WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22025, 7 August 1933, Page 14

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, T. Golden, J. W. Fenton, and Dr T. R. Ritchie. The Vincent Hospital Board advised the re-election of its chairman (Mr James Ritchie) as a member of the committee. The Vincent, Waitaki, and Ashburton Hospital Boards each intimated their desire to have the existing agreement with the other associated boards renewed for a further term, the last-named board asking for information as to the legal _ position should the Wallace Hospital Board still decide ,to withdraw.—The letters were noted and the secretary’s reply to the Ashburton board’s inquiry approved. MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. Dr A. Kidd reported that five patients were admitted to the institution in Juno, and 10 discharged, while 113 remained on July 1. All, with the exception of 17, whose condition at that date was stationary, were doing well or improving. He reported on his visits to the different centres during the month, and recommended as suitable for treatment in the sanatorium three patients from the Waitaki district, one from Vincent, and five from Southland. BED STATE. The secretary reported thggt on July 29 the following boards had patients in the institution:—South Canterbury 24, Southland 39, Ashburton 17, Waitaki 14, South Otago 5, Wallace 4, Vincent 8, Maniototo 3, Waipiata Sanatorium Committee I—a1 —a total of 115. SO of whom had been under treatment for more than 12 months. Since the previous meeting 10 patients had been discharged, their condition being: Disease arrested 4. disease quiescent 3, much improved 1. improved 1. He submitted a waiting list of 25 patients (16 males and nine females) from six hospital districts, and reported that arrangements had been made for the immediate admission of two females.—Noted. The farm manager'forwarded his return of milk and meat supplied to the institution and farm for the month of June, while the secretary reported having received account sales for pigs, hides, and sheepskins totalling £6l 17s 10cl. Mr Lowis, on behalf of the Farm Committee, stated that it would be necessary to purchase a further supply of wethers for killing, and this was left in the hands of the Farm Committee with power to act. Pipes for the main race had also been delivered.—Noted, the secretary to write to the supplier regarding the bituminising of the pipes. The treasurer reported on the receipts and payments since the previous meeting, and stated that at present the bank balance ivas lower than usual. He submitted a statement of the committee’s maintenance receipts and payments for four months as compared with the amounts estimated, both being well below the estimates. In connection with the receipts he stated that some of the boards were having a little difficulty at the present time in paying their ordinary maintenance accounts, but he had their assurance that the amounts in arrear would be forwarded at an early date. —Received. ANNUAL REPORT.

The secretary submitted his tenth annual report of the work of the sanatorium, which showed that .from the time the institution was opened in May, 1923, to March 31, 1933, 1596 patients had received treatment, and 80 per' cent, of these had gone out with the disease either arrested or quiescent. _ By means of the medical superintendent’s follow-up system it was ascertained that only about 4 per cent, of that number had shown any signs of a recurrence of the_ disease. The average cost per occupied bed, which was £248 for the first year established, had been gradually reduced until it was only £llO 9s for the year just closed. Since 1924, when the committee arranged with its medical superintendent to establish free consultation clinics in the different centres, 2454 persons had been examined. exclusive of ex-patients. He also referred to the purchase during the year of a high-powered four-valve X-ray plant and equipment, which would be of great assistance to the medical staff in the examination and treatment of patients. He reported that on December 5, 1933, the present 10-year agreement between, the eight associated boards would terminate, and that seven of these boards had expressed their desire to renew the agreement for a further term. He mentioned that Mr James Ritchie, of Bannockburn, was the only original member of thp committee who was still taking an active part in the work of the institution 'and farm. He also submitted the committee’s statistical returns for the year, income and expenditure account and balance sheet duly audited. ACCOMMODATION FOR PATIONTS.

The report was adopted, the chairman and members complimenting the secretary and staff on the amount of valuable information supplied each year, and authorised the printing of the report for distribution to the different hospital boards and others interested.

The secretary reported what had been done with regard to obtaining departmental consent to the erection of six more, shelters for male patients. The position was still very acute, as all the beds for male patients in the institution were occupied, and there were 16 patients of that sex on the waiting list, a number having been recommended for admission in February and March this year. He stated that the department’s estimate as to the cost of these proposed shelters, which the medical superintendent had previously indicated would provide further patients’ accommodation without any increase in staff, made it necessary for the consent of the Minister being obtained before the work could be undertaken. After some discussion as to the absolute necessity for the extra accommodation asked for, the secretary was directed to make formal application to the department for consent and explain how it was proposed to pay for the work; when the department’s reply came to hand the secretary to make application to the Unemployment Board for a subsidy on the estimated wages. Owing to the present state of the committee’s finances, it was decided that other proposed capital expenditure provided for in the estimates be held over in the' meantime.

Accounts and salaries, totalling £1055 lls 4d were passed for payment. It was. decided to hold the next meeting of the committee in Dunedin on Tuesday, August 29.