HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11712, 23 July 1901, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

a/ieeting of the Auckland Hospital and Qforitable Aid Board was 'held yesterday, aTternoon at the High-street office. Present: j Messrs. A. Bruoe (chairman), James Stich-, bury, G. J. Garland, John Gordon, J. Jamieson, J. Walters, and A. P. Friend. Notice of Motion: Mr. John Gordon moved, "That the secretary furnish a typewritten statement showing: (1) The date Mr. and Mrs. Moss entered the service, and the date of leaving the service of the Board, W tho amount paid yearly by way of salary to them; (3) tho amount of potty cash or other payments, if any, during tho sam periods , 4) the style and status Mr. and Mrs. Mobs were to hold while in the service of the Board; (5) the date on which his children were allowed.to enter the home and become a charge for board and lodging.' Ellerslie Reserve: With reference to tho proposed alienation of the Boards reserve at Ellerslie to the Agricultural Association, the secretary read correspondence from the Auckland members of Parliament, promising to see the Board adequately compensated and fairly treated in the matter when the Bill was introduced on the question. Received. Friendly Sooiety: The secretary of the Union Steamship Company Mutual Benefit Society wrote pointing out that his society had a moving membership, consisting of seafaring men, and that no district in New Zealand could be considered their place of residence, and asking that they be extended the privileges accorded to other friendly societies. Mr. Garland said the letter was the outcome of a request for payment of full fees in respect of treatment of one of the society s members. He would move, "That halffees bo accepted in this particular case 0n1y.... Messrs., Gordon and Jamieson spoke against tho proposition, and said that although they were in sympathy with the objects of friendly societies, they considered that the company should provide for their employees. OnMr. Jamieson's motion, it was resolved, hat the previous decision of the Board that the reduction of fees be only granted to those resident within the hospital distnot be adhered to." ' ' Medical Superintendent: The report of the honorary medical staff on the appointment of a medical superintendent stated that the matter had been carefully considered at a well-attended meeting held "on Saturday last. The view generally expressed was that for tho efficient working of the hospital a staff of three medical officers was required, and it • was the, unanimous opinion of the members that rather than '< the . appointment of a medical superintendent at the salary named, it would be in i the interests of the hospital that the senior resident should be advanced to that .position, with; an increase of present salary, and that he should be assisted by two junior residents, with' also an increase of present; remuneration. It was also regarded that the superintendent, in addition to his administration duties, should have charge of the output department, and should give primary treatment to all surgical and medical cases on admission, to tho hospital, and to cases of emergency. It was also considered that the medical superintendent should administer or supervise the administration 'of - all "anaesthetics. Mr. .Stichbury was .of opinion that a staid man wa3 required, and that the hospital should not bo left in the' hands of a young and inexperienced man.' He moved, "That the matter be deferred for a fortnight, and that the honorary staff be invited to meet, the Board on the question in the meantime." Carried.' .... Reports: The reports of the medical superintendent stated the return for the past fortnight as follows:—Patients admitted, 41 males, 23 females; deaths, 4. males, 2 females ; discharged, 39 ' males; 19 females; re-. maining at date, 99 males, 60 females. Mr. Stichbury referred to the. number of patients remaining in the hospital whose discharge had - already been recommended. " Ho characterised this as a want of management. Other members spoke j in the same strain. Dr. Bledford said some of the patients were destitute, and had no home to go to, and it was hard to say what was to be done with them. Mr. Jamieson" said the building was being filled with destitute persons, and it was no place for them. Mr. Friend moved, "That the patients discharged be requested to leave at once, and, if necessary, apply to the relieving officer for aid." Mr. Stichbury said the matter could well be remedied by the medical staff. , Mr. Friend's motion was

carried. As requested, the lady superintendent supplied a return of the nurses' stations, which contradicted the statement made at the last meeting that } probationer nurses had been kept on :,« night duty for several months at a stretch. The report stated that with, reference to night duty, a rule providing for a period of. one month's night duty alternately, with day.duty for probationer: nurses ; came into force in January, 1898, and had since been strictly adhered .to. ; The nurses. in training averaged ' from 10 to 11 months' night duty during their term of three years. The "• charge nurses" of the various wards (with one exception) took it in turn to act as " night charge nurse.": The reduction in the hours of day and night duty from nine and a-half hours and 12 hours to eight and eight and three-quarter hours dated from January 15 last. - Report received. A report :■ was also furnished as to the quantity of hot water supplied for the nurses. The Chairman said it cost the Board full}' £300 annually for fuel, and the expense was simply ridiculous. The letter was deferred for a fortnight, pending the receipt of a report from the engineer. Maternity Ward The report of tho Select Committee recommended that a separate building be erected in the hospital grounds for the purposes of a lying-in ward, the cost to be taken from, bequests to the hospital. Mr. Garland supported the recommendation. Mr. Stichbury said this was an institution that was not required, as the Board at the present time.had;.a place forthose who were not able to pay, and really for country people. »He contended that the money could not justly be appropriated from bequests. Tho Chairman said that there was an open fund that could be dealt with. After discussion, the recommendation was adopted, Mr. Stiohbury_ protesting. Wheel Chairs: Mrs. William Smith wrote, stating that the two wheel chairs purchased by public subscription were to. hand, and that advantage would be taken of the progress of a concert to be given at the hospital on Monday evening by the members of the Central Mission orchestra to present them. Received, the chairman to attend.