WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21918, 1 April 1933, Page 18

WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

MEETING OF COMMITTEE The Waipiata Sanatorium Committee met at Dunedin on Tuesday last, there being • present Messrs E. Macdonald (chairman), W. Bryant, J. Rodman, T. A. Lowis, J. Ritchie, J. W. Fenton, T. Golden, and J. C. Thomson. Leave _or absence was granted to Dr T. R. Ritchie. In connection with the forthcoming election of a member of the Otago Land Board, Mr James Ritchie was authorised to exercise the committee’s vote. The secretary was directed to forward a letter of thanks to the South Otago Hospital Board for a donation of books. The secretary’s action in supplying full information of the working of the sanatorium to the Waipawa Hospital Board in connection with a proposal that it should take over the administration ot the Pukeora Sanatorium from the Department of Health was approved. Dr A. Kidd reported that 10 patients were admitted to the sanatorium in February, 6 discharged, while 112 remained on March 1, all of whom, with the exception of 14, whose condition was reported as being stationary, were improving. He submitted a report on his visits during the month to the different centres and recommended patients from the following districts as suitable: —Waitaki 2, Wallace 4. Southland 5, South Canterbury 3. He also reported on the nursing staff and other matters connected with the aclmimstration of the institution, and his report was adopted and requisitions were granted. The secretary mentioned that some years ago the late Mr Janies Stewart, of Invercargill, had given a sundial to the sanatorium, and, although he had been thanked for his generous offer at the time, the sundial had not been erected.—ln view of the fact that a relative of the deceased had offered to carry out the latter s intentions in connection with this equipment, the action of the secretary in arranging with the medical superintendent to fix a suitable site for its permanent location was approved.

Dr Kidd submitted his report for the year ending March, 1933, on the care and treatment of patients in the institution, showing that during the year patients had been admitted from the following districts:—South Canterbury 20, Southland 28, Ashburton 17, Wait aid 11, South Otago 3, Vincent 6, Wallace 2, Maniototo 3—a total of 90—while 94 (58 males and 30 females) had left the institution, 53 of whom had the disease arrested, 1/ disease quiescent, 14 improved, five eondition unchanged. One had died, while lour had been transferred to hospital. Since the institution was opened in 1923, 1 73 patients had been discharged, 80 per cent, of whom had gone out with the disease arrested or quiescent. During the past year ho had examined 331 patients in ithc different centres, of whom 118 were recommended for admission, 34 unsuitable, 87 no definite sign of disease, and 92 no recommendation in the meantime. Ho also mentioned that since he had commenced his monthly visits to these centres he bad examined no fewer than 2454 persons, apart altogether from ex-patients who wished to confer with him regarding their condition. With the report was a lengthy confidential report on the present known condition of all patients who had passed through the sanatorium since it had been opened.—The report was of a very interesting nature, and the secretary was directed to have tins incorporated in his annual report, and a summary sent to each of the associated boards. The secretary reported that at the date of meeting the following boards had patients in the institution: —South Canterbury 24, Southland 36, Ashburton 21, Waitald 11. South Otago B,_ Wallace 2, Vincent 8, Maniototo 3, Waipiata sanatorium Committee I—a total of 114. Ot that number seven had been in for more than two years. 28 for more than one year, and 79 for less than one year. Since the February meeting three patients had been discharged. He submitted a waiting list of 34 patients (20 males ana 14 females) from six hospital districts, and stated that, although he had made arrangements for the immediate admission of four of these, the lack of accommodation for male patients was causing some concern, as the list as far as this sex was concerned had been increasing

for some time past, and very few males were being discharged. The farm manager submitted a return of the milk and meat supplied to the institution during February, and the stock he had on the place at the end of the month. Mr Lowis, on behalf of the 1' arm Committee, reported on the work that had been carried out during the month, and mentioned that the committee had not been able to visit the head waters of the Pigburn Creek with regard to endeavouring to increase the water supply, but hoped to do so before next meeting.—The report was adopted and certain requisitions were granted. The Treasurer (Mr T. Pryde) submitted a statement of the committee’s receipts and payments for the past year and the estimated maintenance and capital expenditure for the ensuing year. The amount collected for maintenance of patients and farm sales, etc.,_ it was stated, together with the reduction in the expenditure of the institution, had left the committee with a very satisfactory credit balance on the year’s working. He indicated that £14,300 would be required for the running of the sanatorium and farm for the year ending March 31, 1934, and intimated that by keeping a close watch on all maintenance expenditure the committee could carry on for the ensuing year at a charge of 5s per day per patient to each of the associated boards. This would leave very little margin, but by careful and economical management it could be done. He gave a summary of the committee’s maintenance charges during the past 10 years as follows: —1923-24, 9s per day, plus £IOOO levy on boards; 1924-25, 9s per day, plus £2350 levy on boards; 1925-26, 9s per day, plus £6OO levy on boards (from then on no levy had been required), 1926-29, 9s per day; 192930, 7s 6d per day; 1930-32, 7s per day; 1P32-33, 6s per day; 1933-34, 5s per day (proposed). For capital expenditure, the treasurer indicated that, as the now X-ray plant ordered last year had now arrived, provision would have to be made for the payment of this, and recommended, subject to the approval of the department, a capital levy on the associated boards of £1215 Bs. He pointed out that even this additional amount, with 5s per day for maintenance, would moan that the combined boards would pay some £BOO less in the ensuing year than they had done for the year just closed.—The committee expressed its appreciation of the very satisfactory financial statement, and decided to adopt the treasurer’s recommendations, the chairman and others remarking that to run an institution and farm ’for 5s per day per patient would be a very fine achievement indeed. The committee also adopted a resolution of appreciation of the efforts and cooperation of the whole of its staff in keeping down the expenditure of the institution during the past year, and directed the secretary to convey this resolution by letter to the medical superintendent. Accounts and salaries totalling £1233 19s were passed for payment.