HOSPITAL BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14928, 28 February 1912, Page 9

HOSPITAL BOARD.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING SCHEME. A' SYSTEM OF CALLS, FROM WARD TO WARD. Tub Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board met last evening. There were present: Messrs. P. M. Mackay (chairman). F. Dye, J. G. Rutherford, H. Schofield. E. H. Potter, P. J. Nerheny, J. Jenkin, M. J- Coylo, and V. J. Ellisdon, and Dr. Pabst (chairman of the honorary medical staff). Specifications for the complete lighting of "the main hospital and other buildings, and also of the grounds, were considered. V report., presented by the electrician, described the strength of the current necessary, and detailed tho positions of the Switches. Special provision would bo made for tho medical staff by having erected in convenient places, wall plugs, so that hand or surgical lamps could bo immediately brought into use. The scheme also made provision for a system of calls, by means of which cither of fivo doctors could be summoned from any ward to any ward by tho mere pushing of a button, Mr. Coylo said if that system made for efficiency" he would recommend it* immediate adoption. Trouble had been experienced through patients coming in and not being attended to at once. A doctor might be a quarter of a-milo away, and vet in the hospital grounds. If this system would give an immediate summons it would bo well worth the money. Dr. Pabst said the proposal had arisen out of a suggestion by tho Medical Committee. Sometimes it took eix minutes to secure an official, as tho main station had often no idea of what ward a doctor might ha in. Tho system would give a call by signal of letters in each. ward. lb -was decided on the motion of tho chairman to call for tenders for tho installation.

TREATMENT OP CONSUMPTIVES. A-PROPOSED SANATORIUM. The Inspector-General of Hospitals (Dr. T fl Vafintine), in a letter, stated that he had recently asked the trustees of the Knox estate if it would be possible for them to consider tho ejection of a, sanaSriom on their land, and to come to some arrangement with the Board, whereby tho administration of the home for awraUea and tho sanatorium could be- under one control. Tho trustees gave him to understand that they would T>e quite willing to meet the Board as far as possible; in tact they would bo prepared to let the Board .' have a piece of their Tamaki land. fhe farm at Tamaki consisted of some 240 acres, and would make a desirable site for such an institution. It soon would be within comparatively easy, reach of the tram extension. Dr Makgill, of the Health Department, waited upon the Board in connection with this matter, and spoke of the necessity for the erection of a sanatorium. The Board decided to visit too proposed site at Tamaki this afternoon, deferring discussion on the subject till a future meeting.

GEHEBAL MATTERS. ■ i EXCHANGE OF KIND. j Mr. Potter moved:* "That the Board ! invito the Auckland City Council to visit ; with the Board the Domain Hill, the j property °* the city of Auckland, and also i the area known as the Stanley-street Re- ! servo, the property of the Board, and situated to the north-west of the Domain, in order that both bodies may be in a position to discuss a proposal for an exchange of the two properties, and with a view to the Board at a future meeting considering the propriety of approaching the Council with a view to such exchange, or to ascertain what would be a fair basis of exchange of the properties. The motion was carried. The Board decided that the architect confer with the chairman of the honorary staff and Dr. Macguire and report (1) on the fittings required for the new morgue; '(2) on the question of hot and cold water supply; (3) whether the accommodation provided in the new morgue is in accordance with the plan submitted by the City Council. , . . The Finance Committee reported that the Board's debit balance at the bank on the administration account was i,090. Accounts amounting to £5207 8s 9d were passed for payment. The Board decided that the sum of £3787 15s 2d, owing in hospital fees, should be written off as tmrecoverahle. This covers a period of three years.