HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 6454, 11 November 1927, Page 10

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Palmerston North Board Meets EXECUTIVE OFFICERS’ REPORT At the monthly meeting' of th c Palmerston North Hospital Board yestcr- [ day there were present: Sir James Wilson (in the chair), Mrs. L. A. Abraham, Messrs. J. K. Hornblow, E>. I Coilis, M. A. Moody, L. T. McLean, J. I T. Follas, F. Pycroft, A. A. Broudbelt, j G. P. Catoly, V. Smith ,and H. W. i Smart. REPORTS. Charitable Aid. The Charitable Aid Officer (Mr F. Aisher) reported on charitable aid leases coming under his notice, 22 havI ing received assistance in Palmerston North, and one each in Foxton and Shannon. Thanks wore duo to the Mayor for his assistance for placing unemployed men in casual work which had meant a big saving- to thc Board. Medical Superintendent. The medical superintendent (Dr. F. G. Ward) reported that patients in the hospital at the end of October numbered IS7. 235 having been admitted during October and 211 having been discharged. There had been 20 deaths during thc month; 181 patients had remained in the hospital after the end of October, tho j average number of occupied beds being 179.77. Scarlet fever patients admitted had numbered. 19, and those suffering from diphtheria, 12. Matron’s Report. The matron (Miss J. McGhie) reported that th e general health of thc staff was good. Progress examinations had been carried out by Drs. Putnam, Wilson, and Forrest. The nine nurses had given satisfaction, and would sit at the State examination in December. Thc present uniform, it w-as stated, was, generally speaking, unsuitable and extravagant, and the matron suggested tho onepiece dress. Capes also were necessary for the comfort of the staff. During the month the Salvation s Army Band had played twice in thc grounds and th e Business Girls’ Club gave a concert in th e ward, both of which had given much pleasure to patients and staff. Donations had been received from Mrs. Baldwin (books), Mr McHardy (books) and All Saints’ Sunday School (books, fruit and eggs). District Nursing Guild, Th e secretary of the District Nursing Guild (Mrs. M. Ailchison) reported that Nurse Kidd had paid 145 visits to 21 patients. Four patients had been admitted to the hospital, and four had been discharged. Ten patients were still on tho books. Managing Secretary’s Report, Thc managing secretary, (Mr A. J. Phillips) reported for the past month as follows; — Buildings: Thc work on the Maternity Plome building has proceeded rapidly during the month. In conI motion with the proposed Maternity I Home, I would suggest that thc exI oculivo committee should go into the following matters before the building is completed:— (1) The question of the use of thc Maternity Homo as a training school. It will be noticed that, other similar institutions are not being allowed to train mid-wives, but only maternity nurses. (2) Thc [ question of tho system of medical staffing- to bo adopted.. Nurses’ Home Additions; A final inspection of th e Nurses’ Home Additions has boon made, and tho final payment will be made to thc contractor in thc course o£ a few days. On th c conclusion of this work, I would like to place on record the fact that thc finished job is a really good one, and thc work done by the contractor has been done in a satisfactory and conscientious manner. ~ Improvements at Fever Wards: The Department is at present considering this matter and I expect to hear further in tho course of a few days. If the Department’s approval is received, a start will b c made on this work immediately after tho holidays. Old People’ Home: Sister Petersen has had to enter hospital during thc month, and Sister Watt has been engaged as Relieving Matron. I recommend tl’.at Sister Petersen be, in the meantime, granted up to one month’s sick leave on full pay. Sister Petersen has been in tiro Board's employ for thc past nine years. Electric Ranges'—-Awapuni Home: The electric ranges have come to hand, and thc work of installing those is being carried on by our own electrician under th c supervision of tlic Power Board’s engineer. Reading Work: Had money been available, I had intended to ask tho Board to agree to. top dressing and tar sealing of the road loading from thc main drive to the Nurses’ Homo. As, however, we spent more than was anticipated on the road at tho back of the Nurses’ Home, owing to the difficulty of getting rid of surface water, etc., I wouid recommend that this matter stand over, provision to bo made on next year’s estimates, and that in (lie meantime the footbath in front of (he Nurises Hom c bc

top dressed and tarred at an estimated cost of £4O. If this work is left until next year, probably a larger expenditure will b e necessary, as the present asphalt is breaking up badly. There Is money available for so doing out of tho item provided for Nurses - Home buildings. Maternity Home Grounds; Th c site around the Maternity Home will be a difficult one to improve from thc point of view of gardening etc. As members ar c aware the soil in this locality is very poor, and if we spend money in laying out the grounds without Improving the soil, it will to some e xtcnt be wasted. I am able to secure good clean soil from near tho river at a cost of 6s per yard delivered. I would suggest that the Board agree to my purchasing, this summer, 100 yards of this soil, and stacking it with a view to using it later for flower beds etc, around tho Maternity Home. Farm: Mr. J. L. Bruce, Health Department’s Advisory officer, visited the farm on thc 2nd November. Mr Bruce commented on the great Improvement which had been made to this property since w c bad taken it over, and stated that h e would bo submitting an official report on his visit. Engineering Work: During the month the following work has been carried out.—Hand basins installed In Children’s Ward, Royal Alexandra Ward, Ward IV., and the Medical Superintendent’s office. Now that the heaters have, been turned off, the radiator service in the nurses’ home is being changed over from the Ideal boilers to tho Calorifier, which was installed when tho new building was erected. Work on the steam lin 0 for tho Maternity Hom e has been proceeded with. The steam sterilizer purchased some time ago for Ward IV. kitchen has been installed. We have now steam sterilizers at every ward in thc main Hospital.