WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23500, 14 May 1938, Page 2

WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

MEETING OF COMMITTEE SATISFACTION AT RESULTS ACHIEVED At a meeting of the Waipiata Sanatorium Committee there were present: Messrs E, Macdonald (chairman), W. Bryant, J. Rodman, J. Ritchie, T, Golden, J. H. Smith, A. Rennie, f. Dowling and Dr T. McKibbin (representing the Department of Health). Dr A. Kidd (medical superintendent) also was present. A letter was received from the Maniototo County Council in connection with the Hamilton's Cemetery, which adjoins the committee’s farm property—lt was decided to have the road to the cemetery fenced, the Maniototo County Council to grade the road. The secretary was directed to write to the postmaster at Ranfurly regarding the poor telephone service to the farm manager’s house. Superintendent’s Report The medical superintendent (Dr Kidd) reported that, during March. 16 patients were admitted' and 18 discharged, while one had died, leaving 133 in the institution on April 1. Of that number, with the exception of 37. whose condition was at present stationary, and a number of others who were recently admitted, the balance were doing well and improving. Dr Kidd submitted his annual report for the year ended March 31, which showed that during the year 123 patients from eight hospital districts had been admitted, while 100 had been discharged. Of this number. 62 went out with the disease arrested; 18, disease quiescent: 10, improved; while seven left with their condition unchanged, and three had died. Since the institution was opened in 1023, 1303 patients had been discharged, 864 with the disease arrested; 179, quiescent: 118, improved; 90, condition unchanged: 33, transferred to hospital for other treatment and readmitted: and 19 died. Of the total number discharged since May. 1923, 80 per cent, had gone out with the disease arrested or quiescent, and, as the medical superintendent kept in touch with expatients, the majority were still in good health. Since the clinics were established in the different centres by the medical superintendent in 1924, 4117 persons had been examined, exclusive of expatients. who are encouraged to report at periodic intervals of from three to six months. The report was adopted, members expressing their satisfaction at the satisfactory results disclosed in connection with the treatment of patients and of the work of Dr Kidd and his staff. Patients In Institution The secretary (Mr T. Pryde) reported that at the date of the meeting 134 patients were in the institution from the following hospital districts:—Southland (including former Wallace district) 66, South Canterbury 22, Ashburton 9, Waitaki 14, South Otago 10, Vincent 4, and Maniototo 9. Of that number, 49 had been in the institution for more than 12 months. Since the previous meeting 18 patients from six hospital districts had been discharged, of which nine were classified as disease arrested, the otners being either quiescent or improved. Twenty-four patients from three districts were on the waiting list, of which seven were Southland .uents receiving treatment in the Dunstan Hospital shelters at Clyde, The farm manager (Mr B. Ritchie) reported that he was milking 31 cows, and submitted the usual return of milk and meat supplied to the institution for March. The stock on the farm at present numbered 95 head of cattle, 1283 sheep, and 37 pigs. Account sales for the month of cattle and surplus sheep totalled £173 5s sd. Visit to Farm The committee visited the farm in the course of the day, and, although Central Otago had experiencsd an exceptionally ary season, the stock was looking exceptionally well. The contractor for the Samuel Saltzman administrative and treatment block, thanks to the absence of frost, was t making good progress, and the brick walls were almost completed. The architect (Mr E. R. Wilson), who visited the institution with the committee, authorised a further progress payment to the conractor, and asked for instructions in regard to the lettering for the tablet that was provided for in the contract.—The secretary was instructed to arrange with the architect for a simple inscription recording Mr Saltzman’s donatioji towards the cost of the building. Estimate of Expenditure The treasurer (Mr T. Pryde) advised that the committee’s estimate of expenditure for the ensuing year, which provided for the capital expenditure levy of £6500 and the maintenance levy of £SOO, had been forwarded to the department, and the contributory boards notified of the amount they would require to contribute, apart from the maintenance charge of 7s per day per patient. The treasurer also advised that the committee’s accounts and balance sheet for the year ended March 31, 1938, had been returned, certified as correct, with the exception that interest on hospital board’s levies more than 14 days overdue had not been charged.—The balance sheet was received and adopted, and the exception noted. Hydro-electric Pipeline Mr Ritchie reported that with the engineer of the Maniototo County Council a survey had been made as to the most direct line for the new cement nipes that were to replace the riveted steel pipes which were, now in a rather unsatisfactory condition. Mr Ritchie’s report was received and adopted, and he was directed also to obtain alternative prices from the manufacturers of cement pipes and the cost of laying of the same and to reAccounts and salaries totalling £2745 12s Id were passed for payment.