HOSPITAL BOARD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 224, 21 August 1945, Page 2

HOSPITAL BOARD

The monthly meeting of the Palmerston North Hospital Board was held at Otaki yesterday, Mr J. A. Nash presiding. There were also present Mrs M. Aitchison, Messrs W. Howell, J. Boyce, M. E. Berreau, V. E. Smith, E. W. Croucher, J. Williamson, G. A. Monk, and J. Colquhoun. The chairman said they were meeting under much happier circumstances than for the past six years. Many great and valuable men had given their lives in tho conflict, but finally the enemy had been overcome and they could finally look forward to a new world with no more war. This, of course, would have to be left to our leaders, men of sound knowledge, to adjust. The managing-secretary (Mr A. J. Phillipps) reported that the whole of the materials required for the completion of the X-ray floor in the outpatients' block had now arrived and the builder anticipated that the building would be finished before the end of September. The renovations to the children's ward were completed during the month. The matron (Miss L. M. Banks) reported that the wards of the hospital had been very busy during the month and there had been some degree of minor illness in the staff. The medical superintendent (Mr J. H. North), in his report, said there hid been a reduction in the daily average occupied bed figure during the past month, due to the evacuation of one of the children's wards for the greater part of it. There had been some reduction in the number of scarlet fever patients admitted and a slight increase in the number of diphtheria patients. The Palmerston North Maternity Home had again boon very full, but should get some relief now that the Otaki home was open. Patients admitted to the Hospital totalled 379, and 346 had been discharged. Twenty-six cases of infectious diseases had been admitted and 34 remained in hospital. There had been 32 admissions to the Maternity Home and 27 births. At Foxton there were six admissions and six births. It was reported that arrangements have been made by the board for Mr M. A. Falconer, lecturer in neuro-surgcry at Otago University, to conduct a clinic at tho Hospital and it was considered that ihe clinic would be of considerable value to the district. Tho staff library at the Hospital has been reorganised and a reference library is now available. The British Medical Association has donated a number of books, and Mr D. S. Wylie, F.R.C.S., has also donated a number of volumes of important medical publications. It is proposed to make the library available to all doctors practising in the district. Miss G. Vincent is acting as librarian.