Dannevirke Hospital Board

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7242, 13 June 1930, Page 2

Dannevirke Hospital Board

DEPARTMENT TRIMMING EXPENDITURE. From Our Own Correspondent. The monthly meeting of the Dannevirko Hospital Board was held on Wednesday when there were present Messrs D. Drummond (chairman), J. Miller, R, E. Bunny, G. Peobles, L. G. Crosse, J. Harding, A. H. Hanson, H. Frederickson, L, Stein and W. Dobson (secretary 1 ). Leave of absence Was granted Mr R. H. Morgan. In accordance with the regulation that the chairman be elected at the June meeting, Mr L. G. Crosse moved that Mr Drummond bo . re-elected as chairman of the board. This was seconded by Mr R. E. Bunny i and no further nomination forthcoming Mr D. Drummond was declared .re-elected. The Director-General of Health advised that the board's estimates had been submitted for Ministerial al and asking tho board to cut out certain items included in the estimated capital expenditure for the year. The department also said that with regard to maintenance estimates the board must increase the estimated roceipts from patients' fees to at least £4OOO, the department not being satisfied with tho small amount collected in previous years.. The Director-General of Health also advised that the rate of interest on overdue levies had been fixed at 7 per cent. The department also forwarded a list of the capital levies apportioned between the various-bodies in the board’s area, those being subject to the Minister’s approval. These were as follow:—Dannevirke County, £2106 33s 2d; Weber County, £454 17s lOd; Dannevirke Borough, £836 7s sd; Woodville Borough, £94 16s 4d; Woodville County, £loso 4s Gd. Total, £4582 19s 3d.

Mr Hansen asked if the committee had made any recommendation regarding the £4OOO which the department had asked the board to collect. The secretary stated that it was possible that the £1 for £1 subsidy on capital expenditure might not be available this year and this would affect the board considerably.

The secretary also reported with regard to the department’s request that the board cut from the estimates the proposed expenditure for (he hot block food conveyor, motor suction pump for the operating theatre and additional cots and bedding for the children’s ward, that the finance committee after consideration bad reported that tho items mentioned were absolutely necessary and some —the motor suction pump—had already been procured. Mr Stein pointed out that the levies to contributing bodies had not been increased, showing that the boaTd had not increased its expenditure. It appeared that the only TeWftrd the board got for careful management was a reduction in the subsidy which the board roceived from the department. The subsidy was based on the capital expenditure for the year and the fact that they had not increased this, reduced the amount the board would receive from the Government.

On the motion of Mr R. 35. Bunny it was resolved to write to the DirectorGeneral on the lines ,of the recommendations of the finance committee, which were as follow: “The committee carefully considered the communications received from the Director-General of Health in regard to the estimates fer 1930-31,. and desires to emphasise that the items of capital expenditure referred to in the Direc-tor-General’s letter of sth June were all regarded by the medical superintendent and the matron as absolutely essential items when the estimates were framed; and the pump aud hot lock food conveyor have already been purchased. The committee having again heard the views of the medical superintendent and the acting-matron, who Were present at the meeting, is of opinion that having TegaTd to the comfort and efficiency of the institution the expenditure is essential. ’’ No Out-patients’ Department. The finance committee discussed with the medical superintendent and the acting-matron the suggestion of establishing an out-patients ’ in connection with the hospital. Having in view the fact that there is no house surgeon at the hospital, that our medical superintendent is a part-time officer, and the time he devotes to the hospital at present, the committee is of opinion that the proposal to establish an outpatients’ department is not feasible at the present time. The medical superintendent (Dr. W. Beedie) reported that there were in hospital 59 patients—2l women, 22 men, 13 children and 3 scarlet fever cases in isolation.