WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23204, 31 May 1937, Page 2

WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

MEETING OF COMMITTEE The committee of the Waipiata Sanatorium met at Dunedin last week, there being present Messrs E. Macdonald (chairman), W. Bryant, J. Ritchie, T. Dowling, A. Rennie and Dr T. M'Kibbin representing the Department oi Health. Before commencing the business of (he meeting the chairman made reference to the loss Mr Rennie had suffered through the death of Ids wife, and a resolution of sympathy was carried in the usual way Correspondence of a routine nature, in connection with motor transport charges between Waipiata and the Sanatorium, the price of coal, and industrial arbitration and conciliation matters, etc., was received and noted, and the secretary was instructed to reply. REPORTS The medical superintendent <Dr A. Kidd) reported that seven patients were admitted to the institution in April, seven were discharged and 111 remained on May 1. He reported on his visits to the different centres since last meeting, and recommended as suitable for treatment seven patients from Southland, five from South Canterbury, two from Waitaki and one from Wallace Hospital Districts. The secretary (Mr T. Pryde) reported that there were 128 patients in the institution, of whom 44 had been under treatment for more than 12 months. Since the previous meetinrthree patients had been discharged. He also submitted a waiting list of lf> patients, and as arrangement;- had made for several of these to be admitted, the waiting list was thus reduced to, the lowest it had been for some years.

Mr E. R. Wilson, architect, Invereargill, forwarded amended plans for the "Samuel Saltzman" Administrative and Treatment Block, the result of a further consultation with the medical superintendent and the secretary, and on the motion of the chairman and Mr Rodman these were adopted The secretary will now refer the plans to the Health Department with a renucst that they be dealt with as urgently aspossible, so that working drawings and specifications may be prepared and fenders invited for .erection.

The farm manager (Mr B submitted his usual return of mill: and ment supplied 1 'he institution and farm during April.

The secretary reported having received account sales totalling £lO7 17s for sheepskins and £7 15s for pigs. Mr Dowling. on behalf of the Farm Committee, reported on routine matters in connection with fencing etc.. ami stated that the field potatoes had been lifted and were a very good crop, and that 120 wethers had been purchased for the Sanatorium meat supply FINANCE The treasurer (Mr T. Pryde) submitted the annual income and expenditure account and returns for the year ended March 31. 1937. which showed that for the year 210 patients had been under treatment, the average number of occuDied beds being 113. compared with 119.3 in the previous year and the average cost per occupied bed £109.23, an increase of £9 over the previous year. The total maintenance expenditure was £12.342 17s 9d, as against £12.029 8s 4d last year, while the farm income and expenditure account was some £4OO greater than in the previous year. That increase, however, was more than balanced by the extra stock on the farm at the end of the year. Accounts and salaries totalling £1427 were examined and passed for pay merit, and it was decided to hold the next meeting of the committee in Dunedin on June 29. Before the adjournment Mr Rodman mentioned that the chairman (Mr E Macdonald), Mr James Ritchie, Mr T Golden. Dr T. M'Kibbin and the secretary (Mr T. Pryde) had been awarded Coronation medals, and on behalf of the other members of the committee he wished to move that congratulations be extended to them on this public recognition of their services. The resolution was seconded by Mr Dowling. The chairman and Mr Ritchie briefly thanked the members for their remarks. •