Palmerston North Hospital

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 64, 17 March 1936, Page 8

Palmerston North Hospital

MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD The monthly meeting of the Palmerston North .Hospital Hoard was held yesterday, Mr J. K. Hornblow presiding. Also present were Mrs M. Aiteluson and Messrs G. A. Monk, V. E. Smith, J. Boyce, M. A. Moody, \V. Howell, G. P. Catley, J. Hodgens, M.P., T. Green, J. A. Nasii and A. E. Mansford. Leave of absence was granted Messrs D. Collis and F. J. Ryder. The Department of Health advised that the board’s application for an advance in terms of section of hud been referred to the Treasury for submission to the Minister of Finance. lit regard to the question of providing bursaries to selected nurses taking the post-graduate course, the Hospital Boards’ Association wrote suggesting that boards sending ' selected nurses for tho post-graduate course pay Us a minimum allowance £sound6r an agreement with the . >'remain for three, years in th„ ’ - of the board after passing. The Hospital Boards' Association advised that the ’’"North Canterbury board had raised the question of whether boards should bo relieved of the responsibility of carrying out medical examinations or, alternatively, whether the boards’ medical officers should be remunerated for their services. Being of the opinion that, under the present arrangement, hospital boards were protecting themselves from having an undue number of what might be termed '“border-line cases” thrown into Class C, the association had resolved that no departure should bo made from the agreement which was entered into with the Unemployment Board in April, 1933, under which hospital doctors were to examine the men at the instance of the Unemployment Board’s local officer. In regard to the development of tuberculosis clinics, the Wuipawa Hospital B'oard advised that it had suggested to the Minister of Health that the proposed conference of hospital boards should be held in Palmerston North on March 2,3,4 or 5. —Mr Hornblow commented that the close co-op-eration between two boards on tuberculosis matters was particularly gratifying. The matron (Miss J. N. McGhie) reported that the health of the staff was good and that there was no altertion in the staffing. Bhe acknowledged the following donations:— Papers, Women’s Auxiliary; old linen and magazines, anonymous; magazines, Miss Woodman. The medical superintendent at the Otaki Sanatorium reported that there were 57 patients in the institution on February 1 and GO at the end of the month, the daily average number of occupied beds being 60.27. The following statistics were set out in the report of the medical superintendent (Dr. J. 11. North): —Patients remaining in hospital, 31/1/36, 210; patients admitted during February, 235; patients discharged, 233; patients died, 6; patients remaining in hospital, 29/2/36, 206; daily average number of occupied beds, 193.48. Maternity home: Admissions during the month, 20; births during the month, 16; attended ante-natal clinic, 85; remaining in the home, mothers 7, babes 7. Managing-Secretary’s Report Inter alia, the managing-secretary (Mr A. J. Phillipps) reported as follows: — Storm damage: Work on clearing up after the storm has been done since the last meeting of the board, and tho total expenditure incurred to date at the hospital has been £212. There are two men engaged at the farm. Since the storm a notice has been received from the Power Board requesting the cutting of certain trees at Awapuni, and this is being attended to. Building matters: The work on the present building contracts is progressing satisfactorily. In connection with the second storey to tho administration block, public notice has been given that the board will consider a proposal to borrow the necessary money to cover the cost of this work. Following on the re-roofing of the long corridor, interior renovations, viz., plastering, and-painting,' are being carried out.