HOSPITAL BOARD.

Southland Times, Issue 17014, 12 April 1912, Page 2

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MOUT2H.T BSPOBTS. The following reports, will be presenter] to the Southland Hospital and Charitable Aid .Board at its.meeting to-day: CHAIII.MAX’S STATEMENT. . The Chairman (Mr A. r. Hawke) reports that, since last meeting the tender of Messrs A. and T. Burt, Bid., of Dunedin, had been accepted' by the Town Committee for the installation of elootric light in the Southland Hospital and Nurses’ Home, and as they have signed a contract to complete; the-same within five weeks, the Beard will be ready to lake the current from (he Corporation powerhouse'for lighting before the next meeting. Messrs Turnbull- and -Tone*, Lid., have made a start 'with .the installation of the intcr-coniinunication , tel«phene system in the hospital,' which, when completed, should bo a great convenience and lime-saver in -the working of the institution. Since last -meeting ihe new drainage has been completed at Lome Farm and the sbpllc lank is now working,.Mr Bieakjey., the Board's ; Inspector, reporting favourably on it. Nothing has been done in the matter of.repairing the old stables and cowbyrea, but the Beard' will try to have these attended to before next meeting. The Matron (Mrs Cole') has not been keeping well, and.has on account of her, health been away on holiday leave, Mrs Tori'l me r acting as matron. During- the recent wot weather the concrete boilerhouse cau«od some trouble at Gore Hospital by the water leaking through th* walls and door and preventing the working of the boiler." The, chairman Wadi some enquiries- made with a-view to having a drain pul -In to carry away the writer, but as there was no -fall it was decided to get Mr Roberts to'gS, on with his proposed plastering of the walls, and it is hoped that this will be done as soon as possible -and prove satisfactory. As the Hospitals Department is opposed to spending money in the meantime on a new operating room at Gore, he has had some enquiries made with a? view to having an isolation 'word erected, thus allowing the operating rborh’ to stand over for a time. On tire first of 'this month Matron Voting- severed her connection with iVio Ho-p.ital. Matron JL Smaill taking up the position, and f?is* ter v M. Stewart filling Miss .Smaili's ,dal* position as sister, With the secretary the chairman visited. Duneciu durinff the month and conferred, With the Ota go Hospital Board's Finance Committed with the" result that the Otago Board has -withdrawn certain' claims against the Southland Boar ’ for [maintenance of the, latter’,': patients'in th*e Dupedin Hospital. While tills has been tb a certain extent satisfactory as regard l ) past maintenance, the question of the Board 7 -* attitude in tlie future is-still-under-con-sideration and it js looped to. 'have am early settlement pf this . di.ffipjj.lty .between the Otago and Southland boajrds. With the Treasurer, Mr Hawke has gone fully into the matter of the Board** estimated expenditure and in'eotre* for the ensuing year, .and from figures* which the treasurer will present. The Board will see that it is suggested to still 'further reduce the Board's demands-on : the contributitig local authorities of the. district without in any. way sacrificing, the efficiency of the Beard's work, and-, this announcement should be satisfactory to the ratepayers. THE INSTITUTIONS.

'■■ Southland Hospital,;— The Medical Of* ficer reports that - 53 patients were in the hospital cn 'March Ist, -13 wore admitted during the month. 42 were discharged, and 5 died, leaving 47 under treatment' on Apr I Ist. Outpatients numbering 60 received treatment during the month. ,

Gore Hospital.—During’ t’jfs month 9 patients wore a.dnai.ted, and f4 were -discharged, leaving It under treatment on April Ist. Thu i.’cdicai officer states that, in connection -.rUb the proposal to establish an isolatijn ward at the hospital, two course.-.. are open ,to the Board, firstly to culld a -temporarystructure (of galvanised zinc.) in the grounds apart from the main building, or else- attach a smell ward to the men's ward.. The objecti-.n to- the former is that it would probably mean’extra nursing, so he recommends the latter. W.akatipu Hospital.;— Eleven, patients were treated during March, -five being admitted, during the month,- ■ Two died .arid ..throe were ~di■vcbargcch, &q: that six remained' oh. Aprii Ist. Arrow Hospital.—During March nine rnUohts received'”?odfment,'• one died and four were dlscuargeid, four remaining on f April lst." ■ - Horne Farm.—-Titere 'arc now Jol' : inat- tills . insi’itutioii--—SS ' men," 9 women, 18 girls" a;i 1‘35- boys./ During •the month fh'er’e has been much"sickness amongst the old i t-ople, some of them being very troublesome cases, and two deaths occurred. Fever Hospital..—On April Ist this, institution was cm?:; - . One patient had received treatment and had been discharged.