HOSPITAL BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 20614, 12 October 1928, Page 5

HOSPITAL BOARD

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Southland Hospital Board met yesterday, Mr. J. Matheson (chairman) presiding over the following members:—Miss Birss and Messrs E. Bowmar, W. Clark, T. Golden, J. S. McDougall, J. W. Miller, H. E. Niven, W. Norman, T. Rhodes, C. Rbertson arid G. Wraytt. Secretary's Report. The secretary (Mr. T. Pryde) reported, inter alia:— Southland Hospital Dr. Owen-Johnston (medical superintendent) has been off dutythrough illness, necessitating the engagement of outside men to assist Dr. \\ ilson, assistant medical superintendent, in the medical and surgical work of the institution. It was Dr. Johnston's wish to have discussed with the board members at this meeting the future medical service of the hospital and its subsidiary institutions, as for some time at least there is likely to be a shortage of house surgeons in the Dominion, and the welfare of the patients makes it necessary to seriously consider this important matter with a view to securing an efficient medical service. Plans of New General Hospital, Kew:— For the reason mentioned in the foregoing, we have been unable to discuss further with the medical superintendent the plans and suggested layout of the proposed new- hospital, and in consequence no meeting of the JSpecial Plans Committee has been called. — On the motion of Mr. H. E. Niven it was decided that the architect, Mr. Wilson, be asked upon what terms he would undertake the prepara ion of plans and specifications and supervising the erection of the Kew hospital, taking into consideration his offer as contained in his letter to the board. Isolation Block, Gore Hospital:—ln view of the suggestion made last meeting that the possibilities of a site to the extreme west of the new men’s ward might be considered instead of the site originally selected for this building, I have been in communication with Dr. J. E. Rogers (medical superintendent of Gore Hospital) as to his views on the proposal which should be worthy of consideration and report. Lome Infirmary:—Some portions of the roof and outride woodwork at this institution are in rather bad state of repair, and I would respectfully suggest that a committee of the board visit, inspect and report as to whether something should not be done in the matter of carrying out some necessary repair work at the institution. Hospitals Amendment Act. 1928:—Parliament. during the present session, passed the above measure, the principal provisions of which are :—(l* Election of chairman of board every second year in June instead of in April ls at present. (2) Power to hospital boards, subject to the approval of the Minister, to borrow by way of limited bank overdraft for capital expenditure as well as for the ordinary annual maintenance requirements. (3) Increasing the scope of section 92 of the existing Act to provide that maintenance in a private charitable institution will be considered the same as maintenance in a public institution so far as the computing of residence as between contiguous boards is concerned. (4) Empowering boards to sell after a specified time the unclaimed property of patients. (5) Stabilizing the subsidy payable to hospital boards on maintenance levies so that no board will receive less than 14/- or more than 26/- in £l. The report was adopted. Executive Committee's Report. The following matters dealt with in committee were confirmed:— That in terms of Dr. Johnston’s report the committee recommends the board to adopt same and arrange for the immediate engagement of a junior house surgeon to assist Dr. Wilson (assistant medical officer), the latter's services to be retained for another year, and that the action of the House Committee and Medical Superintendent in arranging that the medical and surgical work at the institution be carried out by different local practitioners in the meantime be approved. A number of matters in connection with the work at Gore hospital, reported on by Dr. Rogers and Matron McCrostie, such as massage treatment of patients, telephone service, laying off of grounds and paths, furnishings, etc., were left in the hands of a sub-committee of the board consisting of the chairman, Messrs Niven, McDougall, Robertson, Wraytt, Bowmar and Rhodes to visit the institution on Saturday*, 13th instant. That the sale n a section in the township of Wyndham be left in the hands of the chairman and secretary with power to act. That on the recommendation of Matron Ross, probationers Doris Bell and Mary Craig be placed on the permanent nursing staff. The committee reports having listened to an interesting review of the work carried out in the Nurses’ Post Graduate School at Wellington by Tutor Sister Bridges, she being thanked for furnishing information as to the nature of the work, and con-, gratulated on her success in her studies. The matter of reviewing the reciprocal agreement between the Otago and Southland boards so far as the treatment of patients from the respective districts is concerned, was left in the hands of the secretary to go into and bring forward a report. Communications were received from the South Canterbury and Vincent Boards regarding Southland patients admitted to institutions in their districts, and in the case of a Southland patient admitted to the hospital at Clyde, the secretary was directed to write to the medical man responsible for having him sent there without first consulting the board. Hospital Statistics. The following is the report of the Southland and Kew hospitals for the month of September:—Southland hospital:—Patients remaining as at August 31, 1928, 93; patients admitted during month, 117; patients discharged, 121; deaths 3; patients remaining as at September 30, 86. There ■were no cases of diphtheria admitted during the month. Kew hospital:—Patients remaining as at August 31, 18; patients admitted during month, 2; patients discharged, 11; deaths, nil; patients remaining as at September 30, 9. There were no cases of scarlet fever admitted during the month. Gore Hospital. Patients remaining September 1, 1928, 34; patients admitted during September, 49; total under treatment, 83; patients discharged during September, 47; patients died during September, 2; patients remaining October 1, 34; total 83. Total number of outpatients’ attendances, 37. Lake County Hospital. Patients remaining September 1, 1928, 9; patients admitted during September, 5; total under treatment, 14; patients discharged during September, 1928, 1; patients remaining October 1, 1928, 13; total, 14. Total number of outpatients’ attendances 7. Lome Farm. Patients remaining at September 1, 1928, 54; patients admitted during September, 2; total under treatment, 56 p patients discharged during September, 1928, 2; patients died during September, 2; patients remaining October 1, 1928, 52; total, 56.