HOSPITAL BOARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 95, 5 December 1911, Page 5

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. Tho usual n) mfchly meeting of Llio Stratford Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held in the Municipal Chambers this morning, when there were present Messrs E. Marfell (chairman), J. McAllister, A. Meredith, J. Cluistoffel, E. Mine, and J. Smith.

New Members. A letter was read from Mr G. A. Marchant resigning his seat and a communication was received from the County Clerk notifying that Mr J, Smith had been appointed to represent the Stratford Coiyity Council in Mr Marchant’s place. The chairman said he was very pleased to welcome .Mr Smith and Mr Hine, the new members, while at the same time ho very much regretted the loss the community had sustained in Mr Marchant’s resignation. Mr Smith and Mr Hine suitably responded. Ca! resporidenca.

The secretary of tho Taranaki District Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote re temporary provision for the reception of incurables, that lie was authorised to iniorm the Board that they had no accommodation for them at present, but hoped to at no distant date, when representatives of tiie three Boards would lie asked tp moot and arrange a scale of charges. The chairman said that they had

no urgent cases at present, though one had been notified. It was decided to leave the matter over.

Correspondence was received from the secretary of the Hawera Hospital and Charitable Aid Board notifying

that tho following resolution was passed at their last 'meeting: “That this

Board is decidedly of the opinion that

the question of Inspector’s salary was to be equally divided between Hawera and Stratford Boards as no mention was made at tho meeting held at Eltham of the salary being in ratio to tiie respective values.” Ho was therefore sending the account, back to tho Stratford board for consideration.— (The amount due by the Stratford Board was £4O 15s lUd). It was stated by the chairman that ho considered the amount duo was more than their fair share. They would

have to • abide by tho agreement lor

one year. Mr McAllister moved that the secretary state a case for the In-spector-General, and tho Hawera Board he notified and that the amount for the meantime be held over.—Carried.

Mr Meredith reported re distict nurses in the back country that it had been suggested that the settlers’ subscriptions should bo £1 per annum to entitle the subscriber to the nurse’s services free for one year. The only fear was that whether the system was workable, and he asked the Board’s opinion on the matter. A possible drawback to the arrangement he thought would be that trouble might arise owing to members wanting to keep the nurse longer than they would do if they were paying by the day. He asked if' the Board would appoint a nurse to the settlers over a guarantee payment of £lO a month for four months.

This members thought woidd be a fair amount.

The secretary stated that the previous resolution was that the settlors should guarantee,£6o a year and the Board would find any further, funds required and that a nurse ho sent. Mr Meredith said that under the scheme he proposed there would no difficulty in obtaining a guarantee of oven up to £7O. Immediately upon a guarantee of £SO being forthcoming the Inspectorgeneral will lie asked to recommend a district nurse for appointment.

The gardener reported as follows “Considering the bad weather the garden and grounds are in fair order. The late storm made sad havoc with the vegetables, and the high winds now do Hot improve, them. I will have to re-sow a gqod many which will make them late.. lam still kept busy with weeding and cleaning.” No report was read from the medical superintendant, as he was away on leave, but the statistics were Number of patients admitted IG, discharged 10, died 1, remaining in hospital 14. There were live operations during the month. The Sanitary Inspector reported that one case of scarlet fever had been notified in the. Stratford borough. The patient was isolated at home, and all precautions were taken against the spread of the disease. In the Stratford borough a Chinese laundry lias been inspected, and reported on. Complaint had been made that one of the banks was infested with rats. On inspection being made of the premises, and other premises near by, rats wore found to exist on the bank premises; also in an auction mart, doth parties had been supplied with rat poison, as recommended by the Health Department. Eight restauvaunts, two butchers’ shops, and one fruit shop had been inspected, and found to he in good order. In the Stratford County a nuisance caused by dead cattle polluting creeks, on the farm of Buchanan and Meyeuherg, ; had been abated. Some of the carcases wore burned, and the others buried. When there, an inspection had been made of the township. The insanitary arrangements at a local boarding-house, reported last inspection, had been done away with, and the work of re-building was now in hand. One 21b loaf from a local baker had /been purchased and weighed. It weighed 21b Uo/. Several minor improvements had bad asked to bo done.

The reports were adopted. The Visiting Committee reported with respect to lira prevention measures and recommended that two 10pint Minimax machines be procured at a cost of 70s each Mr McAllister stated that the Committee had decided on the chemical apparatus after carefully weighing the merits of the alternative of installing water and hose. The cost would ho similar hut it had to he remembered that the hoso had a tendency to deteriorate, it was unsightly in tlio passage, and would not he convenient for the nurse to use in case of fire. It was decided to refer the matter to the Visiting Committee with power to act.

The matron applied for her annual leave to he extended to six weeks, which was granted.

Financial. The statement of accounts for the eight months of tho year that have passed showed that the total expenditure was £1565 9s lOd (hospital £I4OB 1.3 s Id and charitable aid £156 6s 9d) and the total receipts £1739 Os 9d, leaving a credit balance for the eight months of tlio year of £174 Os lid. Added to the surplus from last year the present credit balance was £lsl 15s lOd. Isolation Ward. The chairman said that they had received tenders at the last meeting i)iit the matter had been held over to this meeting as the expenditure was a large one. From local bodies the opinion had been gained that the expenditure was a very necessary one. Ho had thought it better to have the matter discussed by the contributing bodies to the Board. They could authorise the expenditure without con-

lulling them but ho thought the course they had followed was the better 0110. They would deal with the tenters ■ that morning.

Mr Meredith stated that the Wban,;a County Council wore entirely in accord with the proposal. They realised that the Hospital must be kept up to date. Tlie Board then went into committee to consider the tenders.

The accepted tender was that of Mr. J. W. Boon, for the sum of Jl 160.

Accounts to the amount of £179 1.7 s 3d were passed for payment. The meeting then adjourned.