WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21710, 30 July 1932, Page 18

WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

MEETING OF COMMITTEE The Waipiata Sanatorium Committee mot in Dunedin on Tuesday, July 26, there being present Messrs J. Ritchie (acting chairman), J. Rodman, J. W. Fenton, T. Golden, T. A. Lowis, and Dr T. R. Ritchie. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs E. Macdonald, W. Bryant, and J. C. Thomson. The acting chairman welcomed Mr Lowis, the representative of the Maniototo Hospital Board, to the meeting. Mr H. L. Cooper, secretary of the Invercargill Red Cross Society, reported that as the result of an appeal in Southland for books, etc., for the patients in Waipiata Sanatorium the sum of £l6 17s 6d had been received, besides 560 bound books, 750 magazines and journals, eight playing games, cards, etc., and suggested that tbe cash collected might go towards

augmenting the committee’s fund for the installation of a wireless set for the patients.—The communication was received, the secretary to inform Mr Cooper that the committee very much appreciated the fine response to the needs of the patients in the institution. —In connection with the same matter, Dr Kidd reported that the residents of Waimate, at the instance of Mr George Dash, had also sent a fine donation of books to the institution, and the secretary was directed to forward to Mr Dash the committee’s thanks. The medical superintendent (Dr Kidd) reported that four patients were admitted to the institution in June, and three discharged, 111 remaining on July 1, all of whom, with the exception of 15 whose condition was stationary, were doing well or improving. As a result of his visits to the different centres during the month he recommended as suitable for admission one patient each from the Vincent, South Canterbury, and Waitaki districts and two from Southland.—The report was adopted and the requisitions granted, as was also the request from the matron for a small electric cooker. The secretary reported that at date of meeting there were 110 patients in the sanatorium from the following districts: — South Canterbury 29, Southland 34, Ashburton 16, Waitaki 13, South Otago 7, Wallace 4, Vincent 3, Maniototo 3, Waipiata Sanatorium Committee 1. Of that number seven had been under treatment for more than two years, 23 for more than one year, and 80 for less than one year. Since the previous meeting seven patients had been discharged, five with the disease arrested and two quiescent. One patient had died. He submitted a list of 14 patients awaiting admission and stated that arrangements were already made for the immediate admission of five of that number. Ac all the male beds in the institution were full, the bulk of the waiting patients were males, and the secretary was directed to communicate with the medical superintendent and ascertain whether it would be practicable to shift some of the female patients’ shelters so that they would be available for male patients, and the probable cost. The farm manager forwarded his monthly report on milk and meat supplied to the institution, which was adopted. The Farm Committee (Messrs Lowis and Ritchie) reported on their visit to the institution the previous day, and certain requirements asked for by the farm manager, such as extra implements, material for gates, manure, seeds, etc., were granted. The treasurer reported that the committee’s receipts and frayments for the month were well within the amount provided in the estimates for the year. The Director-general of Health returned the committee’s estimates for the year with a recommendation that certain adjustments be made, and this matter was left in the hands of the secretary for attention.

The secretary reported on the steps taken to obtain prices for an X-ray plant for the institution'and the arrangements made for financing this, which were approved. The secretary was instructed to report more fully on the position to the next meeting. . ■ Accounts and salaries totalling £1245 4s 7d were exariiined and recommended for payment. It was decided to hold the next meeting of the committee 'in Dunedin on Tuesday, August 30.