SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITAL

Otago Witness, Issue 3526, 11 October 1921, Page 52

SOUTH OTAGO HOSPITAL

i oe monthly meeting of the South Otago Ilnspitai Boa, d held on tile 6th at Baidu:, a was attended by the chairman ;Alr A. North), and Mo.lv A. Rennie, ii. M. Driver. 11. •Sinisun, ,1. Gumming, ■). Mosicy, \Y. A. Blair, and J. Rutherford. „ Mr A. S. Malcolm, M.l’., wrote asking lor leave of absence iill the end of December. He would be glad, however, to be advised each month of the business to come forward. Possibly, though not probably, lie might he able to get down to a meeting.—Request granted. The secretary, St. John Ambulance Association, acknowledged letter in regard to the formation of suo-centres in South Otago, jhe executive had placed the matter in the hands of the Rev. Cl. E. Moreton, who would visit, the South Otago district on the 15th and 22nd inst.—Air Moreton to be given every assistance. The Director-General of Health wrote asking tor a reply regarding the proposed sanatorium for the treatment of puluiinary tuberculosis at. the board’s earliest convenience. Ihe letter refers to the suggested purchase of Dr Byres’s sanatorium in Central Otago, the hospital boards of Waira.ii, Pic ton, Nelson, Buller, Mangahiia, Grey, Westland, Ashburton, South Canterbury, Waitaki, South Otago, Vincent, Maniototo, Southland, \\ allace, and Fiord to co-operate. The clerk mentioned that Mr Malcolm was very much in favour of the proposal. Mr Gumming suggested that the board should not do anything in the matter until it had a valuation of tile property, and Mr Mosley moved that the matter be held over pending an inquiry regarding the valuation of the property and the number of other boards likely to join in the scheme.—Mr ■* Gumming said that Southland would possibly stand out, as the board there was talking about erecting a sanatorium itself at Queenstown. —It was finally decided that the board favourably considered the proposal, but its final decision would depend on the attitude of the other boards. The manager, New Zealand Goal and Oil Company wrote slating that his company had for a number of years supplied the Kaitangai a Hospital with electric lighting free ol charge, the Otago Board installing the necessary power and wiring. Alterations to the electric installation made ii necessary to alter the course of the transmission line and the South Otago Board would require to supply 14 chains of wiling Mr Lee added (hat extra lights had been installed at the hospital, and no request had been made to tlie company for these and no permission given. He desired to know under whose authority the work had been done and whether it was the board’s intention to pay for the extra lights. The cost of the wire would be £l7. Since the installation of the lighting at the hospital 10,000 units had been used, which, at 5d per unit, represented £2<XL— The chairman said he had given instructions to order the wire, and his action was approved.—The clerk explained that, he knew nothing about, the lights, he had not authorised them. Mr Rutherford said he thought the matron had given instructions, probably in connection with ihe new isolation ward.—The chairman said that there had evidently been a mistake.—On the motion of Mr Mosley it was decided to write to the New Zealand Goal and Oil Company slating that the board had not authorised the lights and regretted that permission had not been obtained from the company. The lights, however, had been installed as a matter of urgency, and the board hoped that they would be treated on the same conditions as the old ones. The Director-General of Hospitals forwarded the Minister’s approval of the purchase of a site at Milton (£550.; for a cottage hospital. The site is opposite the District High School.—Solicitor to be instructed to complete the purchase. The monthly report of the matron of the Kaitargata Hospital was received. The Chairman said it was obvious to all that the hospital was doing very good work in the locality. The Director-General of Health (Dr Valinline) wrote advising that the Medical Officer of Health, Dunedin, had been asked to visit Balclutha at his earliest convenience with a view to inspecting the property the board had under consideration. As soon as a report was received (lie board would be further communicated with.—The whole question of sites was again considered in committee, and advanced a stage further, it being decided to boro with a view to testing water supplies. Mr Alosley moved the adoption of the Finance Committee’s report. Accounts totalling £695 18s 5d were passed for payment, making a total of £2595 13s since tho board commenced operations. Mr Mosley, chairman of the committee, said ihat they were gel ting near the end of their money, but this would right itself as soon as the levies from the local bodies cams in. The following recommendations by the Finance Committee acre agreed to:—(1) That Nurse Shaw’s expenses from Wellington to Tahakopa be paid; (2) that in future such payments be made only after a nurse had been three months in the service of the board; (3) that nurses in future be engaged under the Health Department, so benefiting by the Health Department’s scale of wages and superannuation ; (4) that Nurse Shaw be brought under this scheme. It was considered that nurses would be more easily got under these conditions, and that there would he less difficulty in retaining their services The tender of Messrs Al'Griier, Taylor, and Go. was accepted for the supply of groceries to the Kaitangata Hospital for the next six months.