HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9000, 13 March 1888, Page 5

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The ordinary meeting of the above Board was held yesterday evening, at their offices in High-street. There were present: Messrs. Mays (in the chair), Isaacs, Crowther, Atkin, Sturges, Buckland, Udy, Dignan, and Garland (secretary). The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Resignation.—A brief note was read from Mr. S. T. George tendering his resignation as a member of the Board. The resignation was accepted, and the secretary was directed to ask the boroughs of Newton, Parnell, and Newmarket to nominate a gentleman to fill Mr. George's place on the Board. The Typhoid Cases.—Dγ, Bell, resident physician at the Hospital, drew the attention of the Board to the fact that there were at present in the Hospital no less than 28 cases of typhoid fever (18 male and 10 female). All the beds in both wards were full, and none of the patients sufficiently convalescent to be moved. In nearly all the cases the patients had been suffering some considerable time before their admission. During the last week 13 new cases had been admitted. He therefore wished to draw the attention of the Board to the need of a full inquiry into the causes of this rapid increase of fever cases. On the motion of the Chairman, the letter was referred to the House Committee to report upon. It was also decided to request the medical men of the city not to send to the Hospital cases of typhoid fever which could be satisfactorily treated outside. Students' Application.—A letter was received from Mr. E. A. Waters, a student qualifying for the medical profession, asking permission to attend the Hospital ana render what assistance he could under direction of the staff. Dr. Lindsay recommended that permission be deferred until the applicant has passed his preliminary examination. It was resolved to reply to that effect. Trainino of Nurses.—Dr. E. G. Leger Erson wrote pointing out the frequent incapacity and want of knowledge displayed by women practising as midwives, and the great danger arising from this fact to the patients, who were in many instances unable to obtain better aid. He drew the Board's attention to the urgent need of having nurses properly trained in so essential a branch of their labours, and suggested that no female should be allowed to practise as a qualified nurse until she had obtained a certificate of proficiency in midwifery as well as other subjects. As the letter came from Dr. Erson personally, and not in his capacity as a member of the honorary visiting staff, it was decided that he be asked to consult his colleagues of that body upon the question,, and they could then report to the Board upon the subjects treated of in the letter. Income.—The Chairman drew the attention of the members to the printed accounts for the last year, and also to the estimated income for the coming twelvemonths. He was happy to state that for the year to come the Board would not require to draw so much from the outside contributing bodies as last year by the amount of £1311. He considered this state of affairs to be due to the lessening of the number of outdoor patients and persons receiving aid, the cheaper figure at which the rations were obtained, and improved and more economical management. He gave notice to move at the next meeting that the contributing rate for next year be fixed at l-10th of a penny in the pound instead of as previously. The New Refuge. — Mr. Mays moved, " That a new Refuge be erected at Ellerslie at a cost of £4000." In speaking to his motion, he pointed out that there were at present in the existing Refuges 150 people, and that many persons deserving aid had been refused help because of want of room. Some had been boarded out in private families, but this was a very difficult and expensive method of providing support. At present in the two Refuges there were eight paid officers whose salaries aggregated £332. By amalgamating the two sets of attendants in one building, four less would be required, and the work done quite as efficiently as at present at a cost of £210 for wages. This would be a saving of £122, and the board and lodging of the four attendants would also oe another £120 saved. This £240 would be an equivalent to the interest at present accruing from the £4000 he proposed to spend on the new building. Mr. Mays exhibited a set of plans for a building, giving ample accommodation for 200 people, and stated that he had had a professional opinion given him to the effect that such a structure could be erected in brick for £4000. As he had, however, to leave the meeting, he would ask that the further consideration of the matter be deferred till the next meeting. This was agreed to. Accounts.—The regular accounts for the Hospital, Refuges, outdoor relief, etc., for the past two months, amounting in all to £958 10s, were passed for payment, and the meeting closed.