers for the purpose of being trained, the Government paying £25 per annum for the keep of each one of the number to be agreed upon oh the following conditions: — Nunses to have the same training as the other regular nurses of the institution; to pass the examination and to obtain certificates, and the moneys to be paid' quarterly on certificates- being - given as to attendance and training. "I shall be glad if you -will, have these proposals considered and "communicate with me on the subject at your earliest convenience." % The Chairman, said that there seemed to be a dearth of nurses, and- it would noti be a' bad idea of the .Government could send along a couple of - good probationers. The staff would be further decreased by the resignation of Nurse Heffeman, and it was ,fh« suggestion of the matron that the' staff should Be replenished as far as possible by good probationers , If the large number of patients now entering the hospital was to be kept up and the popularity of the in-s-titution to be maintained, the staff mustbe kept up both in number and efficiency. [ The matron suggested that they have one charge nurse for day, one for night duty, and fiv.e probationers. The present staff was two charge nurses, two casual nurses, and three probationers. Mr Boddie thought that there would be an undue proportion of probationers. He would support tuny scheme for the increase of nurses in the colony, as they were evidently very scarce. The Chairman asked Dr Westenra's opinion on- the subject. The doctor thought, the matron's suggestion the most workable. The doctor said that nurses were getting so much private nursing work at present that they would not take, to the hospitals. Also, many nurses were entering the new institutions for further training, and there seemed to be very few new ones •coming on to take the places of those who were leaving the hospitals. The same, difficulty 'in obtaining nurses was being experienced in other places. It was resolved; Thai the staff be organised on the 'basis of Iwo charge nurses — one for day and one for night— and five probationers, and, That the sug gestion from the Government be approved and the Department informed that the Board will be pleased to accept two pro bationers. THE AMBULANCE WAGGONS. . In connection with the ambulance waggon, . Mr Bryant recommended that the tyres for the- ambulance waggon be 1£ inch instead of If, the axles 1| inch both front and back, and that sarven wheels be used. The difference in. cost in, tyre* for eight wheels he estimated at £5. The Secretary reported seeing Mr Hurrell. who said the. sarven wheels were hard to get. Mr Boddie said that Mr Hurrell had recommended them to him. He moved, That the recommendations be approved. Seconded by Mr Brennan and carried. The matter was left in Mr Boddie's care. OTHER BUSINESS. The secretary of the New Plymouth Board notified that a child from Opunake had been admitted into the New Plymouth hospital. One month's maintenance, had been guaranteed but,, if necessary, an account for any balance would be sent to the Hawera Board. The Chairmanta action in boarding out a child was confirmed. ■ The -Egmont County Council's contribution for* February (£ll 14s) was *e> ceived. • - Kempthorne, Prosser and Co. enclosed credit note for two glass iMigators broken in transit. ' They, regretted they could not be replaced just now but stated that' they had. some on order from .the-Old Country. Barrett (the assistant hospital gar-dener)-asked for an increase in wages, from

55 to 10s.— The Chairman moved, That' the increase be granted. Seconded by £r Boddie and carried. Misses Mary Collins and Winifred Hardy were accepted as probationers. _ Nurse Hefferaan forwarded her resignation, and asked to be relieved of her duties by the end of the month.— The resignation was accepted. Dr Westenra was given permission to procure necessary instruments to the value of about £15. A disputed account between the Board and Mr Foy (meat contractor) was arnica ably settled. The Chairman, Messrs Brennan and P.vidge T/ere appointed a visiting oommittee for the month. ' This was- all the business.