HOSPITAL CONTROL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19378, 16 July 1937, Page 11

HOSPITAL CONTROL

COOK BOARD MEETS MUCH FORMAL BUSINESS DEPARTMENTAL INQUIRIES The business of the Cook Hospital Board at its monthly meeting yesterday was largely formal, few of the letters placed before members requiring more than official acceptance. The situation with regard to the Public Works Medical Association's agreement was discussed briefly, and a number of other matters relating to hospital control were brought forward but were deferred for consideration in committee. Most, of the time of the meeting; was given to debating the proposal to raise the fees for treatment, in hospital, referred to in another column.

'Pilose present were Mrs. A. E. Beer, and Messrs. M. T. Trafl'ord, chairman, S. T. Gray, D. W. Coleman, M.P., H. Adair. J. Tombleson. C. G. Bayliss, H. J. F. Tombleson, F. C. A. Lcggett, and Drs. J. C. Collins and H. Gotilding Rice. In the correspondence received were a notification of the Minister of Health's consent to the renewal of the agreement with the St. John Ambulance Association, the Minister's approval of the estimates for the year, and an acknowledgement of the proposal for varying the uniform system in the hospital. Treatment of Paralysis

The Director-General of Health furnished a report on the recent visit of Dr. W. J. Robertson, Wellington, to the Cook Hospital relative to the treatment of infantile paralysis cases, the report' indicating that the number of cases in which permanent paralytic effects might be expected was limited to four, and that facilities for the treatment of these cases in the Cook Hospital were good, the addition of a special bath receiving favourable mention. The report also recommended the addition of another masseuse to the staff. Ministerial consent to the erection and equipment of the lecture room recently decided on also was received.

The report also slated that the 40hour week had been applied to the whole of the domestic, kitchen, gardening and laundry stall's of the Cook Hospital and Memorial Home. An appeal had been made to the staffs to meet the conditions peculiar to the hospital. By the engagement of an additional assistance in the laundry, it had been found possible to apply the 40-hour week to that department.

A sum of £15,000 on account of the board's building loan was available from the State Advances Department, the committee reported further, but the offer was subject to acceptance by July IG, while the board had not yet received the sanction of the Local Government Loans Board to proceed with the raising or the Joan. Steps had been taken to secure an extension of the time offered by the department, and to inquire also if it would have sufficient funds on hand to advance the balance of the board's loan when required. Income for the Month The treasurer, Mr. C. A. Harries, reported that patients' fees and other receipts for June had totalled £I4OO, of which £794 was yielded by patients' fees. The payments for the month were £4232, of which £2750 was spent on the provisioning and wages bill of the hospital. Patients' fees for the month came to £1383, other fees charged bringing the total to" £1036.

The medical .superintendent, Dr. R. J. B. Hall, reported that the number of patients under treatment had increased from 127 on May 31, to 133 on June 30, the latter figure including 10 infectious cases. The finance committee gave approval to the payment or accounts amounting to £3482, the treasurer having reported that when all charges were met, the board's account would be £5457 in debit. A renewal of the agreement with Dr. S. Scoullar, Napier, for treatment of indigent cases at the request of the board was recommended, the committee suggesting certain modifications of the existing conditions. In a discussion on the report later, the chairman disclosed that the board would pay practically double the former foes to Dr. Scoullar, in return for a proportionate increase in time devoted to the board's work by the specialist. Nursing Staff Changes The lady superintendent, Miss G. M. Leipst, reported on the nursing and domestic staffs of the hospital, staling that Sister Hall, Staff Nurse Mills, and Nurses R. Tully, B. Ebbett,' and B. Freeling were on annual leave, and Nurse Vipond on special leave. Sister Fredsberg and Nurses Lougher, Gray and Lc Gros had returned from leave, and Staff Nurse Clark had tendered her resignation owing to health reasons.

The lady superintendent recommended that Nurse Barnard be appointed staff nurse in place of Stall Nurse Clark; and that Sister Hall be granted special leave without pay for two months, on account of family illness.

Having completed training at the maternity annexe. Nurses Barnard and'Kcan had left, and Nurses A. M. Ryan and H. Bramwell had commenced training. At the maternity nursing examination on June 2, Nurses Gill, Cradock, Carr, Barnard, and Kean sat and all were successful. Gifts to the "hospital from Mrs. McFadyen and Misses Fay and Audrey McKinley, books for the children's ward; Mr. Grayson, lemons; the Rev. R. C. Ayres. magazines; and Victoria League, books for the maternity annexe, were acknowledged by Miss Leipst,

Calls on Waikohu County The district native nurse at Te Kara ka, Sister Jamieson, reported that durJng the month she had given 3!) treatments to 34 European patients and 97 treatments to 78 Maori patients in addition to visiting 14 Maori pas and six schools, where eye and ear tests were given to 40 pupils, antityphoid inoculation, and lectures on health subjects. The Memorial Home custodian, Mr. S. W. Garley, reported thtit at the end of June 54 patients were in the insli-

tution, including 12 women. Gifts acknowledged by the custodian comprised literature from two anonymous donors. Reporting on the outdoor relief activities during the quarter ended June 30, the managing-secretary staled that the allocation had been lower by £3OO than had been expected. The total outlay for the quarter was £7Ol, of which £lO5 was paid for rent, £l9O for rations, £47 for board and lodgings, £55 for burials, £3B for clothing, and £54 for the board of children. Medical care of the indigent, a new item in the outdoor relief account, was represented by a sum of £4. All the reports were adopted.