HOSPITAL BOARD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 230, 27 August 1935, Page 12

HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. ADOPTION OF REPORTS. The monthly meeting of the Palmerston North Hospital Board was held yesterday' afternoon, Mr J. K. Hornblow presiding. Others present were Mrs M. Aitcliison, Messrs J. A. Nash, M.P., A. E. Mansford, J. Hodgens, G. A. Monk, T. Green, J. Boyce, W. Howell, M. A. Moody, L. T. McLean, V. E. Smith, G. P. Catlev and E. J. Ryder.

The medical superintendent (Dr. J. H. North) reported that during July 269 patients were admitted to the Hospital and 258 discharged. Seventeen had died and the patients in the institution at the end of the month numbered 203. The daily average number of occupied beds was 213.3. There were two cases of diphtheria and two of scarlet fever. Admissions to the maternity home had numbered 29 and attendances at the ante-natal clinic 62. The hospital had been very' busy’ tire number of inpatients being high. “Work on the interior painting of the wooden hospital building lias proceeded during the month,” stated the managing-secretary (Air A. J. Phillipps) in his report. _ “Painting work on the annexe building has also been proceeding. It is desirable, as soon as possible, to paint and renovate the interior of the long corridor between the Roy'al Alexandra block and the Wilson block. This corridor is 243 ft. long and is part of the buildings erected during the war period. It is roofed with an inferior type of asbestos slate. All along the corridor there are leaks which are damaging the plaster board ceiling and the plaster on the walls. Of course, it is unwise to do interior renovations until this corridor is reroofed. I estimate the cost of reroofing at £BB. The spoutings are of cast iron and do not need renewing. This estimate allows for galvanised iron and galvanised ridging and is based on the assumption that the present sarking is in satisfactory condition. The work is to my' mind urgent and I think might well be done from the maintenance account. It is necessary to point out that within the next two or three years, at the most, the board will have to consider Hie question of re-roofing the whole of the buildings built during the war period, more particularly the Princess Mary and Prince of Wales wards, the X-ray-block and the main kitchen block.”

The report was adopted and approval given for the work. The matron (Miss J. McGliie) reported that the health of the staff was good. Sister Vale had commenced duty in the operating theatre on August 1. Donations of books and papers had been received from the Sunshine Club, Miss Howdon, M. Klatt, Ivan Levons and Dr Monro, and old linen from Mrs W. H. Hall. Advice was received from the Unemployment Board, in reply to the suggestion recently made that one of its representatives should meet a special committee of the Hospital Board to consider the question of the employment of natives at the Otaki sanatorium, that it was the desire of the Unemployment Board that, as soon as possible, the Native Department should •take over the responsibility for Maori unemployment relief. The Native Department was working in this direction, and arrangements had been made for tlio provision of relief for all natives between Waikanae and Shannon to be undertaken under the control of the Native Department. The Unemployment Board had ceased to have any responsibility for the relief of unemployed natives in this area. No good purpose would therefore result from the suggested conference.—Received.

Information was received from the Department of Health that, through the generosity of the Travis Trust, Christchurch, and by arrangement with the department, Air J. A. Strong had been appointed by the New Zealand branch of the British Empire Cancer Society' as physicist, and would undertake a survey of the radium and X-ray plants used in the public hospitals throughout New Zealand, in order to furnish a report thereon.— Received.

Advice that the work contemplated for the matron’s quarters at the Otaki Sanatorium would cost £3OO was received front the Department of Health.—Referred to the Otaki committee.

The social welfare officer reported that during July 078 rations had been issued to 94 cases in, the whole district, including 383 rations to 54 cases in Palmerston North. During July of last year 458 rations were issued to 61 cases in tho whole district, including 287 rations to 36 cases in Palmerston North.

Charitable aid accounts passed for payment totalled £340 0s sd, including £l7O 6s lid for rations, £BB 12s 7d for rent and board, £l6 9s for fuel and £l6 9s for dentures and spectacles.

Accounts totalling £BO2 14s lOd. owing by Palmerston North relief workers, were written off.