HOSPITAL BOARD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 303, 20 November 1934, Page 9

HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING HELD. ADOPTION ~OF REPORTS. The monthly meeting of the Palmerston North Hospital Board was held yesterday afternoon, Mr J. K. Hornblow presiding. Others present were Messrs G. A. Monk, D. Collis, M. A. Moody, W. Howell, J. Boyce, Y. E. Smith, A. E. Mansford, R. L. C. Aitcliison, J. Hodgens, E. J. Ryder, G. P. Catley, and L. T. McLean. “Work on the farm manager’s cottage has been completed and the farm staff quarters are at present being painted,” reported the managing-sec-retary, Mr A. J. Phillipps. “The old theatre building has been renovated and will shortly be ready to accommodate the massage department. The contractor for re-roofing the fever ward building has almost completed the work. Relief workers at the Hospital are still working on the site for the administration block. The work will, however, finish in another week or two. The new truck chassis has come to hand and drawings and specifications have been prepared and tenders are being called for the body work.”

The medical superintendent (Dr. F. G. Ward) reported that during October 255 patients had been admitted to the Hospital and 253 discharged. Twelve had died, leaving 187 remaining in the institution at the end of that period. The daily average number of occupied beds was 201.25, and there were two patients on the waiting list. Four cases of scarlet fever had been admitted. Attendances at the ante-natal clinic had numbered 58, and 26 patients had been admitted to the maternity home. The matron of the Hospital (Miss J. McGhie) reported that the health of the staff was good. Donations of books and papers had been received from Mrs Howell. Mrs Tennent, Mrs Pegden, Mrs R. Bailey, and Mrs F. Hockley. The matron of the Old People’s Home (Miss A. Griffin) reported that on October 31 there were 37 inmates, including 9 females. The reports were adopted. THE OTAKI INSTITUTION.

The special committee controlling the Otaki Hospital reported that three tenders had been received for painting the Hospital, the amounts being £250 18s, £245 and . £234. A separate tender for painting work apart from other repairs, for £162, -was received, and one other tender for part of the repair work was received. The committee considered these tenders and decided that the managing-secre-tary be authorised to put the work in hand by day labour. The committee had considered a report from the managing-secretary on electrical cooking and other improvements at the sanatorium and decided to recommend: —(1) That electrical equipment be installed in the sanatorium kitchen and servery at an estimated cost of £350. (2) That alterations to the kitchen and servery to improve the food services be put in hand. (3) That an estimate be id repared of the cost of making alterations to the nurses’ home building with a view to providing quarters for the matron at that building, the domestic staff to occupy the whole of the quarters at present shared by the matron and the domestic staff. This would greatly improve the accommodation available for tlie domestic staff and would avoid the necessity of constructing bathroom facilities for the domestic staff in a detached building. The managing-secretary had reported that Dr. Francis had suffered an attack of influenza and had been off duty for some days and that as he was likely to be unable to resume duty for some time arrangements had been made with Dr. Milne to attend at the sanatorium. The managing-secre-tary’s action in this matter was confirmed.

As regards anomalies in salary owing to cuts, it was decided to adjust these by recommending that .the scale salaries for hospital aids be: First year, £6O per annum; second year, £75 per annum; hospital aids on senior or special duty, £BO per annum. The committee had inspected the work which was being carried out by the relief workers and it was agreed that the managing-secretary be authorised to hire or borrow the necessary equipment to enable a cutting to ho made through the sand hill to complete the drainage to the swamp area. It was agreed that portion of the swamp area which is fit for planting should be limed and planted wtih cow grass, red clover and Italian rye. The committee had inspected the records of patients who had recently been inmates of the Otaki Hospital, and satisfaction was expressed at the increased use that was being made of this institution and at the substantial proportion of fees which -were being collected. Tlie members from the southern end of the district had examined a list of patients’ accounts outstanding for that area and it was decided to recommend that accounts amounting to £2367 10s 4d be written off.

FEILDING DISTRICT NURSING. The special committee of the board appointed to meet the Feilding District Nursing Committee reported that Mr Hornblow had explained that the real object of the meeting was to discuss with the committee matters of

policy in relation to district nursing. He had expressed the appreciation of the board of what the committee had done in the past. He also pointed out that it was undesirable that the nurse’s time should be occupied on social welfare work. The managing-secretary had explained that the amount of social welfare work done by the Feilding District Nurse had been greatly reduced lately, and had pointed out to the committee that it would be necessary at an early date to consider the purchase of a new oar for the nurse. The question of charges for the nurse’s services and the records re-

quired to be kept of patients’ circumstances bad been also discussed, the opinion being expressed by the chairman of the District Nursing Committee that the Hospital Board’s treatment of 'patients, against whom accounts had been rendered, had been very fair and just. In regard to the question of a car, the managing-secre-tary expressed the opinion that a small car would be eminently suitable for the District Nurse’s work in Feilding. The chairman of the District Nursing Committee had expressed the opposite view, that a much larger car was necessary, and he had suggested that the board be requested to purchase a new car for the nurse and that the board be advised : —(1) That it was the wish of the Feilding committee that the car be a four-seater sedan. (2) That the make of the car be such as was approved by the Feilding committee. (3) That the Feilding Committee contribute up to

£125 towards the cost of the car. (4) That the committee be responsible for oil and petrol for the car. Consideration of the report was deferred. GENERAL. Dealing with building matters, the executive committee recommended. (1) That the alterations to the nurses home bathroom floors be included as part of the general contract for the

strengthening of the nurses’ home building. (2) That the managing-sec-retary prepare, with the assistance and advice of the city electrical engineer, an estimate of the cost of the new switch-board and improvements to the Hospital electrical supply with a view to this amount being .included in the proposed new loan.- —This recommendation was adopted. The executive committee reported that the managing-secretary had stated that he had discussed the question of treatment of Bulls residents who are members of the Mailawatu United Friendly Societies Hospital Association with the secretary of the Wanganui Hospital Board, and had suggested to the Hospital Association that possibly their members might be able to enter into an agreement with the Wanganui Hospital Board for treatment of those who live in Bulls on the same lines as the agreement entered into between the Palmerston North Hospital Board and those members of the scheme who are residents of this board’s district. The managing-secretary had also _ reported on matters relating to buildings and equipment at the consumptive annexe. Mr Hodgens had asked that the committee place on record its satisfaction with the improvements that had been carried out at the annexe building during the month. Appreciation of the work of the Palmerston North District Nursing Guild, which forwarded a copy of its annual report, was expressed by the chairman, on whose motion they were accorded a motion of thanks for their good work. Approval was given to a revised schedule of duties submitted for the medical superintendent.