OTAGO HOSPITALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24619, 29 May 1941, Page 11

OTAGO HOSPITALS

FIRST MEETING OF NEW BOARD The first meeting of the Otago Hospital Board since the recent elections was held last night, and was attended by Messrs J. W. Dove (chairman), D. J. Calder. R. Walls, J. George, A. F. Quelch, Dr W. Newlands, Dr D. G. McMillan, M.P., Miss M. B. Farquhar, Mrs, C. A. Fraser. and Mrs W. A. Ross. . The chairman welcomed Dr McMillan and Messrs D. J. Calder and J. George, new members of the board, to the meeting. On the motion of the chairman, it was decided to thank Mrs E. E. McMillan and Mr W. H. McLeod, both of whom were not successful at the recent election, for their services to the board. Activities Outlined The' chairman gave an outline of the new buildings which the board was proceeding with, the new buildings which it was proposed to construct, and the accommodation which was to be provided for the nursing staff. The Queen Mary Hospital had been opened at the beginning of the three years' term just concluded and had proved an accomplishment worthy of any organisation. The building of a gynaecological ward at the north end of the Queen Mary Hospital would release some 40 beds in the Batchelor Ward of the Dunedin Hospital for other purposes. The board had made rapid headway in regard to the request of the Health Department to make provision for their soldiers who might return sick from overseas. They should be able to cater for all those soldiers who might require treatment. The board was also about to complete a very valuable addition of some 60 beds. Tenders had been called for the construction of wards, and they would have to provide in all for 60 additional nurses on the staff. ,

Nurses' Hours The chairman said he intended to bring up the question of reducing the hours of their nurses to 44 per week to bring them into line with the nursing hours in the other three main institutions in New Zealand The hours were nominally 48 hours per week, but these hours were not actually worked. They worked out at something lower than 48. Dr Newlands said he would like to bring up the question of doing something at the Talboys Home. The present building was a very costly affair as regards upkeep and should be scrapped. Mr Dove said that the matter had not been overlooked and that £SOOO -was on the estimates as a first instalment for the re-erection of the home. Hospital Patients It was reported that the number of patients at the Dunedin Hospital on April 30 was 385. Accounts Remitted Accounts due for maintenance in the various institutions under the coritrol of the board, amounting to £lll3 6s 2d, were remitted. Roxburgh Hospital The Minister of Health, Mr A. H. Nordmeyer, wrote approving of the appointment of Miss E. G. Sim as matron at the Roxburgh Hospital. Consulting Physicians

Drs Carmalt Jones, E. H. Williams and F. Fitchett wrote accepting appointment as honorary consulting physicians on the visiting staff of the Dunedin Hospital. Committees Appointed The following committees were appointed:— Benevolent Committee.—All members of the board; Dr Newlands chairman. Sanatorium Committee.—All members , of the board; Mrs Ross chairman. Finance Committee.—All members of the board; Mr Quelch chairman. Hospial Committee.—All members of the ooard and co-optative members Drs Fulton and Batchelor; Mr Dove, chairman. Sub-committees Ladies' Benevolent Advisory Committee. Mesdames Cunninghame, Hiett, McGeorgc, Miss Stewart. Sisters Annie and. Laura Tuapeka Hospital Committee.—Messrs Dove and George and co-optative members. Messrs W Cameron (chairman), John Bennetts, Robert u Hall, \, S Thompson, and Mrs R. C. Moore. Tapanui Hospital Committee.—Messrs Dove and George and co-optative members, Messrs W. H. Lusk (chairman), J. Edgar, M. McAuley, and J. S. Varcoe. and Mrs Nellie Quin. Roxburgh Hospital Dove and George and co-optative members, Messrs L. Faigan (chairman), T. P. Michelle, and J. H. Waigth, and Mesdames J. Allen, A. L. .Fraser, and C, Wright. " Louisa Roberts ' Hospital Committee. —Messrs Dove and Quelch , and co-opta-tive' "members," Messrs F. M. Howell (chairman), J. Dawson,. M. Kean, A. Robertson, »i. A. Mathieson. and Mesdames M. A. Carruthers and E. James. Palmerston Hospital Committee.—Mr Dove and Mrs Fraser and' co-optative members, Messrs H. S. Sheat (chairman), W. C. Arkle, Rev. W. French, W. B. Galloway. Charles W. Hallum, J. Preston, and G. Ross, Mrs H. Forrest, and Misses E McKenney and M. Mcßitchie. Joint Relations hospital CommitteeMessrs. Dove, Quelch, and Steel, Dr McMillan, and Mrs Ross. Works Committee.—Messrs Steel (chairman). Dove. Wills. Dr Newlands. and Quelch. . House Committee.—Miss Farquhar (chairman), Mesdames Fraser and Ross, Messrs Dove and Calder and Dr McMillan. Stores Purchasing Advisory Committee.—Messrs Dove (chairman), Dr Newlands, Quelcht Steel, and Walls. Benevolent Visiting Committee.—House Committee and Dr Newlands. Sanatorium and Wakari Visiting Committee. —House Committee and Mrs Ross. Queen Mary Maternity Hospital v siting Committee.—House Committee.