STILL VERY BUSY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3159, 19 August 1942, Page 5

STILL VERY BUSY

WORK AT WAIHI HOSPITAL DIFFICULT POSITION “FALL IN MATERNITY BUSINESS” “Waihi, remains our most difficult institution to administer,’’ said Mr P. E. Brenan, chairman of the Thames Hospital Board, at Wednesday’s meet-

mg. “The number of occupied beds still stands at 42.2 a month, and that means that the nursing staff are giving wonderful service to the sick and suffering of Waihi. The difficulties of getting staff are acute, but should be relieved somewhat when the trainees complete their preliminary work in January.”

The acting-matron, Miss J. G. Crawford, reported: “This has been a very difficult month. There has been a great deal of influenza, and the necessity for special nurses for meningitis cases has been a difficult problem.” The Board then confirmed, subject to Ministerial approval, the appointment of* Miss Crawford, actingmatron, as matron, also the appointment of Miss F. A. 1 Steele as assistantmatron.

“There seems to be a fall in the maternity business,” remarked a member when the secretary read out a report stating that there had been 1.8 occupied beds daily at the Paeroa Hospital last month. The matron added: “A very quiet month.” The Coromandel Hospital, on the other hand, was fairly busy, according to the report of the medical superintendent, Dr. F. Birkinshaw. The average of occupied beds was 20.2 for July.