COOK HOSPITAL CONTROL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18585, 20 December 1934, Page 11

COOK HOSPITAL CONTROL

BUSINESS- OP THE BOARD

LAST MEETING FOE 1934

The final monthly meet ing of the Cook, Hospital Board for 1934* was held yesterday afternoon. The chairman, Mr. M. T, Tratford, presided, and there were present also Mrs. A. E. Beer and Messrs. H. Adair, C. G. Rayliss, F. C. A. Leggett, H. Kenway, and H. J. F. Tombleson.

Accounts amounting to £4036 14s 4d were passed for payment. The Hospital Boards’ Association advised that the next Hospital Boards’ Conference would be held in Napier on March 6. The chairman and secretary were appointed the board’s delegates. Advice was received from the Railways Department to the effect that the, Railways Board would agree to the board connecting with the railway water service at Matawai for the use of the nurse’s cottage, subject to certain conditions.—lt was agreed that, Mr. Harries should go into the position. The report of the finance committee stated that the treasurer had reported that at December 13 there was a debit* balance at the bank of £4541, and that when all' cheques were presented fou payment there would be a debit balance, of £5798. The earthquake repairs account was in debit to the amount of £2172. The secretary had reported that, steps had been taken towards raising loan moneys, which had been obtained at the rate of per cent. The finance committee recommended the acceptance of the following tenders: Groceries, Common, Shelton and Company, Limited; outdoor relief, A. H. Clhre; ales, wines and spirits, D. J. Barry, Limited; butter, Kia Ora Cooperative Dairy Company; outdoor relief firing, W. F. lies; bread, R,. M. Bell; meat, T. Smellie and Sons; fish, A. Zame; funerals, X. N. Cochrane. The medical superintendent, Dr. If. J. B. Hall, reported that during November 157 patients *had been admitted to the Cook Hospital, aud J 26 discharged, leaving 145 iu hospital; there had been 11 deaths. Two patients had been admitted 1 to the Tolaga Bay Hospital and three discharged, leaving none in hospital. The lady superintendent, Sister 0. M. Liopst, in her report stated that special thanks were due to Messrs. Wise and Neill for the excellent concert- arranged by them in tlie children’s ward on December 13. The concert was a great success and there was a larger attendance than usual. The sum of £lB has been collected' to date as the result of the concert aud the sale of tickets. Thanks were also due to Miss Winchcom.be and her party of children for their delightful entertainment to the patients in the children 's ward ,on December 15. The patients thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment and each patient was presented with a gift. Sister E. M. Potts, in charge of the Maternity Home, reported that during November 17 patients had been admitted', and there had been 15 births.

Sister Pritchard, district nurse, Matawai, reported having treated and advised 34 patients and paid 36 visits during the month. -She conveyed one patient to Cook Hospital and one patient to private hospital by car. The custodian of the Memorial; Home, Mr. R. C. Vigis, reported that at the end of November there -were nino wofilen and 1 47 men in the home. Vegetables to the value of £lO 7s 4d and eggs to the value of £3 17s 6d had been supplied to the hospital. 'The engineer, Mr. D. Mac Nab, reported that a new steriliser and two new sterile water urns had been fitted in the new annex in Ward 2. The steam and' water services had been connected and cupboards and other fittings made and fitted. Various general repairs had been carried out. The coal consumption for November was 32 tons, costing £BO, as compared with 33 tons, costing £B2 10s, in November, 1033. The dairy farm working account showed an excess of receipts over payments totalling £7 3s. Receipts amounting' to £Bl Ss 9d. The managing secretary, Mr.. C. A. Harries, reported that the earthquake strengthening work on ward 4 was proceeding satisfactorily, and the ward should bo ready for occupation early in February. The loan authority empowered the board to proceed with the building of a sterilising annex to ward 3 out of earthquake loan moneys. An estimate of the balaneo of earthquake moneys available for this purpose was approximately £IOO. The contract price for the annex is £155. The Unemployment Board’s subsidy would amount to approximately £2O, reducing the net cost, of the annex to £135. The subsidy was only available if the work was done in conjunction with the earthquake strengthening.

The available accommodation in the nurses’ homo was at present taxed to its limit, and' the matron was experiencing difficulty in accommodating relieving nurses. The nurses’ home at isolation, which comprised eight bedrooms with a sitting-room and kitchen, was unoccupied and suitable to- meet requirements. 'The interior was in need of reconditioning, furnishing, and a suitable hot water service. The appointment of a committee to go into this question with a view to making provision for such in next year’s estimates was recommended for consideration.

The reports and the secretary’s recommendations Were ud'opted, anrl the chairman and Mr. Ken wav were appointed a committee to go into the question of accommodation for the nurses.