NELSON HOSPITAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 5 December 1929, Page 3

NELSON HOSPITAL

BOARD’S MONTHLY MEETING 1 UUERCULOSIS TRE A TIM I; N T UNDER GROUP SYSTEM The Nelson Hospital Board held its 1 1 1 o 11L1 1 1 y meeting yesterday afternoon when there worn present: Mr E. W. 0. Sinill l (chairman), Mesdames Watson and Molfall, .Messrs T. llewetson, J. G. I ’age, (!. .Maeinalmn, 11. Tunnicliff, B. I l ’. Spiers, and Major Dagger. Accounts amounting to £1052 16. s lOd were passed for payment. The Medical Superintendent, Dr. I' - . Hudson, reported that patients admitted during November numbered 115, discharged 06, the number remaining being 06. Dr. M. Varlev was appointed junior house surgeon at the hospital for a period of six months. According to the monthly report of the master of the Alexandra Home (Mr A. Hunter) there are 27 inmates in the Home. The relieving officer, Mr 11. Kidson, reported that 14 families had received assistance during the month, and £24 19s distributed in rations and fuel. TOWN COMMITTEE The Town Committee recommended (1) that the steel required for the restoration of earthquake damage and the strengthening of the building be indented as recommended by the architect and that the architect call for tenders as soon as possible; (2) that Sister Y. M. Woodham had resigned and that a ward sister had been advertised for. The opening offenders for the restoration of earthquake damage was left to the Town Committee. In respect to Sister Woodham’s resignation the chairman expressed regret and it was decided that a letter be sent to the Sister expressing the Board’s besh wishes. ‘ One of the best loved nurses in the hospital” commented Mrs Watson. Eleven applications from all parts of New Zealand were received for the position of ward sister. Miss M. Haswell, who is at present relieving sister at the hospital, was appointed. After a discussion it was unanimously agreed to join the North Canterbury group under the group system for the treatment of tuberculosis, the group to consist of that part of the South Island north of the Bakaia river. DISTRICT NURSE The appointment of a district nurse for Tukaka, which was held over from the previous meeting was again discussed. Mr llewetson explained that at the last meeting a deputation from Takaka waited on the Board requesting the appointment of a district nurse for that district, the cost to be borne by the whole Board area. Mr Page said he had been asked to explain that it- was not at the request of a public meeting that the deputation waited oil the board. It was a decision of a meeting between tho Takaka Town Board and County Council, lie said it would be a, very fine thing for the district, but lie could see no special reason why Takaka. should be provided with a district nurse in preference to other districts—Murchison or Collingwood, unless the Board was to make it a policy to supply all of them. It was not intended that the Takaka district should finance the nurse. The chairman said Mr Page had touched on the weak point—that of finance—and he outlined the present system of subsidising doctors, maternity nurses and cottage hospitals which cost the Board £950 per annum, lie had no doubt that it would be a very line tiling to have the services of a trained nurse in the district, but he felt that if the Board made such an appointment other districts would apply for one. lie said that if district nurses were appointed the whole subsidy system would have to be overhauled so as to meet the particular requirements of the districts with a better system. lie thought the matter would have to he held over as the Board could not increase its aggregate expenditure in subsidies. It was mentioned that a district nurse would cost about £IBO per annum. Mr llewetson considered that if the people in Takaka wanted a district nurse they should form an association and supply £125 to £l5O for the purpose, which amount could be subsidised. Major Dagger said he thought Takaka was in a good position with two maternity homes and a doctor. It was decided that no action be taken. GENERAL The Department of Health forwarded a list of prohibited immigrants who had landed in New Zealand. These had landed, but a bond had been received in each case, on which a claim could lie made if such persons claimed charitable assistance. A donation of £5 was received from the trustees of the estate of the late Mr C. 11. Martin. The secretary mentioned the very (ini' effort being made by the Gowan Bridge construction camp which had agreed to provide £5 a month to retain a bed in ihe hospital. However the payments from the camp were far in excess of the necessary sum. Appreciative reference was made to the spirit of the contributors. A letter was received from the Nelson City Council drawing the Board’s attention to the effort being made by the Cancer Campaign Society. The chairman explained that a conference of 209 men had been held recently in Christchurch and a committee set up to deal with the campaign which was being made in an effort to fight the disease. The general public was asked to assist in the campaign, firstly by assisting the doctors in reporting cases in the early stages when cures were possible, and secondly by financial help. In what was to be known as the Canterbury, Marlborough, Nelson and Westland Division of the New Zealand branch of the British Empire Cancer Campaign Society, it is hoped to raise £25,000 towards the fund. Tho campaign was not directly connected with the hospitals, but the chairman was sure the Board was in sympathy with the movement. It was decided to allocate £25 for Christmas cheer to be distributed as follows: Nelson Hospital £ls (including £5 donation from estate C. Martin), Alolueka £2, Alexandra Home £6. Mrs Watson is to purchase goods for children under the Board. The next meeting of the Board was fixed for Bth January.