CENTRAL OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20287, 21 December 1927, Page 7

CENTRAL OTAGO.

MANIOTOTO HOSPITAL BOARD. The bi-monthly meeting of the Maniototo Hospital Board was held on Friday last. Present: Messrs H. W. Davis (chair), Bleach, Morgan, T. C. Hore, T. Dowling, P. Aitken, and T. Hall. Miss Bicknell wrote stating that she was endeavouring to arrange tne transfer of the trainees in the hospital to another hospital, retaining its status as a training school. In a second letter she intimated that she had arranged for them to enter St. Helens, Invercargill, on December 2. In reply to representations of the board respecting the best site for a hospital in the district, Dr Valintine, Directorgeneral of Health, wrote that it would be better to defer matters until he had an opportunity of interviewing the board. The Secretary of the Nurses and Midwives’ Registration Board wrote that the protest'of the Maniototo Board as to the closing of the loc; 1 hospital as a training school for maternity nurses would be duly considered at the next meeting of the board. The Minister of Health wrote on the same subject that it was a matter over which he had no direct control. The Nurses and Midwives’ Registration Board was a statutory body set up for approving hospitals which might undertake the training of nurses. The Director-general wrote that an offer had been received from the Auckland Citrus Growers’ Association to deliver to hospitals throughout the Dominion New Zealand lemons at Is per dozen. The Secretary of the Waipiata Sanatorium wrote that his committee could not be responsible for the treatment .of patiente or ex-patients from the sanatorium in the local hospital unless their visit had something to do with tuberculosis. Moreover, whether patients were a liability on the Waipiata Sanatorium Committee or on any of the associated districts, he did not think the committee wa's prepared to pay 12s a day for them, as the charges in most of institutions were based on 9s a day.—The following resolution was carried: —“That in view'of the fact that T.B. cases from Waipiata Sanatorium are being treated for other ailments at our hospital, the probability of further cases, and the number of patients that remain in the district after being discharged from the sanatorium, our board is of the opinion that the agreement of the _ associated boards to suspend the provisions of the Hospitals Act and become responsible for such patients for two years, should bo extended to other ailments as well as tubercular affections.” Mr Morgan gave notice to move that the rules be amended so as to provide that 9s per day be the charge to patients coming from the districts of the associated boards. The Auditor sent a letter to the effect that the books of the board showed an asset of £lll4 11s lOd for treatment in other hospitals, while there were no details of such account.. The amount apparently represented payments made by the board a few years ago of which no details ere kept. He recommended writing this sum off. —This was done on the motion of Messrs Aitken and Morgan.

T. Scurr, Ltd., Dunedin, wrote inquiring the price of the old ambulance the Hospital Board had for sale, but declined at the price quoted (£3O). —The Chairman reported having sold the ambulance to tho County Council for £2O. Mr T. Dowling wrote requesting the loan of correspondence in connection with the disrating of the hospital as a maternity training school. He thought they could get the assistance of the Farmers’ Union in having the school reinstated. — The request was acceded to. The balance sheet for the year 19261927 having been received back from the audit office, certified as correct, it was adopted, and the secretary was authorised to get the usual number printed. Hospital Committee reports were read and adopted. Four applications were received for the position of maternity staff nurse, and that of Aliss W. J. Willis, of F,girlie, was accepted. Nurse Willis received her maternity tvaining at tho local hospital. Accounts amounting to £693 Is were passed for payment. It was left to the doctor and Mr Hove to arrange for anything in the way n, Christmas cheer for the patients.

PURAKANUI NOTES. (From Odh Own Correspondent.) PURAKANUI. December 17. THE WEATHER. This week has been most unpleasant so far as fine weather is concerned. Wo have experienced very cold south to smithwest winds, with cold rain showers, and at present .there is no sign of a clearance.