SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23321, 13 October 1937, Page 4

SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITALS

MONTHLY BOARD MEETING The monthly meeting of the South Otago Hospital Board was held at Halclutha yesterday, when there were present Messrs A. Rennie (in the chair), M'Gregor, Sutherland, Russell, Waite, Christie, Brough, Harris, M'Kenzie, and Fentoh. ’ ' SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT The medical superintendent (Dr D. G. Radcliffe) submitted the following report on the month, the comparative figures for last year being giyen in parentheses:— Balclutha Hospital.-—Admissions 62 (53), discharges 62 .(52), remaining 49 (47), X-ray examinations 16 (26), massage 32 (77). . Milton Hospital.—Admissions 9 (9), discharges 7' (11) remaining 11. (6). Owaka Hospital.—Admissions 26 (10), discharges 25 (9), remaining T 3, (8). Kaitangata Hospital.—Admissions 9 (9), discharges 10 (9), remaining 3 (nil), out-patjents 12 (7): The report was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE The Prime Minister (Mr M. J. Savage) wrote thanking the board for its expression of appreciation of his efforts in connection with the national health scheme.—Received. ! The Director-general of Health (Dr M. H. Watt) wrote advising- that arrangements had been made with the New Zealand branch of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons for selected members to examine and report on the surgical woj;k: done in-public,udj?V,; pitals in the Dominion, and askihgTOf mformatidn-ior .the use;of tors.—The secretary 'stated that he hatfarranged t<st the information to be supplied. , ;■ :.y ; The secretary, Palmerston North, Hospital Board, wrote asking for, the support of the local board in its pro-/ test to the Minister of Health against the proposal to repeal section 92 of the Hospitals Act, which it was contended would mean a substantial loss to boards unless a compensating grant was made.—Mr Waite pointed out that the proposal was merely a recommendation from the conference of hospital boards ’to the Government, which would, of course, refer it to the Department of Health.—The clerk stated that the section in question was that regarding residential qualification. The section provided that if a person required hospital treatmhntSwithin six months of taking up residence in a new district, his or her fees vtere a charge on the hospital district where the person had previously been in residence.—On the motion of Mr Fenton, it was decided to reply that the board adhered to the resolution of conference, and failed to see why the metropolitan boards should get any special consideration in the way of grants. T.B. BLOCK A further letter on the subject, of the provision, of accommodation at the Balclutha Hospital for chronic cases of tuberculosis was received from the Department of Health, but it was dealt with in committee. A protest against,, this course was made By Mr Russell, who pointed out that the matter had been discussed openly at the two previous meetings. He moved that the letter be dealt with in open meeting, and the motion was seconded by Mr Fenton.—The motion was opposed by several of the other members, who contended that there , was no questiori of keeping the ratepayers in the dark, but that the: situation at present wasnot sufficiently clarified to be made public. —The motion was defeated when it was put to the vote.