NELSON HOSPITAL BOARD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 2 August 1922, Page 5

NELSON HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY -MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Nelson Hospital Board was held to-day. There were present i —Messrs W. Nicholson (chairman), Page, Wilkes, Win, Hewetson, Coltman, and Mesdames Moffatt and Watson.

PAYMENT'S. Following payments were authorised; —Hospital £636 6s 9d; Charitable Aid £340 Is 8d; total £970. REPORTS The resident surgeon (Dr D. C. Low) reported that 55 patients were admitted during the mouth, and 62 were discharged, leaving 55 in the institution at the end of the month. A request was made that electric lighting be installed, us recommended by Committee, at a cost not to exceed £SO. t The report of the master of the Alexandra Home stated that throe inmates iv ere admitted during the month, and there was still room for a number more. The relieving officer reported that 12 families had been granted assistance during the month, the amount expended on stores, etc., being £3 15s. TENDERS The Lender (the lowest) of Messrs Robertson Bros, for the supply of 25 lockers for Alexandra Home, was accepted. There were two other tenders. ,

TOWN COMMITTEE’S REPORTS Mr Wilkes reported on behalf of the Town Committee recommending that the Nurses’ Homo _ he not electrically lighted, pending the installation of the City Council scheme; it was recommended that eight lights he put in each ward at the hospital. 1 The Committee’s recommendations were adopted. . A report was submitted regarding the duties and conditions of future appointment of Resident Surgeon. Thq committee was of opinion that, after going thoroughly into the matter, and obtaining information from other boards, a continuation of the present system adopted was the best until the completion of the new hospital. The report was the outcome of a motion passed oil the motion of Mi Hewetson that the by-law be rescinded allowing a resident surgeon a certain amount of private consultation; • Mr Coltman and Mrs Watson, after the reading of the report, said that before they had gone into the matter they were quite in sympathy with Mr Hewetson’s motion. Mr Hewetson, whilst adhering to his previous opinion, was quite willing to let matters remain as they are pending the erection of the new hos. pital or until a fresh appointment might be necessary. ■■ The Chairman said the Board should pass a by-law sufficiently elastic to meet circumstances aS they arose. Ine first consideration of the Board _was the interests of the patients; and he would like to see a self-supporting institution paying its way and with. :• personnel which would attract good paying patients to enter the hospital in'preference to the private hospitals which were at present competing with the Board. (Left sitting).