WAIPIATA SANATORIUM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21198, 2 December 1930, Page 4

WAIPIATA SANATORIUM.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The Waipiata Sanatorium Committee, met at Waipiata on Wednesday, November 26. there being present Messrs E. Macdonald (acting-chairman), W. Bryant, H. Grenfell, A. King, J. G. Johnston, J. Ritchie, P. Aitken, Dr T. R, Ritchie, representing the Department of Health, and Dr A. Kidd, medical superintendent. Leave of absence was granted to the chairman (Mr. J. Matheson)T Dr Kidd reported that during October ip patients, were admitted to the institution, four discharged, while 116 remained on November 1, all of whom, with the exception of 17 whose condition was reported as stationary, were doing well or improving. He stated that he examined a number of patients in the different centres, and recommended as suitable three patients from the Waitaki district, two from South Canterbury, four from Southland, and one from Wallace, ■ The secretary reported that at the date of meeting the following boards had patients in the institution; —South Canterbury 32, Southland 30, Ashburton 12, Waitaki 14. South Otago 10, Wallace 6, Waipiata Sanatorium Committee 1; —a total of 105. Of that number, six had been receiving treatment for more than two years, 18 for more than one year, and 81 for less than one year. He advised that since the meeting 13 patients had been discharged, nine of whom had the disease arrested. He submitted a waiting list of 26 patients who had been recommended for treatment by Dr Kidd, but as arrangements had been made for a number of- these to be admitted almost immediately ; owing to a large number of iP.atients ;.having . completed their treatment, the’actuah waiting list was reduced to about eight, the lowest it has been since the institution was established, informa-tion-which-wasl received by the members of .the.committee with a good deal of satisfaction. ",

As the outcome.of a request from the South Otago’ ’Hospital Board that the Committee might consider the admission to ,the sanatorium, for treatment of advanced and '.chronic T.B. patients as it had ho accommodation for patients of that type.'in its;own district. Dr Kidd sub- ■ TOitled a report'pointing out that if the committee should decide to alter its polcy and admit patients of the type mentioned, it would be necessary to provide for different accommodation than was now available for the early type of case for which the sanatorium was established. - Owing to. the lower vitality of. advanced-cases .it would-be necessary to have a, more comfortable type of ward than the usual open-’ air shelters, and such wards during •very Cold weather would require to be heated. The mixing of- both' types of /patients in the open air, pavilions would not be desirable,'as’patients of the advanced type could ■ not' be expected at ! the outset :to benefit by the open-air methods provided, while ,they also would have a depressing effect on the.. early cases and retard the progress of the.; latter. Nevertheless, under 'comfortable -feird conditions and with careful medical and’nursing attention, advanced cases often made good progress, although i their treatment would be very prolonged. As the committee’s waiting list was now getting down to more reasonable limits, it might be possible, as beds at the sanatorium became available, perhaps'to fit . up-some portion-of. the existing buildings for a limited number of patients of the chronic or advanced type who could not be provided for in their own hospital districts. He also pointed out that if the committee should decide to erect further accommodation at Waipiata for the treatment of advanced cases, it would also have to consider the providing of more staff accommodation. Eventually it was resolved on the motion of Messrs Bryant and Johnston that the South Otago Board be advised that for the present at least the committee’s policy of providing for the treatment of-early cases only be adhered to, but with the now apparent reduction in ■ the committee’s waiting list it hopes at an early date to be in the position to provide treatment for the more advanced type of T. 8., and that the secretary forward to each associated board a copy of Dr Kidd's report. ’ The farm manager (Mr B. Ritchie) submitted a report on the milk and'mutton supplied, to the institution during the month.—Mr AitkeU, oh’behalf of th,e Farm and Visiting Committee, reported on the work that had been done, ’such as preparing specifications for a race to connect abranch of the Capburn Greek to the present storage dam; levelling of the sanatorium grounds,. and the purchase of fat sheep, etc. In connection with the keeping of fowlsa very interesting report was submitted by.- a- well-known - North Otago poultry farmer, to whom' the secretary .was directed to forward a letter of thanks, and "the subcommittee was directed to •attend to the erection of the necessary housing and pens for the accommodation of some 400 young birds. Several, quotations were, received from different bacon curcrs for touring pigs from/the sanatorium' farm, and also for the’ supply of bacon for the institution. These matters were left in the hands of Mr A.’King’and the secretary’with power to act.

The secretary reported on the result of a conference between Messrs Ritchie and Aitken, the committee's architects and the lowest tenderer for the erection of two workmen’s cottages, whereby the sizes of the buildings were considerably reduced to bring the cost within the amount provided in the committee’s estimates.—The action of the sub-committee was approved. The secretary was directed to forward a letter of thanks to. the Oamaru Municipal Band for’ an enjoyable concert given to the Sanatorium patients and staff on Sunday, November. 16. The treasurer submitted a statement showing the position of the committee’s capital and .maintenance accounts as at date of meeting, and accounts and salaries totalling £1260 Is 3d were passed for payment.

.It was decided that the next meeting ot the committee would be held in Dunedin on Tuesday, January 27, 1931, and that the chairman and secretary pay the salaries and wages for December, and any urgent accounts. • This being the last meeting before the Christmas and New Year holidays the acting chairman conveyed the usual greetings and good wishes to Dr Kidd and the members of the sanatorium staff, and at the same time expressed the hope that when they next met the chairman (Mr J. Matheson) would-be present to preside over the committee’s deliberations.