WAIPIATA SANATORIUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20319, 30 January 1928, Page 13

WAIPIATA SANATORIUM.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The VVaipiata Sanatorium Committee mot at Waipiata on Wednesday last. Prior to the meeting the committee visited the institution and looked over the farm and garden. The members wore much impressed with the fine condition of the stock and the greatly improved appearance of the grounds as well as the garden and farm crops, the result evidently of good husbandry and judicious irrigation Irom tho committee’s fine water supply. At the meeting, which was hold in tho evening, there were present Messrs J. Matheson (chairman), E. Macdonald, A. Fraser, Jasper Clark, J. Ritchie, E. Morgan, J. Horrell and W. Bryant. Dr Macloan represented tho Department of Health. Mr R. Scott, M.L.C., Dr A. Kidd (medical superintendent) and Mr H. G. Naylor (secretary of the South Canterbury Board) were also present. Leave of absence was granted to Mr F. W. Watts (Ashburton) Mr Bryant representing tho Aahburtpn Board in his place. The Chairman extended to Mr Bryant the sympathy of the committee in connection with a recent family bereavement, and welcomed Mr Scott a former member of the committee, to the meeting. The Chairman also explained that on learning that the Minister of Health (Mr J. A. Young) was visiting the south, ho had extended on invitation to him to visit Waipiata at the same time as the committee. Mr Young, however, was unable to do so, and wired thanking tbo chairman for his invitation. The Maniototo Hospial Board forwarded a resolution with reference to ex patients of Waipiata Sanatorium who, after taking up their residence in Central Otago, were admitted to the hospitals of that district for treatment of complaints other than tuberculosis, suggesting that the Associated Boards should accept liability for these for a period of at least two years as had already been agreed to as regards patients suffering from tuberculosis. After discussion the secretary was directed to notify the Maniototo Board that the committee could not see its way to ask the associated boards to accept this increased liability. Mr Morgan asked that his dissent to the resolution be recorded. The Hospital Boards’ Association and tho Director-general of Health wrote with reference to tho committee’s request to have the sections in the Hospitals Act referring to the residential qualifications amended so as to preclude from its provisions persons afflicted with tuberculosis. The Treasurer reported that the Government grant of £2500 promised by the Minister of Health for capital expenditure at Waipiata Sanatorium had been paid into the committee’s account. With reference to procuring a billiard table for the use of the patients in the sanatorium, the Chairman reported what had been done in the Southland and Ashburton hospital districts in the matter of voluntary contributions, and the representatives of other boards present reported on what was being done in their respective districts to supplement the amount already in hand, which the Chairman stated was in the vicinity of £29.—The matter of further contributions and of inquiries respecting a suitable table was left in the hands of the chairman and secretary with power to act. Tho Medical Superintendent (Dr A. Kidd) submitted statistical returns of patient- admitted to and discharged from the sanatorium and their condition at the end of each month. Ho reported that Nurses Pont, MTntosh, Aitken, and Parcell had been successful in passing their examinations for tuberculosis nursing, the papers being- set and marked by Dr Blackmore. of Christchurch. Received, the nurses mentioned to be complimented on their success, and granted special certificates by tho committee. Dr Kidd also reported that Mr Tannock, Curator of the Dunedin Gardens, had sent up a man to supervise the lay-out of the grounds and had submitted two plans which would work in with the present and future buildings so far as roads and paths were concerned. —After some consideration the committee adopted a scheme providing for one central roadway for the institution, and the details were left in tho hand s of the Farm Committee to confer with the medical superintendent and the foreman in charge of the work, with power to act in having the first portion of the scheme carried out. The Secretary (Mr T. Pryde) submitted the bed state report showing that the different associated boards had patient? >n the sanatorium a s follows; —South Canterbury 23, Southland 24. Ashburton 12 Waitaki 7, South Otago 7, Wallace 3, Vincent 2, Maniototo 2, and one private patient, a total of 81. Out of that number six had been in the institution for "-ore than 18 months, six for more than 12 months, and 70 for less than 12 months. Since the November meeting 14 patients had been discharged, eight with the disease arrested, four with tho disease quiescent, one transferred to hospital for surgical treatment, and one much improved. He also submitted a list of 71 patient? awaiting admission, 26 from the South Canterbury dis trict, 28 from Southland, 4 from Ashburton, 6 from Waitaki, 6 from South Otago, and I from Vincent.—ln view of this large waiting list and the urgent necessity of having more accommodation for patients, the medical superintendent wa S- asked to submit a report to next meeting _a s to howmany patients could be treated in the sanatorium over and above the extra 30 that are being provided for in the new shelters now in course of erection without the committee requiring to add to the present kitchen and administrative blocks. Tho Sesrefcary also reported that tho Love Construction Company had_ now started its contract for the erection of extra patients’ shelters which it was hoped would be completed by May. He reported further that for the supply and delivery of boiler and laundry machinery, tho Health Department had invited tenders which had been submitted since Last meeting to the members of committee, and the chairman’s action in instructing the department to accept the lowest, that of Anderson’s. Ltd., Christchurch, of £334 18s 6d, was approved. The matter of tho erection of the machinery when it arrives was held over in the meantime, it being suggested that the laundry engineer of the Ashburton Hospital would pobably bo available to advise on detail matters connected with same. The Farm Manager submitted his icport of mutton and milk produced and supplied to the institution during tho month. Also the result cn -c,.;. -ale, of wool and sheep skins. In connection with the supply of milk and meat to the institution it was decided that the fixing of tho prices for these be held over until the end of the financial year, tho committee being of the opinion that it was more important to reduce tho annual cost per patient than to show a large surplus on the annual working of the farm account. Several matters ill connection with l tie farm and new cowbyro, which had now been taken over by the farm manager, were left in the hands of the Farm Committee, chairman and secretary, with power to act, the secretary being instructed to procure_ * suitable milk cooler and obtain information as to the cost of a freezing plant and building for meat, milk, butter, etc., at tho sanatorium. Owing to the large number of. patients in the sanatorium and the time required each month for the medical superintendent to visit the different centres in the committee’s district, it vjas decided to notify the department of the committee’s intention to appoint a full time assistant medical officer, and to request the consent of tho department in the matter of providing suitable accommodation for hipi at the institution. , The matter of installing an electric cooking plant to supplement the present coal range was held over for the present, Mr Ritchie and the secretary being requested to make further inquiries as to tho most suitable make. . , . , The Treasurer submitted a statement or the committee’s receipts and payments since the previous meeting which showed that for the 10 months ended January 31 the actual receipts were £321 less than the amount estimated for the while the maintenance expenditure was £484 less than tho estimate. Owing to the delay in getting departmental consent to the erection of the patients’ shelters the capital payments for the period were £3BOO less than the amount estimated, and at present there was a credit balance at the bank or £6386 15s. . onto Accounts end salaries totalling £1368 14= 6d were passed for payment. It was decided to hold the next meeting in Dunodin on February 28.