HOSPITAL BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 18938, 11 May 1923, Page 10

HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Southland Hospital Board was held yesterday afternoon, there being present, the chairman (Mr John Matheson), Misses Birss and Dry--1 burgh, Messrs W. Clark, W. M. Norman, H. E. Niven, James Fleming. J. S. A. McDougall, T. Rhodes and T. Fraser. Leave of absence was granted to Mr C. Robertson. REPORTS. The report of the Executive Committee was as follows: “(1) In the absence of the representative of the Lakes District, the Committee recommends that the present arrangements with Dr Anderson and Dr Ferguson be , continued until the end of June to give time tn U'-- ? this matter finally dealt with by • the Board. ; “(2) The Committee recommends that the | repc., of tne hinance Committee be adopted • and accounts and salaries totalling £5470 5s 3d be passed for payment; this amount : including £2608, Board’s proportion of capiI lal expenditure in connection with the purchase of sanatorium and sites at Waipiata. “(3) Owing to arrangements having been made with the Education Departmen’ to take over the maintenance of several of the younger children in Lome Farm, the Executive recommends that, a Committee consisting of the chairman. Misses Birss and Dryburgh, Messrs Fleming. Fraser and Niven be set up to go into the question of the Board’s future policy so far as Lome Farm Home and Chronic Hospital is concerned, and report. “f4i The secretary reported that the weekly expenditure on outdoor relief at present was £22 12s 6d as against £24 6s 6d for the corresponding month last year.” The report was adopted. The report of Ihe secretary which was adopted was as follows: “Southland Hospital. —This institution is still very much overcrowded, a condition of things that is not conducive to the welfare of either patients or staff. The question of providing extra bed accommodation for patients and nurses is now very acute, and the Town Committee has these matters still under consideration. “Waipiata Sanatorium.—The Sanatorium Committee met at Dunedin on the 3rd inst., and among other matters decided to take over the running of the institution from Dr. Byres as from May 10, under the control of Dr. Kidd, the newly-appointed Medical Superintendent. The accommodation at the outset will be limited until the new buildings are erected in nine or ten months’ time. The architect submitted to the meeting plans for patients’ pavilion, kitehen and laundry block, nurses’ home, and superintendent’s residence, and tenders for the first portion of the building scheme will be invited immediately, in Invercargill, Dunedin, Timaru and Christchurch. The patients in the institution at present are 12. three of whom are from this Board's district, and have made gratifying progress since admission. As the purchase money for the different properties. secured, including Dr. Byres’ private sanatorium, will require to be paid over at once, a request for payment of one-third of their estimated capital apportionment for the year ending March 31, 1924, has been made on the eight different associated boards, the Southland Board’s quota being £2,608. “General.—Since our last meeting the Health Department’s comparative tables published in connection with its annual report for the year ended March 31. 1922, : has come to hand, and so far as this Board’s institutions are concerned, th? figures compare favourably with the Dominion institutions of a similar grade.” CORRESPONDENCE. The President of the Victoria Home Committee wrote asking leave in view of the late Mr McGruer’s bequest to the Home, to withdraw their request for financial assistance.—Received. The secretary of the Southland Rugby Football Accident Committee wrote suggesting that the Board should accept 50 per cent, of the fees payable in respect to any player receiving treatment and that on these terms the Committee would accept liability for all footballers confined to hospital through football injuries.—The letter was received. The secretary of the Wanaka Medical Association wrote informing the Board of the application of Dr. Hessie Morton as its medical officer as from March I.—lt was decided to refer the application to the Health Department for confirmation. The secretary of the North Canterbury Board wrote in reference to the proposal to recommend the sterilisation of all mental degenerates, epileptics, etc., and asking for the co-operation of the Southland Board in making representations to the Government. —It was decided to give the necessary support in any representations made. GENERAL. The following motion moved by Mr James Fleming and seconded by the chairman (Mr Matheson) was carried: “According to press reports it is evidently the intention of the Health Department to hand over to the different North Island Hospital Boards free of cost, the Otaki and Pukeora Sanatoria and the Board is of the opinion that in justice to the different associated Hospital Boards in the South Island, which have mutually undertaken the establishment and maintenance of a consumptive sanatorium at Waipiata, the Government be asked to place the associated South Island Boards on the same footing by giving the Waipiata Committee the necessary financial assistance in acquiring, erecting and equipping the Waipiata institution ; that each of the associated boards be urged to support the resolution and secure the assistance of their district Members of Parliament in giving effect to what in the opinion of the Board is only a fair and reasonable request.”