HOSPITAL TRUSTEES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13263, 20 April 1905, Page 2

HOSPITAL TRUSTEES.

Tho monthly meeting of Ihe Hospital Trustees, held yesterday, was attended by Messrs P. Miller (chairman), .Myers, Tapper, Brown. Wills, Green, and T. Mackenzie, M.H.R. 'The House Committee reported as to donations received during the past month, including (from the lion, medical staff) £188 0s 6d; 'that new fire hose had been procured during the past month; that the sum of £20 had been received from the Trustees, Executors, and Agency Company, being a bequest from tho late Denis Hcenan, and the amount had been credited to the building account, Ihe balance of which was now £604 4s Bd;lhat John Reid, night porter, had been granted an extension of a month's leave of absence on account of ill-health. The Finance Committee reported that, accounts and salaries amounting to £924 16s had been passed for payment, subject lo lite approval of tho trustees. That receipts for the past month were:—lnpatients, £103 6s 2d; out-patients, £8; donations, £194 7s; subscription box, 3s 6d; t sales, £1 Is; voluntary contributions, £5 10s. A copy of I lm balance sheet for the, year was submitted, with statements showing locality from which putients came, yearly average number of patients, and daily average cost of maintenance per head; also list, of various amounts owing by patienls discharged amounting lo £899 Is 6d.—Tho report was adopted. DEPUTATION FROM THE MEDICAL STAFF. A deputation from the lion, medical staff —namely, Drs Gordon Macdonald, F. C. Batclielor. Barnelt, and Closs—waited on the trustees in respect 1o a requisition for new instruments, improvements, etc., previously laid before the trustees. Dr Macdonald, speaking on behalf of the deputation, said that, as to the list of instruments sent, in, these appliances wero considered' absolutely necessary. Ho referred to the rapid strides being made in science nowadays, and the necessity that their Hospital should be well equipped and up-to-date, anil not. let fall behind the times. Another matter lie emphasised was the necessity for having in the Hospital a room where, septic cases could bo operated upon. At present the staff had very serious difficulties to contend with, for, with tho treat- ' ment of septic cases in the present cperat- ; ing theatre, tho atmosphere, etc., became j in such a poisonous state that there was risk attending tho performance of other operations, and although tho staff strove as far as they could to avoid this risk they were constantly in fear of it. All that was j required was that a few pounds (perhaps j £10 to £20) should be spent on the old operating theatre io make it fit for these ! bad cases. . Dr Barnctt spoke on the same subject,

and went into some details as to tlio instruments required. He saiil tlio medical staff would like to see a committeo".from the trustees appointed to meet the .Surgical Committee of tlio Hospital and tlio hoiiso surgeon, and go into details as to liow these tilings might best bo procured. He would not go •through the requisition in detail: it included a group of instruments, , which, as -Dr Macdonald liatl said, wore '] absolutely necessary, and a number of re- ! commendations bearing on the improvement |of surgical cases by modern methods. 110 | mentioned as, in liis opinion, necessary u ward steriliser for, each, ward, and a new operating table with lqodcrn improvements, and said tlio staff also thought' that tlio operating theatre should be placed in chargo of a nurse, whose sole duty should be Micro, and who should have nothing to do with the out-patient department. Drs Gloss and Bateholor endorsed Hie remarks of the previous speakers. The Chairman remarked that sonic of tlio instruments had been already procured and paid for. The trustees. were most willing to meet the staff as far as the means at their disposal would allow, and shared their desiro to have the Hospital as up to date as possible. He might mention, however, that it had been found that instruments, especially newly-got instruments, had disappeared at limes from the Hospital. He mentioned the ca=n of an aspirator, costing three guineas, that had not been heard of. Dr liatchelor suggested that the house surgeon should be made responsible for the instruments, and should make a list or them. The Chairman said that that was already done in accordance with the practice in the past. The deputation then withdrew, and on tlio motion of Mr Tapper it was subsequently resolved—" That 1 lie requisition of the hori. medical staff be referred to the House Committee, and that n committee of the lion, metrical staff and house surgeon meet the lionise Committee to advise as to the best way of carrying out the suggestions."