WAIPIATA SANATORIUM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 82

WAIPIATA SANATORIUM.

file monthly meeting of the Waipiata sanatorium Committee was held on Tueeday last and attended by Mr J. Matheson chairman), the Rev. T. W. Potts, the Hon. R. Scott, the Hon. A. S. Malcolm Messrs A. Fraser, Jas. Ritchie, and j' ilorrell Dr Kidd (medical superintendent) and Dr Shoie (assistant medical officer of health) representing the department, were also present. L® ave of absence was grantod to Mr F. VV. VVatt (Ashburton), in whose place Mr Prentice, secretary of the board, attended. A letter was received from the Hon. Sir Maui Pomare thanking the committee for the resolution of appreciation on his retirement as Minister of Health. The Chief Postmaster. Dunedin, wrote advising that the committee’s application for a Post Office at Orangapai was under consideration. Mr Ritchie reported having interviewed the telegraph engineer, Dunedin, as to a telephone service for the institution, and that the matter was under consideration. The Superintendent of the National Provident Fund advised that the Maniototo Hospital Board would require to take control of the superannuation arrangements for the committee’s staff, the committee not being a hospital board within the meaning of the Act. The Medical Superintendent reported that on January 31 there were 59 patients in the institution, and that with the exception of five, whose condition was stationary, they were doing well and improving. The first death at the institution was that of a patient from one of the smaller board’s districts, who was suffering from gastro-enteritis on arrival, and who succumbed 10 days after admission. The Secretary (M. T. Pryde) reported that there were 41 patients on the waiting list, all of whom had already been examined by Dr fCidd and recommended as suitable for treatment in the sanatorium. He also submitted extracts from the department’s last published annual report, comparing the cost per bed and average days’ 6tays of patients in the different consumptive sanatoria in the Dominion. Since the Waipiata Sanatorium was taken over by the Associated Boards on May 11. 1923, to January 31, 1926, the number of patients discharged was 107. with the following treatment results:—Disease arrested, 23; disease quiescent, 13; improved 8; disease active (unimproved), 6; died, 1 (from kidney disease). At this stage the committee discussed with Dr Valintine, director-general, who was present with a number of departmental officers, the future building programme at Waipiata, and in view of the strong representations of the committee as to the urgent need for providing bed accommodation and treatment for the large number of waiting patients, Dr Valintine, on behalf of the department, approved of the committee’s proposed capital expenditure of £IO,OOO for the ensuing year for the purpose of providing further accommodation for patients and staff, laundry, patients’ dining room and farm buildings, etc., detailed estimates of these different works to be submitted to the Associated Boards and the department. Mr A. P. Aldridge, consulting engineer, and Mr Quarterman, the committee’s foreman. reported on the progress of the work in connection with the scheme, and the reports were adopted. Accounts and salaries totalling £1079 10s 3d were passed for payment The Hon. R. Scott reported on the committee’s farming operations and purchase of stock, etc. Other matters in connection with the w’orking of the farm (including the proposed visit of Mr Bruco, of the Agricultural Department, to Waipiata) were left in the hands of Messrs Scott and Ritchie, with power to act. It was decided to hold the next meeting of the committee at Waipiata on March 30.