WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21632, 30 April 1932, Page 16

WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

MEETING OF COMMITTEE The Waipiata Sanatorium Committee met at Dunedin on Tuesday last, there being present Messrs E. Macdonald (chairman), H. E. Niven, W. Bryant, J. Ritchie, J. Rodman, A. King, J. G. Johnston, P. Aitken and Dr T. R. Ritchie, representing the Department of Health. The secretaries of the South Canterbury, Southland, Waitaki and South Otago Hospital Boards wrote expressing their boards’ appreciation of the committee’s administration, and the fact that it had been able to reduce the daily maintenance charge for patients from 7s to Cs, and in this connection Messrs Bryant (Ashburton), Ritchie (Vincent) and Johnston (Wallace) verbally conveyed to the chairman their boards’ thanks for the reduced charge. The- secretary reported, that on April 21 the different boards had patients in the institution as follows:—South Canterbury 32, Southland 36, Ashburton 15, Waitaki 13, South Otago 7, Wallace 5, Vincent 3. Maniototo 1, Waipiata Sanatorium Committee I—a1 —a total of 113. Of that number 7 had been in for more than two years, 18 for more than one year and 88 for less than one year. Since the beginning of the month three patients had been discharged, two with the disease arrested. The secretary also submitted a waiting list of 12 patients who had been examined and recommended for treatment. As two of these had since been admitted, and three had been removed from the list, only seven names were left, which was the lowest in the experience of the committee, a fact that was looked upon with considerable satisfaction by members, as an indication that the institution was able to deal fairly promptly with all applications for treatment. Mr Aitken, on behalf of the Farm and Visiting Committee, reported on what had been done since last meeting in conection with the erection of an implement shed, chaff house and stable and additions to farm hands’ quarters and also with the laying on of water (authorised at last meeting) to some of_ the farm buildings. He also advised having purchased a line of wethers, and suggested that as there was an abundance of feed on the farm further stock should be procured.—This was noted and left in the hands of Messrs Ritchie and Aitken with power to act.. Mr Aitken submitted a quotation from a local builder for erecting a vegetable house close to the laundry, and the quotation was accepted, the work to be carried out.

The treasurer reported on the committee’s finances, which were in a healthy state, and stated that, after conferring with the committee’s architect and medical superintendent, he thought it was inadvisable at the present time to build a portion of the suggested administrative block in brick for housing the X-ray plant, suggesting rather that a wooden structure suitable for the medical superintendent’s immediate needs might be erected to the east of the building at present used for administrative purposes. A sketch for this, submitted by Dr Kidd, was referred to the Farm and Visiting Committee to look into and submit an estimate of the cost to next meeting, as was a request for some alterations in the matron’s quarters. Accounts and salaries totalling £lllß 19s 5d were passed for . payment. The chairman referred to the fact that a number of members of the committee would probably be facing an election to retain their seats on their respective hospital boards, and took the opportunity of ‘thanking them for their close attention to the committee’s business and consideration shown to him during his brief tenure of office. He expressed the hope that they would all be returned by their respective boards as members of the committee. The chairman also moved—- “ That a resolution of the committee’s appreciation bo conveyed to the medical superintendent (Dr Kidd), the sanatorium staff, and the Southland Hospital Board’s administrative staff in Invercargill.”—This was seconded by Mr Ritchie,, who in the course of bis remarks eX-. pressed the opinion that a great deal of the success connected with the administration of the sanatorium since its inception was due to the very loyal support the committee had received from its staff. The committee had been extremely fortunate in this respect. These remarks were endorsed by the rest of the members, the secretary (Mr Pryde), on behalf or the staff, thanking the committee for its expressions of appreciation.