SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22903, 10 June 1936, Page 2

SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITALS

MEETING OF BOARD The annual meeting of the South Otago Hospital Board was held in conjunction with the ordinary meeting at Balclutha yesterday. There were present Messrs H. A. Brough. D. M'Gregor, W. Sutherland, T. H. Russell, A. Rennie, A. T. Harris, W. J. M'Kenzie, J. Christie, A. King, and J. W. Fenton. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. Before vacating the chair, Mr Brough said that he had at all times endeavoured to serve the interests of the district as a whole, but he was conscious that there were opportunities for even greater service. He thanked the members of the board and the stuff for their assistance and courtesy. On behalf of the members, Mr Fenton and Mr Rennie thanked the retiring chairman for his conscientious attention to his duties and for the consideration he had shown his fellow members. Mr Christie moved that Mr Rennie be elected chairman for the ensuing term. — The motion was seconded by Mr M'Gregor. The retiring chairman was nominated by Messrs Harris and M'Kenzie, on the grounds that a change in the office might not be in the best interests of the board at present. On the vote being taken. Mr Rennie was elected. Returning thanks. Mr Rennie said that able men had preceded him in the chair and he would do his best to serve the board as well ns they had done. ORDINARY MEETING The ordinary business ol the monthly meeting was then proceeded with. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. The medical superintendent (Dr D. G. R a deli lie) submitted the following report for the month (the figures for the same period last year being given in paren-thesis)-—Base Hospital: Admissions 02 (40), discharges 52 (50), remaining 50 (40), X-ray examinations 18 (40), mas-sage’out-patients’ treatments 25 (112). Milton Hospital.—Admissions 14 (12), discharges 12 (10), remaining 8 (7). Owaka Hospital.—Admissions 14 (14). discharges 12 (15), remaining 11 (11). Kaitnngatn Hospital.—Admissions o t 9). discharges 8 (5). remaining 3 (4), out-patients 9 (8). The report was adopted. FINANCE. Expenditure for the month amounted to £1574 5s sd, receipts for the same period being £lll7 5s lid. CORRESPONDENCE. Mrs A. J. M’Noe (Balclutha), on behalf of the family of the late Mrs Shutt, wrote thanking the doctors and the staff of the hospital for their consideration Received.. The Prime Minister (Mr M. J. Savage) wrote acknowledging receipt of the board’s letter concerning the charges of the Otago Electric Power Board and advising that the matter had been referred to the Minister of Public Works.—Received. The secretary, Waipiata Sanatorium Committee, wrote advising the board to appoint a representative on the committee for the ensuing year.—Mr Rennie was appointed. . . _ The secretary, Waipiata Sanatorium Committee, wrote forwarding a debit for the board’s quarterly instalment of £99 15s which was due. —Received.

HOSPITAL BOARD ORGANISATION. Mr Brough reported that he had attended the conference to discuss the proposals of Mr Jenkins on hospital board reform. He had put forth the board's views, pointing out that it had always fully co-operated with the Otago Hospital Board. Long discussions had taken place, and it had finally been decided to form a voluntary co-ordination board. He felt sure that the board should watch very zealously the question of hospital grading. If it was put into operation the board would become just a hospital committee. Mr Fenton said that the time would come when there would he co ordination of medical men as there now was of the Police Force and similar organisations for the service of the whole community, if there was such organisation it would not matter to the practitioner whether a man was wealthy or not. Some people were of the opinion that the interests of patients suffered under the present system. If any special treatment was required it was the board’s direction to the medical officers that the patient should receive it and not only at the Otago Hospital but at any other place required. Mr M'Gregor said that Mr Jenkins’s

chief plea seemed to be made on the grounds that his proposals would facilitate the provision of greater care for the patient, but so far ao the South Otago Hospital Board was concerned, he contended that the patient received every care and attention. What was really required was a co-ordination of hospital services throughout the whole Dominion. Mr Russell asked if the representation on the committee set up would give a majority of voting power to the medical profession. Mr Brough replied that the boards had the majority of the voting, but as the larger boards, especially the principal board—the Otago Hospital Board—favoured the proposals, it would easily be seen where the voting strength lay. Mr M'Gregor remarked that the South Otago Hospital Board’s idea seemed to be that it was better to he the head of a dog than the tail of a lion. The discussion then closed, a vote of thanks being passed to Mr Brough for his services as delegate. WATER SUPPLY. Mr Fenton reported that for 13 monthe the new water supply system at the hospital had been working, and he was pleased to say that it was giving every satisfaction. It was costing only 12s per month for solvent chemicals, and on this item alone there was a saving of approximately £l4O to £l5O per annum. The engineer also reported that the pipe® were not being corroded as they had been previously.