HOSPITAL BOARD

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 303, 18 November 1930, Page 9

HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Palmerston North Hospital Board was held yesterday, when there were present Mr J. K. Hornblow (in the chair), Mi'S L. A. Abraham, Messrs McElroy, Collis, Howell, McLean, Mansford, Greenhow, Gatley, Smith, Monk, Moody, Boyce, Aitchison, Ryder and J. A. Nash, M.P., MANAGING-SECRETARY'S REPORT. The managing-secretary presented the following report for the month : Building work: The contractor for the Nurses’ Home additions commenced work during the month. I have to report that, apart from one or two leading men, the firm have engaged locally practically all the labour required on this work. The contractor for the theatre block has also commenced work. Repairs to buildings: A heavy, gale was experienced at the hospital during the month which did some damage to the buildings—a large area of flat roof on the high portion of the laundry building was stripped of its covering. This has been recovered with galvanised iron at a cost of £2l. There is a further section of flat roof over the engineroom building on which the boiler feed tank is standing. The material is partly perished and will have to be replaced as soon as arrangements are made to disconnect the small supply tank. Painting work: The painter is at present engaged on exterior work on the Royal Alexandra and Children’s wards block. Some lengths of defective spouting and downpipe on this building have been replaced during the month. Drive and roadways: At the present time a considerable amount of repair work is necessary on the main drive at the Hospital to prevent water from getting under the road. It does not appear as if there will be money available from our maintenance item to do this work before March, but I would ask authority to consult with the borough engineer with a view to having an estimate prepared so that the more urgent portion of the work can be put in hand before next winter and at the same time to seek assistance in preparing an estimate for surfacing in front of the Maternity Home and on some of the side paths where surfacing is necessary.” GENERAL. A letter was received from the Deputy-General of Health, relative to the bacteriological laboratory .and advising that an inspection had disclosed that the standard of work was particularly high and of immense value to the medical profession.—lt was decided to express the board’s appreciation to the officer in charge of the laboratory. It was decided to write off patients’ fees amounting to £1357 10s sd. Mr J. A. Nash, chairman of the social welfare committee of the board, explained that the cases had been very carefully investigated and there seemed to be little chance of collecting the money.. The charitable aid officer reported that during October he issued in the district 689 rations to 99 cases, as compared with 672 rations to 87 cases in September. Of the 99 cases for last month, 49 were in Palmerston North. From September 26 to October 25, 49 casuals were assisted as against 39 for the previous four weeks and 18 in October, 1929.