SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITAL BOARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25302, 12 August 1943, Page 6

SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITAL BOARD

The monthly meeting of the South Otago Hospital Board was attended by Messrs W Sutherlandv (chairman), J. W. _ Fenton, Adam King, A. V. King, u.- ■ McGregor, J. R. Copland, R. G,. Cullen, J. Burnett, H. A: Brughr*''Tr’’ Reports and Correspondence The treasurer’s report showed receipts for July at £2737 4s Id and expenditure £3691 2s Bd, including Balclutha Hospital £2473 17s 3d, Milton Hospital £338 8s 9d, Owaka Hospital £3BO 10s lid, Kaitangata Hospital £125 12s 4d. In the statement of balances the debtor balance was given as £9335 8s 4d. The medical superintendent (Dr D. M. Frengley) reported as follows for Jiuy. • the figures for the corresponding perioa last year being shown in parentheses:— Balclutha Hospital: Admissions 85 (130 . discharges 75 (136). remaining in 90 : (83 , massage department out-patients 67 (nu). Milton Hospital: Admissions 21 (20),'discharges 21 (17), remaining in 14 (13), outpatients 2. Owaka Hospital: Admissions 25 (18), discharges 19 (17), remaining in 12 (15). Kaitangata Hospital: Admissions 13 (9), discharges 12 (9), remaining in 15 (6), out-patient treatment 83 It was decided to send a letter of appreciation to. Mr Mandeno for his gift of a “shock cradle” for the Milton HosP *The clerk of the Bruce County Council wrote stating that his council was agreeable to the election of members of the board under the proposed ward system, ... and would be pleased to prepare the necessary details in zoning the county into wards'—Mr McGregor moved that a letter of thanks be sent to the Bruce County : Council and clerk for their co-operation.— The chairman said the board had already ' discussed the matter, and decided to refer the matter to the Counties’ Association. The Director-general of Health wrote that the Minister had approved of the board's estimates for 1943-44. The secretary of the Southland Hospital Board wrote respecting the demands made by the Federated Hotel and Restaurant Workers’ Union for a new domestic staff award.—lt was decided to approve of the action taken by the secretary. Power Board Stoppages

There was some criticism of the frequent breakdowns in the electrical supply. One stoppage of seven hours, it was stated, had caused serious inconvenience at the Balclutha Hospital. The board had considered the matter in committee, and the engineer (Mr J. L. Gormack) had been asked to furnish a report. This report stated that he had gone into the question of a standby plant at the hospital, and had found that it was going to cost thousands of pounds. Mr Brugh said that something should be done about giving a better service to (he district. It was a great inconvenience if people were operating machinery and doing cooking by electricity when the power suddenly went off and no' explanation was vouchsafed. Mr Cullen (Milton) moved that no further action be taken. It was, he considered, unfair to Mr Potter, who was the chief executive office; of the board, that this discussion should have taken place in his absence. He moved as an amendment that the board should be approached and asked to develop their power system so that these stoppages would not occur. Mr Fenton defended the Power Board, and said the stoppages were not so numerous when the whole year was taken into consideration. The board had a big district, to cover, and was doing its best to keep the service going. The amendment was carried by five votes to four.