WAIROA HOSPITAL BOARD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19376, 14 July 1937, Page 2

WAIROA HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING A PROLONGED SITTING LAY-OUT OF. BUILDINGS (Heratil Correspondent.) The Wairoa hospital Board met in Wairoa yesterday afternoon, those present being Messrs. P. J. Brewster, chairman, M. P. Chanjnan, M. G. M. Williams, J. M. Tayloif. H. L. Marker, and A. T. Carroll. Arising out of the minutes, the chairman made a statement regarding the complaints about a nuisance at the effluent from the hospital septic tank. —On the motion of Mr. Marker, it was -decided that the chairman should take up the matter again with the health inspector. . The Health Department advised payment of £ISOO on account of subsidy, and that the board had no authority in law to sell any of its property on a second mortgage. The department consented to the friendly society agreement, and the payment of grants to the P.W.D. Medical Association. —All these letters were received. A letter was received from the department in regard to the treatment of cases of poliomyelitis, on which the chairman also reported progress, and the action taken was confirmed. The deoartment forwarded approval of the estimates.—The board resolved to notify the bodies on which it proposed to levy that the dates of instalments would be July 28 and August 15 November and February, 1938. The Wairoa County Council wrote approving of the board s decision not to meet levies this year by a loan, but hoping that next year’s capital levy would be met out of the proposed sales of property. Mr. C. O. Morse, Mayor of Napier, who had been asked some time ago to advise the board on what its present hospital lay-out should be so as to make the structures about to be undertaken fit in with the new hospital when it was being erected, approved of the preseht rate, which could be lowered, and made a number of other valuable suggestions, supported bv blue prints. .It was stated that the suggestions conformed to the requirements, and it was decided to thank Mr. Morse and to intimate that the board would be glad to meet him again at any time. Specialist Treatment Regarding the board’s proposal for specialist treatment by combining a number of boards for the purpose, the Hawke's Bay Hospital Board wrote that the matter was to be dealt with. The Waiapu board wrote stating that the need might be overcome by the proposed national health scheme. — The board decided to await replies from other bodies. The P.W.D. Medical Association asked for a modification of the hospital treatment agreement to provide for a fee of 4s (id per day for adults and 2s 3d for children. —The chairman said that in discussing the matter members should remember that Wairoa was the only board that, paid apart from the salaries of the district nurses. It was decided to reply that the workers were now earning better wages than ever before, and the board considered the facilities offered were sufficient. It was decided to carry on at the old rates until the conference proposed had been held. Letters of thanks were read from five settlers thanking the board and its staff for benefits received. Mr. W. J .Hill wrote resigning his position on the board owing to illhealth. The chairman said he was very sorry that he had to accept the resignation on such grounds. Mr. Hill had been a good member and had done his best while on the board, and hoped he would soon be in better health. He moved that a letter of thanks be sent to him. Mr. Harker seconded the. motion, which was carried, he and all the members endorsing the tribute paid by the chairman. It was decided to ask the Wairoa County Council to fill the vacancy, and as Mr. Hill had been elected as the economy member his colleague in the same capacity, Mr. M. P. Chapman, should wait on Mr. Hill, and ask him to suggest a successor. The finance committee’s report was adopted. It recommended that a payment of £3 12s be made to a friendly society member who had been sent away by the medical superintendent for specialist treatment and could not obtain admission to a public hospital. The afnount recommended was equal to the charge had this patient been treated in a public hospital. Accounts amounting to £1561 were passed for payment. I Reports of Officers The medical superintendent. Dr. M. G. L. Hallwright, reported for June:— Number of patients remaining in on May 31, 47: number admitted during June, 49; total treated, 96; number discharged, 50; number remaining on June 30. 40; average number of occupied beds, 44.7; number of operations. 10. There had been 11 patients in hospital for over eight weeks. The matron, Miss E. S. Harvey, re-' ported:—The health of the staff had, been good, with the exception of Miss Molly Kelly, who slipped and injured her wrist and was off duty for two weeks. Miss McKay, an aid, had left to commence her training at Napier Hospital. She thanked the following donors of gifts:—Flowers, Mesdames McDonald, Vale, Simmonds, Cowan, and Miss Elwin; • pot plants, Mr. Hocking; turkeys, Mr. Smyth; magazines, Mesdames Sproul, Rosenberg, Coker, and Mr. Shannon; old linen and fish, Mrs. Turner; fruit cake, Mr. Morrow. The band gave a most enjoyable programme. The reports were adopted, and the customary vote of thanks passed to the donors and musicians. Discussing the superintendent’s re-

cent .accident, Mr. Williams suggested that the board should endeavour to get a relieving doctor. The chairman said they all would welcome that if one could be obtained. —It was decided that the chairman should talk the matter over with Dr. Hallwright. The chairman reported on some minor repairs, for which authority .was given.