Hospital Administration

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 39, 16 February 1937, Page 3

Hospital Administration

MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD Tlio monthly meeting of tho Palmer- | ston North Hospital Bonrd was he'd • yesterday, when thero were present: : Mrs M. Aitchison and Messrs J. A. i Nash, A. E. Mansford, L. T. McLean, : V. E. Smith, G. P. Catley, F. J. Ryder, ' J. Hudgens, M.P., T. Green, M. A. j Moody, J. Boyce, D. CoUis and W. Howell. In the absence of Mr J. K.‘ 1 Ilornblow, who is at present seriously ill in hospital, Mr Nash was voted to , the chair. 1 Approval was received from the Min--1 ister of Health for the removal, re--1 erection and rc-roofing of two shelters at the Otaki sanatorium, at an estimat- } ed cost of £GOO. t An inquiry was received from tho - Bainessc branch of the New Zealand ’ Labour Party asking if tho residents of ■ " tho Bainesso district were entitled to’ [ the services of tho district nurse sta- • tioned at Foxton; also whether any! [ charge was made for these services. | The managing secretary reported ■ that ho had udvised the writers that I the district nurso at Foxton was avail- ‘ able to visit Baiuesse when called at { any time to attend an urgent case and, r otherwise, as she visited tho northern : end of the district one day a week, she ) would call and see cases requiring her • attention. No mileage was charged for visiting, and a flat rate of 2s 6d per visit was the fee, except in special cirl cumstunces. The executive reported that it had s inspected tho lioyal Alexandra Ward, i tho proposed alterations were explained 1 by tho managing-secretary. It was deE cided that tho architect bo instructed to prepare plans and specifications, to--1 gather with an estimate of the cost of r» carrying out the work and that npplica- " tion bo made to tho Department of h Health for consent to tho necessary cxJ penditure and that tenders bo called P for tho work. Tho executive also visit- - ed tho McHardy Block, where the 3 managing secretary explained a scheme 2 for providing sanitary facilities in the contro room to serve two-bed wards on 1 either side. It was decided, firstly, to f recommend that tho work as outlined be agreed to, and secondly, that provis- ' ion bo made on the next year’s estimat- . cs for tho cost of tho work. The following statistics' were set out in the report of the medical superientendent (Mr J. H. North); Patients remaining in hospital, 31/12/3(5, 101; patients admitted during January, 217; patients discharged during January, 109; patients died, ]J; patients remaining hospital, 31/1/37, 108; daily number of occupied beds, 170.00. Maternity Home: Admissions during month, 27; r births during month, 26; attended ante- • natal cliuie; 00; remaining in home, . mothers, 10, babies, 10. 1 Tho matron at tho Public Hospital l (Miss J. N. McGhie) reported that the j < health of the staff was good. Dona- \ tious hail been received as follow: | Books, Joo and Margaret Wilson; old • linen, anonymous; books, Mrs Hcotter; i magazines and weekly papers, Mr. H. 1 Bennett. Thero were 03 inmates in tho AwaI puni Homo on January 31, reported the matron (Sister D. Wright), and their, l general health was good. Books and ' periodicals had been received from ■ Mcsdames Cook, Barling and Avern. The medical superintendent at the 1 Otaki sanatorium (Mr It. 8. Francis) reported that there were 38 patients in . the institution on January 1 and 50 at January 31. There were six cases on tho waiting list at present, and Dr Maclean had advised that ho had seven patients to bo admitted. Managing Secretary’s Report Inter alia, Ibe managing-secretary (Mr A. J. Phiilipps) reported as follows: Additions at Southern Ward: Tho contractor for this work is making sat- . isfactory progress. Staff Quarters, Old Administratiou Building: Tho work on the ground floor has been completed since the last meeting of the board, and thero aro now 12 nurses resident in the old wood- 1 on building. All timber, lining, etc., for this work was taken from the old office i building. The demolition of tho old J office building is proceeding. Building Work at Otaki: Tho con- I tractor for the removal and reconstruction of shelters at tho Otaki sanatorium bus commenced work and is making sat- ' isfactory progress. . Laundry Block: During the month I conferred with officers of tho Do- ' partment of Health concerning tho ; laundry block. Mr Johnson, technical inspector, visited and conferred with • the staff here. Various points have been discussed and tho formal consent of tho Minister should shortly be available. The necessary advertisement re- ; gar ding the proposal to borrow will be ; inserted, so that tho various resolutions i an be considered at tho March meeting of tho board. j Visit to northern hospitals: In company with the chairman and tho archj- i tect, the following hospitals were visit- I ed: Jlawcra, New Plymouth, Hamilton, I Auckland (Public Hospital), and tho t Mater Miscricordiao Hospital in Auck- i land. As Mr. Ilornblow became ill 1 when in tho north, it was necessary to i omit the visit to Napier on the return i journey. Mr. ilornblow agreed that : Mr. llean and L should at the firs* r opportunity visit Napier Hospital and 1 tho Pukeora Sanatorium. Thero are c several matters arising out of this visit which will bo mentioned specifically s later on when dealing with various t phases of the new building scheme. One j thing which made the visit exceedingly c valuable to me was tho opportunity of spending some time ut one of tho large f laundries in Auckland, where I was 1 able to see in operation a machine of s tho type which wo propose to install V and 1 am more than satisfied with the u working of thiß machine. It should £

greatly Improve our laundry, resulting in a much prompter service and a bet ter class of work. Bonding at administration block: As members aro aware, only a limited provision was made oil tho current estimates for reading work at tho adminis tration block. When tlio pit metal had been spread and tho rolling finished, 1 conferred with tho chairman and a few members of tho board whom 1 wus able to see on the spot. It was decided that it was in the best interests of tlio board for tho tar sealing to proceed immediately while tlio weather held. Consequently this work was authorised and has been carried out by tho city council’s tarring gang. Tho oily engineer was also of tho opinion that tho work should proceed rather than be further delayed. It will bo necessary to make provision to meet this liability on tho estimates for tho current year. Position of pathologist: Tho necessary advertisement was inserted in English medical journals and is at present appearing in Australia and New Zealand. Tho applications will be available for consideration at tho beginning of April