HOSPITAL CONTROL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19045, 19 June 1936, Page 11

HOSPITAL CONTROL

COOK BOARD MEETS

ANOTHER SHORT MEETING

.The mpnilnv meeting of the Cool; Hospital Board was hold yesterday afternoon, there being present Mrs. A. K. Beer, and Messrs. M. T. Trailord. chairman, 11. Kenway, I). W. Colnna.ii. M.P., 11. Adair, ".I. Tombleson, C G. Bavliss. F.-C. heggett, H. J. P. Tombleson, S. T. Gray, and His. J. C. Collins and H. Goulding Rice. The Hospital Boards' Association advised that the contribution of the Cook board to its expenses had been fixed at .£2l for the current year. The amount of last year's levy was .Cl 7. the managing secretary. Mr. 0. A. Harries, stated.

Dr. James Collins. senior house surgeon, tendered his resignation with regret, having received an appointment elsewhere. lie expressed appreciation of the courtesy and consideration shown to him bv the l>oard and from Drs. 11. J. B. and Theo. Hall. He acknowledged also the opportunity of increasing his knowledge of surgerv anil medicine under Dr. Hall. The soeial welfare committee reported that the secretary had been instructed to approach oculists and obtain quotations for the supply of spectacles. The committee set up to consider provision for the medical care of indigent sick in Gisborne reported that it. .had not yet reached finality, and thai inquiries were afoot as to the scheme in operation in Wellington tinder the control of the Wellington Hospital Board. FINANCIAL POSITION The finance committee reported that 'accounts amounting to £4058 had been approved for payment. The bank balance on the presentation of all cheques would be £6769 in debit. Authority was granted to the. treasurer to incur the necessary overdraft for the current financial quarter. Mr. Kenway 'reported the completion of the layingout and planting of the grounds surrounding the maternity home, the cost of the work being £B2 10s, including £3o' for wages, £l6 for timber, and £35 for seeds and shrubs. The committee recommended that the Director-General of Health should be asked to indicate how far it was intended the recent legislation in regard to the 40-hour week should apply to hospital staffing. The appointment of a permanent night sister, with six weeks' holiday per annum, was recommended by the finance committee, on the proposal of the. medical superintendent and the lady superintendent. The appointment of a sub-matron, also favoured by the matron and the medical superintendent, was recommended, and the committee suggested that Sister A. Morton should be promoted to the position of sub-matron, and that. Sister D. Runcinian be appointed home sister. The treasurer, Mr. C. A. Harries, reported that receipts for the past month had totalled £727, of which £489 was from patients' fees. The payment:; for the month included £1039 lor salaries and wages, £2OJ for the Memorial Home, £lO2 for the* maternity home, £385 for outdoor relief. £375 for capital expenditure, and ££o2 for administration. , Fees charged during the month totalled £1575.

PATIENTS TREATED The number'of patients in the hospital at the. close of May was 132. reported the medical -superintendent, Dr. B. .1. B. HaJl.'.-iho admissions being 209 and those,, discharged 211. A total of 21

cases now in hospital had been there for over two months.

In the report of the lady superintendent, Sister G. M. Leipst, it was indicated that Miss Margaret Saunders, Balclutha, had been appointed staff nurse in place of Staff Nurse Turnbuli. It was recommended that Staff Nurse Tooth be appointed junior sister. The. following gifts were acknowledged: Papers "and periodicals, Sporting and Dramatic proprietors, Mr. B. Pavlour Smith, and two anonymous donors. From the Tolaga Bay Hospital, thanks were expressed to Mr. W. Dunn for a donation of vegetables. Sister Pritchard, district nurse at Matawai, reported having treated and advised 63 patients and paid 39 visits during the month. She also reported ha vim? conveyed three patients to the Cook 'Hospital bv car, and together with Dr. E. Heycoc'k. had examined the district schools.

The custodian of the Memorial Home, Mr. R. C. Vigis, reported that the. 50 inmates of the home at the end of May included 11 women. The visits of various denominational representatives, and a performance given by the Salvation Army Band, were acknowledged by the custodian, who also mentioned the receipt, of gifts of papers and periodicals from Mrs. Paulson, Mr. G. G, Bull, the Scientist Distribution committee and two anonymous donors.