SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITAL BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19249, 13 August 1924, Page 4

SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITAL BOARD.

The monthly meeting of * the South Otago Hospital Board was held at Balclutha yesterday, and was attended by the Hon. A. S. Malcolm, M.L.C- (chairman), and Messrs .1. Camming, Adam King, A. T. Harris, Jasper dark. H. Simson, J. W. Fenton, A. Rennie, H. A. Brough. THE MILTON HOSPITAL.

The Chairman referred to the fire which had occurred in the new Milton Hospital a few days ago. Inquiries had been made, and it had been ascertained that the damage was only trifling-. N T o definite report had been received yet, however. Ho thought it would be a good plan if the whole system of heating, lighting, etc., were tried out before the board took the hospital over. —It was agreed to do this. ACCOMMODATION AT KATTANGATA. The Matron of the Kaitangata Cottage Hospital reported that seven patients had been admitted during the month—five males and two females, —four hod been discharged, and one had died. There were four remaining. The 'two female patients wore urgent cases, and could not be sent on to Dunedin, so the male patients were removed temporarily to the isolation word. Mr Fenton said that he was not altogether pleased with the report. He wap not charging the matron with anything, but ho did not think it right that a severely injured man should be admitted, and then shifted from his ward when a female patient came in, and put in the isolation ward. Only week before a fever patient had been discharged and a man in as lowa state of vitality as he must have been would have been very susceptible to infection. If ‘the board were not prepared to make accommodation for ont.ients, then it must take the responsibility of attending to them. He would, however, move that the report be adopted, and in doing so expressed his appreciation of the capable work of the matron. Mr Clark said that he did not think that there was any call for “so much noise’’ from Mr Fenton. ’They were gradually moving in the desired direction, he said, and meanwhile the female patients were being sent to the Dunedin Hospital. The motion was seconded and adopted. CORRESPONDENCE. The Town Clerk, Balclutha, wrote advising that at a meeting of his council, held on .Tidy 31. the following resolution was passed:—“That it be a recommendation to i.he South Otago Hospital Board that it go into the matter of appointing a district nurse., pending the completion of the Balclutha Hospital to work in and radiate out from Balolutha.” The writer added that he had been asked to stress this mutter, which his council considered to be a real and urgent one, and hoped that, the board would give to the suggestion its earnest consideration. Mr Camming, in opposing this, rend a statement indicating the board's financial position during the years 1923-24. The maintenance levies for that period amounted to £447 9s 4d. while the co«t of patients in the Balclutha district and of charitable aid was £760, leaving a loss of £312 10s Bd. (There ore still, however, the capital levies to the board's credit, amounting to £313 IPs 9d. so the account is a little more than balanced.) It was decided to agree to provide a nurse on condition that the Balclutha Borough Council paid half her salary. REMITS. The following remits for the annual Conference of Hospital Boards to be held in Wellington in October were passed:— “ That the attention of the Government be called to tile increasing responsibilities thrown on the beard, with consequently heavily increased expenditure and unfairly high rating.” “ That in view of the difficulty of (he cost of collecting patients’ fees, the Government be asked to pass legislation establishing national insurance under which, by a compulsory weekly payment of a small amount by all over 18 years of age; or, in the case of ratepayers, of a small addition to their annual rates, all would be entitled to free hospital treatment.” “ That the Hospital Boards of Now Zealand co-operalc by appointing a dominion buyer.” ... . , “ That better provision no made for compelling defaulting husbands to meet their liabilities by making them work on a farm.” FINANCE.

The receipts for the month ended August 12 amounted to £6454 14s 7d, and the expenditure £2297 Bs, leaving a credit balanoc of £4137 6s 7d.