TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1920, Page 2

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Taranaki Hospital Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs. M. Eraser (chairman), .1. Andrews, F. S, Hill, (i. Youiit, A. If. Halcombe, S. Vickers, M. O'Brien, .lames Young, ana 0. Capper. This being the first meeting of the Board since the local body elections new members were, welcomed '.iy ti'O chairman.

The report of the medical superintendent (Dr. K. A. Walker) for the month of Oivober slated that 1)8 patients were admitted during the month, H 4 were discharged and 8 died. There were 88 remaining iu hospital at the end of the month. The daily avernte was 88.7. The number of operations performed was Its. Scarlet fever and diphtheria were comftmiousrty under treatment in the Isolation block.

Tie matron of the Rangiatea Home (Mrs. Bayly) reported that everything was progressing favorably in the institution. The number of inmates was 41. There had been two admissions durlnc the month.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES. The Inspector (Mr. A. H. Kendall) reported: During the past month eighteen cases of Infectious diseases were notified in the district. These comprised: six of scarlet fever, three diphtheria, three < icken pox, and six pneumonia. There was one case of scarlet fever, one of diphtheria and one of pneumonia. Taranaki County: Four cases of scarlet fever, one of diphtheria and four of pneumonia in New p.yimouth; five cases of scarlet fever and three of chicken pox at Waitara: one case of diphtheria and one of pneumonia in the Egmont County. The chairman said that the question of a better system of health inspection had been mentioned at last meeting. It was a remarkable thins that In none of the infectious cases had there ever been any discovery of the source of the outbreak. The matter of the control of the Inspection had now been passed over to borough and county councils, and it was to be earnestly hoped that the new system would have a better effect. At last meeing Mr. Haleombe had mentioned that the conditions In many places were such as lo foster trouble.

Mr. vickers suggested tliat representatives of the Board and the Councils should confer with a view to devising a better scheme. Mr. Halcombe informed members that at mst meeting he had particularly mentioned the inspection of dairy sheds. He knew that many sheds needed attention and lie matured whose duty It was to inspect tlnirv buildings. Apparently, however the matter rested with the Health Department and not he Board. The whole thing was unsatisfactory while the ratepayers of the hospital district rsd to pay for the upkeep of the hospital to cope with infectious cases which cropped up.

Tim chairman said he had been emphasisinff the need for heller inspect lon. During he three years ho had been on ihe Hoard Hie isolation wards had never been clear He expressed the hope that members would take a deep, interest in the matter because the isolation department was the cause of much trouble.

DISTRICT REPORTS. Nur.se E. McFadger, Opunake, reported that six cases had been attended to and s'xteen had received nursing attention. There were a number of mild cases of Influenza in the surrounding district, and whooping cough was prevalent among children. The district nurse, Uruti (C. E. Petin) reported that there was still a good deal o influenza about on the other side of Ml Messenger, and the Uruti School had been cough mi " U t0 Ule Drmlencc ° f "hoopins THE- NURSES 1 HOME. In a progress report on the Nurses' Home, he architects (Messrs. Messenger, Griffiths and Tayior) reported that from October 19 to November 10 an average of just over 21 workmen had been employed. The work Md Progressed satisfactorily and tho plasnmu/wair ,iI,,S 3lea<ly Pr ° BreSS W ' th the

GENERAL. The Inspector General wrote stating Hat be representations of the Board in, the mat\w tS Pro ' 7'" for St - Helen ' 3 H °M>ital for New Plymouth had been noted, and when he matter had been considered a further leply would be sent.

The chairman reported that the inatallaH.uigiatea Home had been completed Messrs. O'Brien and Vickers were apponied to the fa Ml committee and replace outgoing members. icm.ue

In tbe afternoon tic Board paid a visit to the institution and the farm