HOSPITAL BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 18962, 8 June 1923, Page 7

HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Hospital Board was held yesterday afternoon, those present being Messrs J. Matheson (chairman), McDougal, Fleming, Clark, Bowmar, Fraser, Rhodes and Misses Dryburgh and Birss. The executive committee reported having dealt with six fresh applications for relief. Three had been granted assistance totalling £2 17s 6d per week. Two applicants in receipt of 10s and 13s per week respectively had been struck off the list. Accounts and salaries totalling £4,425 were recommended and passed for payment. The secretary reported that the weekly expenditure on 'outdoor relief was at present £24 as against £23 7s for the corresponding period last year. The Director-General of Health wrote advising that it was now illegal to employ as masseurs in public hospitals or other public institutions, persons not registered under the Masseurs’ Registration Act. With reference to the Board’s resolution to the Department of Health protesting against the Otaki and Pukeora Sanitariums being handed over to the North Island Hospital Boards free of cost, unless a similar concession was granted in connection with the Waipiata Sanitarium, communications were received from the Minister of Public Health, Messrs J. C. Thompson, M.P., James Horn, M.P., and the Hon G. J. Anderson, Minister of Labour, promising to give the matter full consideration. The Town Clerk of Invercargill wrote acknowledging receipt of a letter from the Board drawing attention to the bad state of the water table in Gala street adjoining the Hospital and stating that it had been decided to have a concrete channel laid in to provide adequate drainage. The Waipiata Sanitarium committee wrote asking the Board to consider the advisability of a receiving station being provided for the observation of consumptive patients, prior to their admission to the Waipiata Sanitarium. Dr Owen Johnston, Medical Superintendent of the Southland Hospital wrote concerning this matter as follows:—“I consider that all tubercular cases desiring sanitarium treatment should be admitted to Kew first. There they will be kept under skilled observation and when it is certain that a case is a suitable subject for early treatment at Waipiata then such a case can be sent on.” The secretary of the Southland Hospital Saturday Association wrote enclosing a cheque for £l5O and advising his committee wished the amount to be devoted towards the establishing of an out-patients’ dental department at the Hospital. The Director-General of Health wrote approving of the appointment of Dr Hessie Morton as Medical Officer of Health for the Wanaka district.