WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23568, 3 August 1938, Page 5

WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

MEETING OF COMMITTEE The Waipiata Sanatorium Committee met in Dunedin on Tuesday of last week, there being present Messrs E. Macdonald (chairman). W. Bryant. J. Rodman, J. Ritchie, T. Golden... J. H. Smith, W. J. McKenzie, 8.. A. Todd, and Dr T. McKibbin representing the Department of Health. The medical superintendent (Dr A. Kidd) reported that nine patients had been admitted and 10 discharged during June, 134 remaining on July 1, the majority of whom were doing well or improving. He forwarded his usual weather report for the month, and reported on his visits to the different centres in the committee's district since the previous meeting, recommending as suitable for treatment patients from the following districts:—South Canterbury. Waitaki,- and South Otago one each, and Southland five. The question of refunds to invalidity pensioners maintained in the sanatorium was discussed, and it was decided to recommend each of the associated boards to make a uniform refund to its patients on the lines suggested by the Director-general of Health The secretary reported that at the date of the meeting the associated boards had patients in the institution as follows:—Southland 64. South Canterbury 23, Ashburton 10, Waitaki 15. South Otago 15, Vincent 3. Mamototo B—a total of 136. Of that number, 51 had been under treatment for more than 12 months/ Since the previous meeting seven patients from five hospital districts had been discharged. He submitted a waiting list of 22 patients. the majority being from the Southland Hospital district. As arrangements were being made for the almost immediate admission of two males and three females, the list would thus be reduced to 17. ..■„„.* ... The farm manager. Mr B. Ritchie, reported that he was milking 34 cows, and submitted a return of the milk and meat supplied to the institution and farm during June. He also stated that on June 30 there were on the farm 1004 sheep, 70 cattle, and 40 pigs. Owing to the difficulty of obtaining labour for milking, he recommended the committee to consider the purchase of a milking plant, and this matter was left in the hands of Mr Golden and the secretary to report. The architect for the " Samuel Saltzman " block reported that the contractors had made good progress with this work, and the secretary reported that a further progress payment had, on the certificate of the architect, been made to the contractor, Mr L. J. Breen. The matter of the opening of this block was left in the hands of the chairman to report to the next meeting as to the possibility of getting the Minister of Health (Mr P Fraser) officially to open the building at a date that would be suitable to the Minister. The secretary reported that since the last meeting Mr James Ritchie had made satisfactory arrangements with Mr Breen, the contractor, to carry out certain necessary additions and alterations to the buildings at the institution while he had his workmen and plant on the site, as follows:—Providing new coal and meat storage to the south end of the kitchen block finishing six extra bedrooms on the first floor of the Nurses' Home, erecting a motor garage and morgue, additional bedroom at the farmhands' quarters and providing sanitary drainage for the block. These works had all been provided for in the committee's estimates for the year, and Mr Ritchie was thanked for the satisfactory arrangements he had made with the builder, the secretary to advise the Department of Health Accounts and salaries totalling £3243 18s lOd were passed for payment, and it was decided to hold the next meeting of the committee in Dunedin on Tuesday. August 30.