HOSPITAL BOARD.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14713, 19 September 1918, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARD.

ADM INISTRATI.ON UK POUTS-.

The following reports were dealt with at the meeting of the Cook Hospital and Charitable Aid Board this afternoon :-— The report of the executive meeting last Thursday was as follows: — A letter was received from the Cook County clerk stating that Mr. Henry White hud been nominated to fill the vacancy on the Hospital Board caused hv the resignation of Mr. W. Tucker. Mr. White being present, the chairman welcomed him to a. seat at the board. Mr. White suitably replie-d. — Mr. Wm. Bruce, as representing th« purchasers of section No. 7, old hospital buildings, "wrote asking permission to allow iihe building to remain on the land until after the war for the purpose of storing wool therein. Mr. Humphreys moved, and Mr. Kenwny second--1 ed, that the matter 'be left m the hands .' of the chairman to arrange, at a ground rrfntal of £100 per annum. — Carried. — A circular letter was received from the Hawke's Bay Education Board regarding a conference of local bodies and others to be hald at Napier during the second week m October, for the pm-pose of considering matters m connection with od\i- . rational reform, and inviting this hoard , to forward siicl*. remits as it may desire i should b« considered, and if convenient to send representatives to the conference. It was decided on the motion of Mr. Lewis, seconded by Mr. Humphreys, to hold the matter over until the ■ np\t meeting of the board. — Tn . reference to correspondence on the subject of mental cases treated at this hospital, the Department of Public Health wrote, askintr for information as to the. number of cases which have required the board's care during- the past 12 months, the time m hospital, and the ultimate disposal of each case. Proposed by the chairman, .seconded by Mr. Johnston, that the information asked for be passed on to the department. — Carried. — The acting-Inspector-Oeneral of Hospitals I "wrote m reply to this board's letter of the 26th ultimo., m reference to the urgent need of appointing a nurse for the Waikohu district, that although they had been endeavoring to do so, they had so far been unsuccessful, and that Nurse Javratt's leave now being' up she was expected back at any time. Mr. Humphreys proposed, and Mr. Lewis seconded, that the letter be answered, and as there is no nurse m the district, they should endeavor to pet someone to fill tho vacancy with as little delay as posi sible. and at the same time to point out to the department the necessity for a i nurse for the. district holding maternity qualifications, as there was no medical man resident Avithin 30 miles. — In support of providing a nurse for Wharekopae and surrounding districts, a requisition signed by 29 settlers was received, pointing out the urgent necessity of an appointment beine made. The chairman moved, and Mr. Gibson seconded, that the secretary write to" Mr Stock 1 , asking, m the event of an appointment being madei. what arrangements will bo made by the residents for housing a nurse, and to "what extent tliev would be .prepared to subsidise her salary? — Carried. The acting-Inspector General. Department of Public Health, wrote m view of the large capital expenditure of £3000 proposed to be spent on hospital drainage, asking if the> board had exhausted every possible means or securing the collaboration of the Hisborne Borough Council and the Mangnpap»i Town Board m assisting m providing sewerage .for th« hospital, at the same time pointing- out that m the- Mangapapa town district there jn'era 33 vesii dents adjacent to the line of thei pro- | posed hospital sewer to be taken through to tho Gisborne boron eh system, and stating that under certain conditions he is prepared to recommend the Minister to approve same for Mangapapa town district, or > m the event of another possibility, that the Gisborne boroujrh shal' take the area occupied by the proposed sewoir, he is prepared to make a like recommendation on behalf of that loc.r authority, but at present ho is unable to recommend such an expensive scheme a.« proposod until he is assured that no |Ki<sih!e "use can bo made, of that portion which is beyond the hospital area itself Tin; chairman proposed, and .Mr. Humphreys seconded, that the Mangapapn Town Board be. writtpai ifco asking if they are prepared to come m with the proposed sewerage scheme for the hospital, and that a copy of- the letter from the department be forwarded to them.— carried. — A telegram re erection of » soldiers' ward at the Cook hospital wae rnceived from the Hon. Minister of Public Health, setting forth the method by which 'the necessary funds for buildinjr same will be procured. Proposed .by tho chairman, seconded by Mr. Gibson, that the teilegram be held over until tho full amount promised by local residents, viz., £2500, which vrjia now m sieht, had been collected.— A letter was received from the Audi-hor-General'? office, Wellington, returning the balance^ sheet at March 31st last, duly certified. ~ The following implications for the position of lady superintendent were received and read : Miss Frances Price, Wan--ganui: Miss Louise Evans Auckland: M ; ss Margaret McNab, Waiutu. Reefton; Mrs. J. Old, Taranaki. Mr. Humphreys proposed and Mr. McCliskie seconded, that consideration of thei applications be held over till the board meeting on Thursday, 19th inst. — Cavr ,3. e : — >fiss Sinclair, the storekeeper, put m a requisition for an increase m salary to £104 per annum. The chairman proposed, and Mr. Kenway seconded, that the secretary bo instructed to reply to Miss Sinclair stating that under by-law No. 8 increases of salaries can only be considered at the March meeting. — Carried. — Hules for admission of visitors to the hospital were, m accordance with instructions given at the last board meeting, submitted for consideration. Mr Kenway moved, and Mr. Humphreys seconded, the followinsr addition to No. 237a : "General permits will be issued at the discretion of the medical superintendent, which will enable holders to visit patients who are not. being at the time visited by the statutory number of two." — Carried. The question of hospital fire appliances was mentioned by the chairman, and after some discussion on the subject it was' decided to leave the matter m the hands of the chairman to report at next meeting. In response "to an advertisement calling for tenders for erection of balconies at the Nurses' Home, alterations to verandahs to isolation ward, and additions to laundry, the following were received: G. W. Aitken £2178, A. Kirk £2145, G. Smith £2405. After being considered and submitted- -to the architect, who was present, Mr. Kenway proposed, and Mr Johnston seconded, that the lowest tender be accepted. — Carried. Messrs. Burr and Mirfield wrote drawing the Board's attention to the fact that the painting of the external woodwork of all the buildings was urgently needed, otherwise deterioration of* the timber will take place. — It was decided to ask the architect to submit to the next meeting of the Board an estimate of the cost of the work necessary. The secretary stated that- ho had called for tenders, returnable on Tuesilav, 17th inst., for supplies for 12 months from Ist October next. — Proposed by the chairman, and seconded by Mr. jfribson, that a committee of the following members, Messrs. Kenway, Lewis, and the mover, meet at 1.45 p.m. on Thursday next, 19th inst., to consider same." — Carried. The Matron and tho Medical Superintendent were m attendance, and a conversation on matters m connection with tho hospital generally took place. As a result of that with the doctor, Mr. Kenway proposed, and Mr. McCliskie seconded, that a regulation be made to the effect that any person who, m the opinion of the Medical Superintendent, is under the influence of*iquor, even if ho holds a "certificate from a medical man, shall not be admitted to the hospital. — Carried. Accounts amounting to £1871 6s 9d were passed for payment. The treasurer (Mr. H. ,W. Wait) reported accounts passed for payment totalling £1871 6s 9d. Fees charged during the month amounted to £574 2s 6d. The Medical Superintendent (Dr. Boss) reported as follows: Number

patient* m at .U : L return 117, admitted since 114, died 8, discharged 130, remaining 98. Tho acting-Lady Superintendent reportud: Sisters Stannu-tr, Earle, and Chambers, whose resignations took efiect on the Bth jnat., left on that date. Sister Grant (temporarily lent by the Defence Department) i.s still here. Sisters Wells and Ros s have joined tho permanent staff. I regret to state that 1 found it necessary on August 24th to .suspend — for a broach of discipline. The matter was reported to tho chairman, , and sho was released from her duties. Sister Wells, a registered nurse with massage training, arrived on the 20th August. Ono temporary maid left, replaced by permanent one. Three others engaged. 1 have been fortunate m securing for the laundry tho services of Mrs. Burns, who for nine months was head laundress at the Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney. Though m a subordinate position here, Mrs. Burns has been of ■ great . assistance m organising the work m tho laundry. I should lilco to point out that the want of an adequate, 'bus service between hospital and town addn materially to the difficulties of ad- ! ministration. After a day's -work, i neither nursing nor domestic staff should be obliged to walk so great a distance m search of recreation, nor is it m the interests of the institution that they should find themselves wearied rather than refreshed by their off-duty time. It will be impossible to induce, maids to remain for any length of time so long as the present state of affairs -exists. Constant changes m the staff militate against efficiency, and anything that may conduce to permanency is, I think, worthy of consideration. The following gifts are acknowledged with thanks: Books for Soldiers' Ward from Mr. Sherratt; shirts for returned soldiers from Women's Patriotic ; lemons from Mrs. McCliskie and Red Cross, Mangapapa ; flowers from Mesdames Faulkner and Kirk and Miss Barker. All provisions supplied have been satisfactory. The custodian of the Old People's Plome reported : Inmates m home, 6/8/18, 18; admitted since (trans, from hospital), 1 ; discharged since trans to hospital), 1 ; died, o— total 18 (17 malea 1 female). During the month the Christian Endeavor Societies and Salvation Army Band ,paid their usual visits, which were much appreciated. The following gifts have been received with thanks : Cakes from the Mangapapa Bible-Class; illustrated papers etc from Mrs. D. Blair. *' District Nurse Clark reported having attended seven general cases during the month. & The Health Inspector (Mr. 0. York) reported the following infectious diseases :— Gisborne > Borough, 7 (3 less than last month) ; Mangapapa, nil ; Cook County, 4 (3 les s than last month) • Waikohu, 6 (same as last month).; total 17 (22 last month). In connection with sanitary inspections and food and drugs inspections, the usual routine woVk has been gone through and I am pleased to say that nothing has cropped up over which I need trouble tho board.