HOSPITAL BOARD.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14391, 1 September 1917, Page 7

HOSPITAL BOARD.

The adjourned monthly meeting of the rook Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held last night. Present: Messrs W. G. Sherratt (chairman), H. Kenway. J. 0. Collins, J. E. Jones, W. 3. McCliskie, a. Johnston, and G. W. Humphreys. .Messrs Jex-Blake, Lysnar, Lewis, and Holdcn were granted leave of absence. The Salvation Army advised that for the time being they could not undertake negotiations for the taking over of the. old nurses' home property, Aberdeen load, on the terms referred to m the Hoard's letter— lt was decided to ask the Commissioner to make hHs best offer. The Munitions, and Supplies Department advised us to steps taken to facilitate the delivery of the, Board's laundry machinery-— The Minister to be thanked. A letter was received from Dr. Valinj tine regarding provision for consump- ! tivos. and forwarding tracings ot suggestions. No provision was made for nurses sleeping m these wards. He was quite opposed to any such proposal. A night nurse should be on duty, if this be not practicable then each cubicle should be provided with electric bell communicating with the nearest duty room of the main building. Extreme separation of the cubicles was not warranted, as such a syftem added to the expense of construction, made for difficulties m adminI istration. and added to the discomfort 'of patients. A day room was provided where "up and about" patients would dine, and could be converted into a oneI bed ward. • He could not see what was to ' be gained by the removal and. re-erection ;of the old building. The plans were without prejudice until he had definite data as to the site.— The Chairman said the plans provide; for one. building. They would have to submit a sketch of the site. Dr. Colling suggested asking the inspector-General to send the district health officer to report. Dr. Valintine advised that he was arranging for- the district health officer to visit Gisborne at an early date to consult with the Board regarding additional isolation accommodation.— lt was decided to wire, to Dr. Yaltntine asking him to erpeditfe the health officer's visit, as the Hoard also wished to confer with him regarding the consumptive shelters. A further communication was received from. the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board regarding an account for £19 Is incurred by a young woman formerly resident m this district, who went to Wellington on a holiday, met with an accident to her leg, and went to the Wellington hospital. — Matter to be investigated. "Information has reached this Department to the effect that the arrangements mad© for carrying on the training' of pupil nurses at, the Gisborne hospital are uot strictly, m accordance with the regulations under the Nurses" Registration Act," wrote Dr. (jValtntine. As this was a matter of importance, he said, and affected not only ; nurses but the hos-| pltal, he asked that the matter be enquii'ed into to ascertain whether the I lectures] to nurses were being given regularly.' and if so by whom. He hoped ag a result of the enquiry it would be found th.c' report as above stated was correct.—Dr. Bowie. Medical Superintendent, reported having given lectures to juniors on various subjects. At present classes were proceeding for both seniors and juniors. One group of juniors had had their examination; another group have theirs next week. The seniors were not due for. their examination for some months. — The Matron also reported as to lectures given by her.— The Chairman moved that the information be forward-, i-d to Dr. valintine.— -In reply to Mr. Humphreys, the secretary said both Dr. Bowie and the matron had given more lectures than required by the schedule. — Dr. Collins pointed out that the Department required information 'as to tne dates of lectures, the subjects, and by whom given.— The Chairman said he could obtain that Information. ' An application was. received from Waimata Valley tor assistance for a family.— The Chairman reported that Telief had been granted.— Action, approved. Acknowledging the Hoard's letter regarding fees amounting to £205 8s 8d owing by 'the Gisborne Board, the Auckland Hospital Board offered. to accept half the arnount.-^The Chairman-. Do they give the, names of these patients?— The Secretary: Yes: <jt goes back about two years. — It was decided to accept the offer. A letter was received regarding the Knox Home for Incurables, Auckland.— Referred, to Inspector-General of Hospitals as to jurisdiction. A communication was i-ecelved from Wellington regarding a small factory established m Wellington for the manufacture and repair of artificial limbs for returned soldiers. The repairing of artificial limbs would bo done free of cost to tie soldiers.— Referred to' Medical Superintendent.—At tho instance >of Dr : Collins it. was decided to ascertain if all persons Requiring artificial limbs could obtain same at a reasonable cost. The plerk of the Mangapapa- Town Board wrote asking if m the event of the proposed scheme for obtaining current from the borough being acceptable to their ratepayers the: Hospital , Board Would consider Mangapapa coming m with the Hospital Board oh the conditions mentioned m the report.— A copy of Mr. ' Buswell's report was received from the Borough Council.— The Chairman moved that a committee meet the' Mangapapa Board and go into the question. —In reply to Dr. Collins, tho Chairman said the hospital had its own plant, -but) it was- not sufficient?.— lt was decided to' go. into the question of the hospital plant and the matter to be further considered at .next meeting. Arising out of the resignation of a' nurse. Dr. Collins gave notice of motion! that the services of probationers be retained until they have passed the- State examination,. failing that a certificate bo, not granted.— The Chairman also put ma ! notice of motion to amend the by-laws regarding, the payment of nurses m lieu of holidays.— Mr. Jones pointed out a committed was appointed a long time ago to revise the by-laws.— The Chairman suggested appointing a fresh committee to deal with the matter.— .This course was adopted. ■ ■ . ■ . Sister M. Walker tendered her resigna-j tion through sickness, a change of climate being necessary.— Accepted with regret. ■ The custodian of the Old Pedp/e'S Home applied for an increase of salary.— The Visiting Committee (Messrs K-snway and McCliskie) recommended favorable consideration of the , : application.—lncreased to £200 a year. The. treasurer's report stated:— Receipts: Patients. 1 fees £307 Us, sanatorium fees £18 9s -id, pensions £17 6s Bd. sanitation levy (Waikohu County Council) £18 "15s, refunds £3 4s 4d— £365 6s 4d. Expenditure: Balance debit at last report £6204 10$ 2d; accounts passed for payment £1775 Us 2d— £7980 4s 4d. The amount of fees charged during the month was £733 17s 6d. The secretary said about £2000 was due. The Matron reported that 'three nurses were on holiday, and that E. Moroney,. M. F. Elvers, • and M. Francis had entered. She recommended Nurse A.M. Morrison, who has served a satisfactory probation to the statY. Nurse Reid left, as she is not strong enough to continue her'training. Nurse White was sent for as her mother is . seriously ill. Nurse Howarth i finished her training and left the hospital. Oranges for the patients from Mrs. Reid were' acknowledged. Old People's Home report:— lnmates 18 (15 males, 3 females); no Inmates admitted or discharged. Gifts received during tho month and acknowledged with thanks: Cakes, Mi-s. Colin Perry; parcel o' clothes, anonymous; illustrated papers Mrs. Broadhurst. The Salvation Army Band and the Christian Endeavor Societies paid their usual kindly visits during tho month. The inmates express tho: r appreciation of tho kindness shown. District Nurse Clark reported haying attended eleven general cases during Mi? month of July. Nurse Jarxett, district nurse to natives, reported having attended six cases Hir'ng the month of July, and having eisited Maori pa at Whangara, and scboul at Whangara. Inspector F. O. York, reporting for a period from July 12 to 'August 10, stated that the following infectious dlsea- r* hnrt been notified and investigated:— Borough of Gisborne: Diphtheria 22 cases (last month 31 cases), scarlet fever 1, typhoid fever 8, tuberculosis 4— total 89. Man- ] gapapa township: Diphtheria 2 (last ! month to cases), tuberculosis i— total 3. Cook County: Patutahl, diphtheria 3; Faitl, diptheria l; Hexton, diphtheria 1: Whataupoko, diphtheria 1 (1 death), Ma-j kauri, diphtheria 1; Te Hapara, diph-| theria I— total .8 (last month 19 cases). Uaikohu County: Te Karaka, dipntheria 1' (last month 9 cases); Motuhora, diph-

therla U Whatatutu. tuberculosis i— total 3. The Visiting Committee (Messrs Kenway and McCliskie) reported: The committee visited the hospital on August 17th. They found things generally m a uaVsfactory condition and the patients m the various wards contented. Xo complaint* of any cort were made. They were in-ci.'ned that m the recent heavy stormy we vj'^er, vi ter found its way into the ward* through the roofs and ceilings m several places, and .the old trouble of badly leaking verandahs was very marked. They rpcommend that as soon as the Board apH.inte its own architect, instructions should be given for a thorough examination of the roofs, ceilings, and verand» hs, and a report asked for without delay, with a view to settling permanently tuis recurring trouble. The contractors; have made a start with the fixing of thej washing machine and hydro-extractor,' but have been delayed by finding a seri- j ous fracture of the shoulder of the bear-i ing arch m the hydro, which, is being repaired. The committee ai'e afraid thtv Board can make no claim against the; manufacturers, as the deal was, they un-| derstand, cash f.o.b. m Melbourne. The committee visited the Old Men's Home on the 22nd and have nothing special to; report as things were generally satisfac-j tory. They are Of the opinion that the dilapidated State of the wash-house build- j ing, utterly beyond repair, make it more, than ever desirable not to delay longer than Is necessary the shifting of the home! to the old hospital, and making the necessary alterations and additions for that purpose. The report was adopted.— The matter of ttv? washhouse was left m the hands of the Chairman and Messrs Kenway and AlcCliskle.