WALLACE HOSPITAL

Southland Times, Issue 20663, 19 April 1929, Page 3

WALLACE HOSPITAL

MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD.

(From Our Correspondent.)

The monthly meeting of the Wallace Hospital Board was held at Riverton yesterday; when there were present:—Mr John Horrell, (chairman), Miss Hunt, Messrs F. J. Dyer, S. Fowle, F. Linscott, J. C. Thomson, T. A. Buckingham and James Johnston.

The secretary stated that Mr J. 0. Thomson, who was the only candidate nominated for the combined districts of Riverton Borough and Otautau and Nightcaps town districts at the recent election was declared duly elected, Mr Thomson suitably acknowledging the honour. Correspondence. The Southland Hospital Board wrote stating that a Wallace patient, had received special treatment, and came from Ohai. — Received.

An application was received from a widow with three children, at Ohai, for outdoor relief.

Mr Johnston said the case was a deserving one, and he had instructed a grocer to supply necessaries totalling 15/- per week in the meantime.

Mr Thomson moved that the applicant be granted £1 per week to cover cost of groceries; that the action of Mr Johnston be approved and that the secretary and Mr Johnston make inquiries as regards necessary clothing for the children. A resident of Otautau district asked for relief as the husband was out of work and there were five children to be provided for. She asked to be supplied with provisions amounting to £3.

Mr Buckingham said he knew the family, but he understood the husband was in work. He moved that 15/- per week be granted in the meantime, and if left to secretary and himself they would visit and report.—Agreed to.

An ex-South Riverton resident now at Hamner, undergoing treatment for rheumatism, asked the board to supply him with necessary footwear, which, he' said, would cost £2.

The secretary stated that when the board sent the patient to Hamner for treatment it was understood that the parents would meet them half way us regards maintenance, but this had not been done. On. the motion of Miss Hunt and Mr Buckingham the request was declined. The Waipiata Sanatorium Committee wrote stating that when its medical superintendent’s report was under consideration, some comment was made on the fact that during the past year only one patient from Wallace and Fiord Hospital District was admitted to the sanatorium for treatment; also that during the past five years only some eight patients from Wallace had been admitted. The letter was received, members remarking that it was gratifying to learn that such a large district as Wallace was practically free from tuberculosis. The Department of Health, Wellington, wrote with reference to the home at Nightcaps. The alterations and additions had been approved, and plans and specifications were to be prepared. On the motion of the chairman, the secretary was instructed to call for tenders when these came to hand.

The trustees of the Reginald MacKinnon estate, Invercargill, forwarder! a cheque for £3O, being a grant from the benevolent fund in aid of the poor residents in the “old province of Southland.” The trustees asked the board to use its own discretion in the payments.-—The secretary to reply, thanking the trustees. An elderly man in Orepuki district wrote informing the board that he was unable to pay his hospital fees. —Received. A letter was read from a resident, now residing in Victoria, who wished to enter the Wallace Hospital and be treated by the medical superintendent. After a short discussion it was resolved to leave the matter in the hands of the doctor and secretary. A lengthy communication was received from an ex-patient, who thanked the doctor, the nursing staff and members for the careful manner in which he had been treated whilst an inmate of the Wallace Hospital. The letter was received, members remarking that it. was pleasing to learn that there were some people who appreciated what had been done for them. The Department of Health, Wellington, wrote regarding the proposed capital works, stating that the Department approved of the amounts shown in the schedule. It was aho stated that the board would require to obtain the Minister’s consent under Section 75 of th’e Act before the works were put in hand. The letter was received, the secretary stating that the cost of the nurses’ home was included in the list sent. Other Business. The secretary submitted a statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure for the year. It was shown that the board had a credit balance of £764 at the bank, while the rate of 3-16ths of a penny would be the same as last year. On the motion of Messrs Thomson and Buckingham the statement was approved. The secretary stated that at last meeting a probationer nurse had been appointed, but she had now written to say she would not accept the appointment. He had received another application and asked the board to decide what should be done. —Held over. Mr Johnstone drew attention to the extra lighting necessary in the operating theatre, and the matter of arranging for same was left to the medical superintendent and secretary. The. medical superintendent, Dr. N. G. Trotter, reported as follows: Patients remaining from previous month: males 21, females 7, total 28; admitted during month: 17 —11—28; total treated: 38 —18—56; discharged during month: 21—5—26; deaths: 2 males; in at present : 15 —3 —lB. Quarterly returns (January, February and March) : Patients remaining from previous quarter: males 21—7—28; admitted during quarter: 61— 53 —114; totals: 82—60—142. Discharged during quarter: Recovered 53—45 —98; relieved: 9—11 —20; unrelieved: I—o-—1; died: 4—l—s; totals: 67—57—124. — Adopted. It was resolved to hold over till next meeting further consideration of the OhaiWairio Society’s request for reduced charges to members. Mr J. Horrell returned thanks for the kindn&ss and consideration he had always received from members, the secretary and nursing staff during his term of office; for next meeting, he said, it would be usual to appoint-a chairman. He referred to what had been done during his term of office, and the further improvements it was proposed to carry out. Messrs Thomson and Dyer spoke in eulogistic terms of the manner in which Mr Horrell • had presided at the, meetings, and the efficient way he had attended to all matters in connection with the hospital, and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.