WAIRAU HOSPITAL BOARD.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 116, 14 May 1909, Page 5

WAIRAU HOSPITAL BOARD.

The Wairau Hospital Board met yesterday afternoon in the Institute, when there were present:—Messrs B. Bell (Chairman), Bary, J. J. White, A. McCallum, Neville, Gane, Macey, and Birch. Leave of absence was granted to Mr Parker. Dr Valintine wrote in reference to the Board's proposed Old Men's Home. The Chairman moved, and Mr Macey seconded that the Secretary write to Dr Valintine and ascertain when he would be visiting this district, and that the Executive confer with him on the question of a site for the Old Men's Home.—Carried. Mr G. Paul forwarded a sum of £1 7s 6d, proceeds from the sale of half a sheep, donated by Mr W. R. Loudon towards the Hospital.—Received with the thanks of the Board. TENDERS. Mr Bary moved, and Mr Gane seconded, that the tender of Messrs Ferguson and Ireland for the supply of 50 cords of firewood for the Hospital be accepted.—Carried. HOT AIR ENGINE. Messrs Cloiiston and Co. wroteoffering to sell the Board a hot air pumping engine, with a guarantee to keep it in repair for two years. The Chairman moved, and Mr Macey seconded, that Messrs Clouston and Go's offer be accepted. Mr White thought a pumping ram would do. Mr Birch said they wanted a more up-to-date windmill, which would meet the case far better than an engine. Mr McCallum said he had a windmill at Meadowbank, and there had been no water for a whole day on one occasion. If the windmill did not work, he paid sufficient money to make it work. Mr Birch regarded the engine as a primary power, and looked upon the windmill as the auxiliary. The motion was carried. ' FINANCE. The Secretary reported that the Board's receipts at the beginning of the year were £291 13s 6d, and the overdraft on May 31st £45 2s 6d. The overdraft at the commencement of the year was £76 16s 7d. The expenditure to date was £259 19s sd, and the vouchers for payment to be passed £276 14s sd. The. contributions and donations due amounted to £450 7s 9d. The report was approved. MR GANE'S NOTICE OF MOTION. The Chairman intimated that Mr Gane had given notic9 at the last meeting of the Board to the effect that he would move at the next meeting that the Board's medical officer obtain the services of Dr Pentreath as often as possible at the Wairau Hospital. Mr Bell said that in accordance with the rules governing the medical officer he was unable to accept the motion. He read rules 9 and 10, which are as follows:—

Rule 9: In all cases, before serious ! operations, the medical officer shall consult -with such other medical men, as may be nominated by the patient or (if he be unable to do so) his friends, and shall record in the consultation book the name of the doctor nominated, the patient, if possible,; signing the same, or his friends, as well as the practitioner consulted. Rule 10: The medical officer shall, subject to the observance of rule 9, have the right to appoint from time to time any medical man he may think fit to assist in operations after obtain-* ing the approval of the Board ; the Chairman* or the Visiting Committee, or in urgent cases, any member of the Board, i'he fee not to exceed £2 2s. Under no circumstances shall special fees be paid to any medical practv; tioner for performance of operations at the Hospital. Mr Gane thought the rule should be amended in order that his motion might be proceeded with. Mr Birch said rule No. 2 (providing for the reception of accidents and urgent cases at all hours of the day1 and night) was practically a, dead letter. He thousht with regard to the present question, that it was regrettable that the medical officer did not extend the same privileges to other medical men that he did to his own firm. The matter then dropped. Mr Bary asked if any patient could have a private ward in the Hospital on payment of a special fee. The Chairman replied in the negative. The meeting then rose.