HOSPITAL AFFAIRS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLII, Issue 1742, 18 February 1921, Page 6

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS.

BOARD MEETINGS. The Palmerston North Hospital and Charitable Aid Board met yesterday, present: Sir James Wilson, (chairman), Messrs J. K. Hornblow, J. H. Vincent, W. Murdoch, L. T. McLean, S. A. Broadbclt, H. W. Smart, M. A. Moody, Mrs.Z. S. Gill and Dr. Whitaker. CORRESPONDENCE, From 11. Cole claiming £lO for a suit of clothes which he alleged had been ruined through being left on the verandah of the isolation ward of the hospital for nearly four weeks after he had left the institution where he had been a patient.—The secretary renortcd that it had been due to oversight on the part, of a nurse.—lt was decided to get a report on the matter.

From the Waikanac District nurse committee asking if the committee are right in assuming that nurse Donavan will be appointed district nurse at Waikanac.—The secretary explained that the actual position was that the Board had agreed to hold over the matter of the appointment for six months until Miss Donovan had completed her training.—lt was pointed out that it did not fallow that Miss Donovan would be appointed although she probably would be if successful in her examinations.

From the Otaki Town Board notifying that the Board had maintained Mr J. P. Brandon of Otaki to replace Mr F. Penn, resigned. Also from the Horowhenua County Council asking the Board to take steps to fill the vacancy.—The secretary reported that the Levin Borough Council was the controlling authority for the election of a member for that district and he notified them of the vacancy and asked them to take steps to fill it. From the secretary of the District Nursing Guild asking the Board to increase the Guild's subsidy to £IOO per annum, and enclosing a copy of the Guild's annual report and balance sheet.—Mrs Gill said that the proposition had originated with Mr J. A. Nash M.P., the chairman of the Guild, who had pointed out that if it were not for the Mistrict nurge's work it would cost the Board a great deal more to look after cases which she was able to contend with. Shfe would like to see the Board ask a deputation to wait o» it in the matter. —The chairman said it was quite cfear the Board was not in a position to do what was asked at the present moment. —Mrs Gill: We are not asking for it this year, but that it might be increased for next year. The District nurse takes all kinds of cases and but for her work many of them would have to go into the hospital.—The chairman considered it would pay the Board better to have these patients sent to the hospital. In a wealthy community such as this the public shoul\l pay more for the nurse's work. It was purely a local matter, and the country districts should not have to pay for the benefits of the town.—Mr McLean moved that the Board could not see its way to grant the request at present.—Mrs Gill's amendment that a deputation be asked to wait on the Board lapsed for want of a seconder and the motion was carried.

From the Department of Public Health notifying that the Department is asking- the Boards of the four chief centres and also the Westland Board (the West Coast being 1 badly served as regards the present rate of subsidies,) each to send 'a delegate to express their views' upon the new subsidy proposals before a commission which has been set up. The Department was also asking Waikato and Palmer, ston North Boards each to send a delegate as these Boards received a low rate of .subsidy under the proposed scheme.—The chairman was appointed to represent the Palmerston North Board. From the Director General of Health pointing out that Boards should not commit themselves to any capital expenditure unless they could find the funds necessary to meet it. It could not be taken as a certainty that money could be obtained by way of loan from the Public Trustee.—Regarding the loan for £SOOO which tl>e Board is at present endeavouring to arrange for with the Public Trustee, the chairman said that as? far as he knew the Board had completed all the preliminaries necessary. If this loan was not forthcoming the Board could raise the money under the provisions of the Order-in-Council authorising Hospital Board's to raise money by the issue of debentures at 6$ per cent, including sinking fund. They hoped by this means to do without calling up additional money from the local bodies. Next month would be the difficult month.—The letter was received.