WALLACE HOSPITAL

Southland Times, Issue 21274, 20 December 1930, Page 9

WALLACE HOSPITAL

MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD.

(From Our Correspondent.)

The monthly meeting of the Wallace Hospital Board yesterday was attended by Mr J. G. Johnston (chairman), Mies Hunt, Messrs John Horrell, F. J. Linscott, F. Dyer, S. Fowle, T. A. Buckingham, and J. C. Thomson. Before proceeding with the business of the board, the chairman briefly referred to the death of the late Mr Irvine Clark, a son of Mr David Clark, Otautau. The latter had in the past been associated with many local bodies. A motion of sympathy was carried in the usual manner, members standing. The secretary of the Waipiata Sanatorium Committee wrote stating that the South Otago Hospital Board requested the committee to grant the privilege of sending chronic T.B. cases to the sanatorium. A full report was also forwarded from Dr Kidd, superintendent at the sanatorium, who stated that in time to come the committee might look into the matter of building accommodaion for this class of case. The chairman said the question had been fully considered at a recent meeting of the Waipiata Sanatorium Committee, and he did not think anything would be done in the meantime.

Mr Horrell said as, far as he could see the present buildings were not suitable for chronic cases, and it would mean a heavy expenditure, and further taxation, if additional buildings had to be erected.

Mr Fowle said the sanatorium was not built for chronic cases, and on his motion the letter was received.

The Jubilee Institute for the Blind, Auckland, wrote with regard to a former resident of Wallace, and asked the board for its opinion as to the fitness of the man for training and active employment in a blind workshop. The secretary was instructed to reply that the board was of the opinion that the man was too old to be put to a trade. Mr J. G. Baker, secretary of the Otautau District Nurse Committee, wrote stating that arrangements had been made to carry on the district nursing service under new conditions, and he had been instructed to ask if the board would reinstate the service as soon as possible. The committee asked that the salary be £2OO and that the nurse have all the necessary certificates, and that conditions be available to start in January. The Deputy-Director of Health wrote regarding subsidies on bequests and voluntary contributions, and stated that the funds set qside to meet such subsidies were exhausted, and that under those circumstances no further applications for subsidy on voluntary contributions and bequests would be entertained this financial year. It was resolved to forward a copy of the letter to the Otautau Committee. The. Nurses and Midwives’ Registration Board, Wellington, wrote stating that the question of training pupil nurses was again considered at a meeting of the board, in conjunction with a report received from Miss Moore, nurse instructor, of the Department of Health, concerning her inspection of the hospital. As a result the board decided that from March 1, 1931, its approval of Riverton Hospital as a grade A training school should be cancelled, and it should be approved as a B grade training school from that date. Mr Thomson said the board should enter an emphatic protect and characterized such treatment as unreasonable and unjust. It was resolved to forward a protest to the Minister.

The Treasury Department, Wellington, wrote regarding the proposed nurses’ home loan of £l5OO. The Health Department, it was stated, was being advised in order that the consent of the Minister of Health might be obtained under section 60 of the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Institutions Act, 1926. On receipt of notification from that office word would be sent the 'Wallace Board. ,

A further communication by way of telegram was read from the Health Department regarding suitable terms being made with nearest power board for electric hot water service for the nurses’ home, so as to make provision in the specifications. The secretary said he had replied stating that as coal was cheap in Southland, the board considered the heating to the home could be supplied in this manner. The secretary's action was approved. Miss Alice Fraser's (Ermedalc) request to have her name placed on the waiting list of probationers was agreed to. ■ The monthly hospital report, was as follows: Patic-ts remaining from previous month, males 18, females 13, total 31; admitted during month, 13-22-35; total treated, 31-35-66; discharged during month, 13-19-32; deaths 3-1-4; total, 16-20-36; in at present, 15-15-30. Maternity Home: Patients remaining from previous month, mothers 1, babies 1; admitted during month, 3-0; discharged, 3-3; remaining at end of month, 1-0; babies born, 3.