HOSPITAL BOARD MATTERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18541, 29 April 1922, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARD MATTERS

e ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN, n „ Before the business of the Otag< 'l Hospital Board was proceeded will ; on Thursday evening the ohairmai (Mr W. E. S. Knight) said that ii accordance with the statutes it becanu t their duty to elect a chairman of the boarc ( f for the ensuing two years. He had nov ;1 held the office for n period of five years nn< 1 had endpavoured to carry out the importan duties thereof to the best of his abilit; 3 which he trusted had met with approbation 0 It might not be out of place, if he were s to briefly touch on one or two matters o r importance which had engaged their atteu 1 tion during the past year. At the begin - ning they had commenced with the disntem j bered district and had now had experienci for 12 months of the seperation of Soutl 3 Otago. So far he could find no evidence s of any advantage accruing to the new dis 3 trict as during the whole of that perioi t there was ho sign of the erection of an; a new hospitals in that district. From th< j newspaper reports the new board was ex f periencing some of the difficulties whicl r beset all boards and the members wen learning that They could not do all thej j charged the board with' not doing ant i which they thought they could do. Th< new board was still dependent on the Otagt i Board for all its services, and although i was paying a slightly increased charge foi c maintenance, such did not cover the tota - cost when the expense of administratioi s was taken into consideration. A boast hat been made recently that the residents o: f that district were takftig more advantage o hospital facilities, but ho could, not see how r that had been arrived at. The figures thh - year which ware actual—viz., 290 person) treated in the Dunedin Hospital—i.e.. If ,■ in hospital March 31, 1921, admitted anc s discharged (including deaths) 272, and re maining in hospital March 31, 1922, 18, were certanly more than the figures which were - estimated the previous two years. Seeing J that the board had to charge the districl . with all 'patients, a most careful check had r been kept as to where- such patients came from, but in previous years when they be - longed to one district, such accuracy was E not essential and the previous figures sup plied were never intended to be used in thf , way in which- they had been, and he should i say that there was practically no difference. 1 Again, the award of portion of the Otagc Board’s asset-; to the South Otago Board 1 was, on that board’s own showing, quite ■ unprecedented but oorhaps it might be as well to refrain from further comment. To . meet their diminished income, and in ordei ’ not to press too heavily on the ratepayers, all capital levies had been out out last year, and only the minimum amount of 1 work had been carried out and he would J impress on the members that- it ■was still necessary t» practise the strictest economy, : with efficiency, to keep down expenditure 1 ! for this year." He was pleased to say that, 1 as would be seen from the estimates before the board, that the board had not exceeded its estimates for the past year in the maintenance account, and . Inis had only been accomplished by turning deaf ears to anything in the nature of expenditure which was not absolutely essential, x and the prevention of waste. The greatest credit, however, had to -be given to the board s officers for carrying out their duties in this respect. The augumenfafion of tneir stock of radium now valued at £5009. ami their practically new and up-to-date X-ray plant- only recently installed, must be recorded as most important advances, and these had been possible as the- result of the well-known generosity of the citizens, aided by Government subsidy thereon. The community had suffered a severe loss by the lamented death of Mrs Gordon during the year, arid her good deeds needed no word of his to keep her memory ever green in the hearts of those who were privileged to associate with her. The' Royal Commission’s report on hospital control had been made available, artd many recommendations thereon would meet with general approval, but ho was afraid that, the result would be much the same as reports of so many other coim missions in this country, and the reliei expected by main hospitals, and more particularly that required for a teaching hospital, would be tardy in coming. New hospitals looming in the distance were those at Roxburgh and Palmerston, and they would require to lie provided for in a not very far distant future. The maternity hospital at Lawrence had been officially opened during the year, and from returns to hand this addition was being appreciated by the presidents of that locality. The installation of. the new boilers at the Hospital was now completed, and the necessary connections for the change oyer from the old was being completed, and it was hoped that some considerable relief would be obtained in their enormous coal bill, as well as providing greater efficiency and relieving the mind of their engineer from the strain of endeavouring to provide; efficiency with an obsolete plant. Additional lecture rooms were being provided for students at the Dunedin Hospital,' but the board was relieved of financial worry on that score, as, with the well-known practicability of those advocating the scheme, lire finances wen assured by adequate donations and Government subsidy thereon. The Louisa Roberts Hospital at Middlemarch had also been officially opened during the year, and he felt sure that, notwithstanding certain opposition at its inception, now that it was in working order much use would be made of the institution, which would serve a population and district, as the Residents were wholeheartedly supporting (his valuable institution. Extensions to the Port Chalmers Hospital had been likewise officially opened, and as this would provide accommodation for women, it would be needless for him to dwell on the importance of the event, as they would all recognise what this addition would mean to their seaport town and its inhabitants. Before concluding he would like to express his thanks to each member of the board for the assistance rendered to him during his occupancy of the chair, and without creating' invidious distinctions he desired to specially thank Air Quelch, as the chairman o( the Finance Committee, to 'whom they were all much indebted for bis ability in this direction ; and to Mr Talboys, the chairman of the Benevolent Committee, who practically relieved him (the chairman) of any worry in this branch of the board’s activities. This work had been carried on by, Mr Talboys for a period extending further back than the board’s 11 years of existence. To the secretary and the medical superintendent and the staff generally he desired to convey his thanks for their loyal assistance and co-operation. At the conclusion of the chairman’s remarks Mr Talboys moved’ the re-election of Mr Knight, ana referred to the able way that gentleman had carried out his duties in tile past. The worry of the work was even greater than the work itself. Mr Quelch seconded the motion, and spoke of the painstaking efforts of Mr Knight in the past, and the time he had spent in looking after the affairs of the hoard. The motion was put and carried unanimously, and Mr Knight briefly returned thanks for his re-election. Mr Knight having ictired, it was resolved that the chairman’s honorarium be the same as previously—namely, £IOO. I