SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21827, 14 December 1932, Page 8

SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITALS

MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD •The monthly meeting of the South Otago Hospital Board was held at Balclutha yesterday. There were present Messrs J, W. Fenton (chairman), D. M'Gregor, A King, W. J. M'Kenzie, H. A- Brough, W. S. Thomson, J. Christie, A. Rennie, W. Sutherland, T. H. Russell, F. Waite. CORRESPONDENCE. The sister in charge of the Milton Hospital sent in her resignation stating tha); she had been appointed to the position of matron of the Cromwell Hospital.— The chairman said the board regretted losing the services of Sister Fuller, but congratulated her on her new appointment, He moved that a letter should be sent to Sister Pullar expressing the board’s thanks to her for her services during the time she had occupied her present position. Messrs Rennie. M'Gregor, King, and Russell endorsed the chairman’s remarks. —The_ resignation was accepted, and it was. decided to forward a letter of thanks to Sister Pullar. A letter was received from the Bay of Islands Hospital Board asking for support for the following resolution, which had been passed by the board regarding the proposed amendments to the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act: “ That any commission set up to consider objections to a union of hospital districts or to the closing of any hospital shall be presided over by a magistrate and that the assistance of all boards shall be requested to have this proviso included in the proposed amendments.” —Mr Waite pointed out that the suggested proviso regarding a magistrate presiding over such commissions had already been included in the proposed amendment. —The letter'was received. A circular letter was received from the Department of Health stating that the existing depression, with the consequent increase of unemployment, had made it necessary for hospital boards to consider provisions for safeguarding the welfare of the wives of unemployed workers and of other poor people during pregnancy and parturition. With a view to assisting hospital boards to meet the situation, the department submitted a number of suggestions for the consideration of the board—The chairman stated that provision was already made by . the board for indigent cases. ‘ A letter was received from the Department of Health enclosing a copy of the comments made by an electrical engineer reporting to another hospital board on the question of electrical blankets. On the evidence submitted to the department it was strongly recommended that the use of these appliances in institutions should be discontinued.—Received. A letter was received from the Commissioner of Unemployment stating that an erroneous belief appeared to obtain in some quarters as to the eligibility of old age pensioners for relief. The position was that in special cases such pensioners might be admitted a.s contributors to the Unemployment Fund, provided they had dependents under 16 years of age and agreed to forgo, or not to apply for, the old age pension, as the case might be. Their admission was subject to the approval of the board. Upon such approval and the payment of the general unemployment levy pensioners were considered for relief on exactly the same terms as other registered and _ eligible applicants. 'Except in these special cases, recipients of, or those eligible for, the old age pension were not permitted to enrol as contributors. —Received. FINANCE. The financial statement showed receipts amounting to £1093 14s and expenditure totalling £1443 4s 3d. The debit balance at the date of the meeting was £1584 Ss Id. The report was adopted. MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. The medical superintendent submitted the following report for the month ot November, the figures for November, 1931, being given in parentheses:— Base Hospital.—Admissions 45 (21), discharges 41 (37), remaining in 48 (16). Owaka Hospital.— Admissions 13 (9J, discharges 11 (6), remaining in 9 (3). Milton Hospital.—Admissions 7 (9), discharges 10 (9). remaining in 4 (7). Kaitangata Hospital.—Admissions 4 (6), discharges 6 17), remaining in (3). out-patients 4 (5). The report was adopted. SEASONAL GREETINGS.

The chairman said that, as this was the last meeting of the year, he desired to take the opportunity of expressing to the members and staff the compliments oi the season. He hoped that the difficulties which were being experienced would be overcome to a much greater extent in the coming year than had been possible in the year that was closing. . The sentiments expressed by the chairman were reciprocated by Mr King, and the meeting then went into committee.