Meeting of Hospital Board

Northland Age, Volume 15, Issue 33, 23 May 1946, Page 3

Meeting of Hospital Board

The Chairman (Mr. J. W.Hoskin) presided at a meeting of the Mangonui Hospital Board held last Thursday. A decision was made to write to the Secretaries of the five Northern Boards suggesting thctt a round table discussion be held before representative^". met the Minister of Health, Mr. Nordmeyer, at the Conference on May'2B. The discussion would enable representatives to clarify several points and would facilitate the presenting of a united front to the Minister. Practically the whole Board signified their willingness to attend the Conference and hear Mr. Nordmeyer’s proposals for amalgamation. In a letter to the Board he stated that he expects to place before delegates full proposals for the Union, including : (a) Constitution of the Board. (b) Constitution of local committees of management within existing districts. (c) Additional functions of new board in relation to public health. (d) Finance particularly as affecting rating for Hospital Boards. The amended estimates made necessary by the Board having to refund advances made on subsidies last financial year shows that the Hospital Board has to find £9,698 for maintenance expenditure this year and £l7O for capital costs. The Board has now levied the County Council with £8,223 16/8 and the Borough Council with £1644 15/4. The hospital report showed 29 patients remaining in Hospital at the end of March. Admissions during the month of April numbered 114, and since the last report 143 patients were treated. Of this figure 97 were discharged, deaths totalled 4, leaving a balance of 42 patients in the hospital at the end of April. The daily average occupied bed rate for the month was 36.4 as compared with 37.7 last year and 26 for last month. The chairman welcomed Dr. N. E. Montague to the meeting, stating that his arrival had lifted a load from the Board's shoulders, as another doctor was essential in the district. Dv. J. Webber and Dr. N. Montague contemplated working in cor junctio : in the one set of rooms. This met with the unanimous approval of the Board. With the approval of the Minister of Health and the Price Investigation Tribunal, the daily maintenance charges for patients in the hospital were increased from 18/- to 21/-. A .e* (r from Dr. M 11. Watt, Direc.ir C-i.eral jl Heal - .'., stated that efforts 1i pur.'aase ,n ambulance from the Army Department were unsuccessful. Suitable chassis were due in the country shortly however, and Dr. Watt advised the Board to contact the agents. A new sterilizer is to be purchased by the Board. Although this will cost approximately £IBO the matter was felt to be of vital importance. A request was received from the Kaitaia District High School, asking the Board to refrain from dismantling the buildings erected during the emergency period. Of little use when taken down these additions would prove very useful to the school. The Board signified its willingness to leave the buildings standing. The School Committee also asked for the Board’s support in requesting the Borough Council to tar-seal Redan Road. This would alleviate the dust nuisance and be of benefit also to the Hospital. The Board decided to give their support. A committee was formed to inquire into the condition of the District Nurse’s cottage which is in bad repair. The Secretary was given instructions to purchase a radio for the maternity nurses’ sittingroom. If all cases of cleft palate and/or harelip babies were sent to him, the cost to the Board would be very little, stated a letter from Dr. H. P. Pickerill. Subject to certain conditions, the Board decided to make an agreement with Dr. Pickerill that : (1) The Board and Practitioners will undertake the treatment of cleft palate and/or harelip in babies ; (2) The Board shall send to the Practitioner’s Hostel at Lower Hutt all babies suffering from cleft palate and/or harelip. As an open drain in Mr. K. A. Knight’s property constitutes a health menace, the Secretary is to interview the Health Officer and subsequently call tenders for tiling the drain. During the month a letter had been sent to the Director-General of Health stating that on the last visit of the Health Department it had been agreed to open the Chest Block provided staff could be obtained. The staff was to consist of two sisters and three nursing aides. The following information, which shows the present inadequacy of accommodation was forwarded to the Department: Number of occupied beds (average 1946) 30, Number of beds (total) in all departments W’omen’s wardvlß, men’s ward 21, cots 6, maternity annexe 13, isolation 3, T.B. block 14, giving a total of 75 beds. At one

nurse for 1.5 patients, the number of nurses required to care for, say, 60 patients would be 40, while the present number of unoccupied beds in the Nurses’ Home was 7. The DirectorGeneral of Health had advised that a nursing officer from his Department was being sent to enquire into the position.