68 SOUTHLAND PATIENTS

Southland Times, Issue 24354, 7 February 1941, Page 7

68 SOUTHLAND PATIENTS

Waipiata Sanatorium POSITION AT END OF JANUARY

Sixty-eight Southland patients were in the Waipiata Sanatorium at the end of last month, according to the secretary’s report presented at the monthly meeting of the Waipiata Sanatorium Committee.

Those present were: Messrs E. Macdonald (chairman), W. Bryant, J. Rodman, J. Ritchie, T. Golden, J. H. Smith, A. T, Harris and Dr T. McKibbin representing the Department of Health. The medical superintendent (Dr A. Kidd) reported that during November and December 7 and 9 patients respectively were admitted, 10 and 12 were discharged and 133 and 130 remained. at the end of those months, the majority of them doing well or improving. He also reported on his visits to the different centres in the committee’s district since the last meeting and recommended as suitable for admission to the sanatorium 12 patients from Southland, two from South Canterbury, two from Ashburton and one from South Otago—a total of 17.

The secretary reported that six of these patients had been admitted to the institution.

The Director-General of Health, Wellington, wrote stating that the department had recommended a complete medical examination and an X-ray of the chest of all pupil nurses on entering the training school. The medical superintendent reported that the recommendation was being carried out. The Director-General of Health also wrote stating that the department was of the opinion that the rate of payment from the War Expenses Account for the treatment of army cases in the sanatorium should be the same as that fixed for the Hospital Boards associated in the institution and that it was desired to make payments direct to the committee and not through the Associated Boards. The District Superintendent of the Live Stock Division, Department of Agriculture, Dunedin, forwarded the results of the annual tuberclin test recently made on the sanatorium dairy herd, showing that 45 cows had passed and two cows were to be retested.

The architect (Mr A. C. Ford) attended the meeting and placed before the committee sketches of the proposed additions to the Nurses Home. It was decided that these be forwarded to the Department of Health for approval. He reported that the contractor had completed the drainage work and that the painting contractor was making good progress with the external painting of the wooden shelters.

The gardener (Mr F. Reichel) wrote resigning his position as from the end of February. The resignation was accepted with regret and the gardener thanked for his services.

The secretary’s report showed that the Associated Boards had the following patients in the institution on January 31:—Southland 68, South Canterbury 21, Ashburton 13, Waitaki 8, South Otago 12, Vincent 3, Maniototo s—a total of 130. Since the last meeting of the committee, 20 patients from six hospital districts had been discharged. He also submitted a waiting list, of 21 patients from three districts, five of whom had been notified that beds were available.