OTAGO HOSPITAL BOARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3754, 23 February 1926, Page 11

OTAGO HOSPITAL BOARD.

AIONTHLY AIEETIXG. The monthly meeting of the Otago Hospital Board was held Thursday, and was attended by Air W. E. S. Kn.ght (chairman). Mrs Macdonald, Messrs J. H. Hancock W. R Morgan, J. Scurr, A. F. Quelch, J. W. Dove. D. MXennan. D. Larnach, and G. Gallaway. The Kaitangata District Miners’ Benefit Society wrote expressing thanks to the board and staff for the kindness and attenton devoted to its members during their stay in the hospital. Miss Arundel alsa wroto expressing high appreciation of th© treatment she had received in the hospital. - The letters were received. A letter from the Otago Farmers’ Union Mutual Fire Insurance Association applying for a share of the fire insurance on the board’s institutions in the country was referred to the Finance Committee for a leport. The Director-general of Health forwarded a communication with reference to proposed alterations at the Roxburgh Hospital* Amended plans were submitted, and it was pointed out that a saving of £9OO would be affected. Accommodation was being provided for three maternity cases. The board’s architects (Messrs Mason and Wales) also reported on the matter, which was referred to the Finance Committee. It was decided that the board’s four chairmen of committees meet the members of the Maniototo Hospital Board at 7.30 p.m. next Monday for the purpose of discussing the question of hospital patients. Dr Falconer (medical superintendent) wrote stating that the Director-general’s report on hospital maintenance expenditure for the year ended March 31, 1925. was now to hand. The total cost per occupied bed was as follows Auckland. £181; Wellington, £182; Christchurch. £214; Dunedin, £207. The average number of occupied beds per day was: Auckland, 464; Wellington, 427 6; Christchurch. 304.6; Dunedin, 255.8. In the items “provisions, surgery, and dispensary, domestic establishment,” the Dunedin Hospital was below the average of the other institutions, but there was a large increase in the item “salaries and wages,” the cost per occupied bed being as follows: Auckland, £52; Wellington. £80: Christchurch, £7B; Dunedin. £94. He recommended that the four main hospital boards be asked to forward to each other their roll cf salaries and wages in order that a report might be obtained as to whether any lessons could be learned from them.—The Chairman explained that it. was difficult to make an exact comparison as in come cases work might be let on contract, and would not appear under the heading cf wages and salaries. He also stated that the matter was at present in hand. Dr Falconer wrote with reference to a statement that a difficulty had arisen in connection with the payment of the salaries of the nursing tutors who had been appointed to undertake the postgraduate nursing classes this year at the University and that there might be a possibility of the classes falling through. He’drew the attention of the board to the assistance that it might be able to give the department and the University. Of the two major subjects to he taught—teaching and administration in schools of nursing and public health nursing—the hospital boards generally were particularly interested in the former subject, while the department more largely carried the responsibility in connection with public health nursing. It would be an undoubted blow to any further progress in the profession of nursing if such classes failed to eventuate. There would shortly he a vacancy in the position of sistertutor at the Dunedin Hospital, and ho recommended that the board offer Sister Afoore, through the Central Department, a part-time appointment at the Hospital of educational director to the Dunedin Hospital Training School at a salary of £l5O per annum, with, board and residence, the remaining £l5O of her salary, or such amount as was apportioned, to be paid bv the Central Department responsible for education.—Referred to the Hospital Committee for report. The reports of committees were adopted.