HOSPITAL MATTERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1923, Page 6

HOSPITAL MATTERS.

MEETING OF THE BOARD.'. THE MONTHLY REPORTS. The Taranaki Hospital Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs. M. Fraser (chairman), J. Andrews, H. R. Cattley, E. Gilmour, S. Vickers, M. O’Brien, J. Young, and J. Sutherland. The report of the general manager (Mr. E. Holden) stated that during the past month little of importance had occurred. The Christmas holidays passed quietly and the staff of the hospital and the ißangiotea Home report that the patients and inmates had had a very enjoyable time. He asked authority to advertise the thanks of the board to those who contributed towards this end.

The medical superintendent (Dr. E. A. Walker) reported that 88 patients had been admitted to the hospital during December, and §8 discharged, while 10 had died, leaving 62 at present in the institution. The daily average of patients was 71, the highest number fbr one day being 79. A total of 45 operations were performed during the month. December was a light month all round, the report added. Seven cases of diphtheria and two of scarlet feve r ’ were admitted to isolation during the month. Nurses Taylor, Leighton, M‘Manus, and Winifried had passed the State examination. Nurse Taylor secured over 75 per cent, while Nurse Moore had obtained a partial pass. The matron of the hospital (Miss B. A. Campbell) reported that Nurse O’Riordan had been, on leave from December 21 to January 11, and Nurse M‘Manus from December 22 to January 14, while Nurse Corkill was at present on leave. Sick leave had been granted to Nurses Lash (December 22 to December 27), Corkill (December 27 to December 29).. Kilbride (December 29 to December 31), and Nurse Stephen-on (January 2 to January 10). Sister Fairbrother returned from holiday leave on* December 19. Nurse Burwell had been recommended six months leave of absence owing to illness. Misses Aitken and Poletti commenced duty on three months’ probation on December 18 and January 6 respectively. t There were several details in the nurses home which had not yet been completed, while there were also several windowfasteners broken.

The general manager was instructed to write to the architect with reference to the fasteners.

The matron of the Rangiatea Home (Mrs. A. Bayley) reported that everything had progressed favorably during the past month at the home and that discipline had boon excellent. Thanks were extended to Messrs. Burgess and Fraser for a liberal supply of muscatels, almonds, nuts, biscuits, tobacco and chocolate; the West own Club tor biscuits. fruit, lollies and tobacco: the

South Road Sunday School for confectionery, and Mesdames Hurlcstonc and Mason for flowers. In the home there were at present 30 males and 6 females. Sister Ratliff, district nurse at Uruti, reported that she had attended six patients during the month, while eight patients had visited the hospital for treatment.

The farm manager (Mr. Win. C. Noble) reported that the dairy herd of 20 cows had produced 19,9261b5. of milk. Harvesting had been completed and they were now thinning and weeding mangolds and carrots, which give promise of a heavy crop. Two acres had been sown in lucerne, and, with the recent warm rains, there was every appearance of a good strike. AA ork genei - ally was proceeding satisfactorily on the farm. .

The dispenser (Mr. C. F. B. Perrin) reported that everything under his control had gone smoothly and satisfactorily during the month. Warder Cameron returned to duty on December 16 after receiving treatment in the Trantham Hospital. “HALF AV AY” HOUSES. . The Director-General of Health advised that at the recent conference of th© four chief hospital boards the principal was affirmed of the establishment of half way houses for senile demential cases, and also that better provision should be made for the reception and treatment of incipient mental and D.T. cases. The Inspector-General of Mental Health had been approached on the matter and he had stated~that, with regard to D.T. cases, although he was of opinion that these might be treated best in mental hospitals, yet the procedure of admission and discharge, e.g., the Magistrate’s order of committal, etc., would probably outweigh any advantage. The patients would have to he committed as of “unsound mind. Regarding the senile cases, there were not so many difficulties as these could be admitted as “mentally infirm.' In December they had 158 senile patients requiring only custodial care and nursing such as they could receive in Old People’s Homes.’ The department was prepared to consider favorably a pr oposal to take charge of such patients at the cost of the boards, but before anything could be done the boards would need to have some idea of the number of cases of each sex receiving relief that they could transfer to the department and pay for. A return was accordingly asked for of the number of cases on the board's hands who would be transferred immediately so that a building programme could be gone into. The chairman said he had gone into this matter, with others, with . the Minister of Health and had told him it was all very well for the department to say such things were necessary and then close the strings of the money bags. They knew these things were necessary, but it was not fair to put the cost on to the ratepayers who were already carrying a heavy bundle and he bad told the Minister that they would probably have to increase the burden during the next year. If the department were willing to bear a share ot the expense he thought the ratepayers would be prepared to assist but they could not carry the whole of the co t Air Vickers agreed and said chat lie did not think the Government should “shunt” the matter on the grounds ot expense. It was spending money on education, but they wt-re educating sick bodies, and he thought some of that money should be diverted to Bettering the health of the people. Mr. Fraser proposed that they’ should write to the department pointing out that the ratepayers were burdened to the limit and that they eonsnlered that the Health Department should bear a greater share of the expense The motion was seconded by M • Vickers who added that they should ad-

vise the chairmen of. local bodies, who protected about the board’s levies, to ge to the Health Department with their complaints as their hands were tied. The motion was carried unanimously.

COMMUNICATIONS AT THE HOSPITAL.

The lack of communication between the different parts of the 'hospital buildings and also the isolation block was commented on in a letter from the medical superintendent. For months the internal telephone system had been out of use and the lack of eommunicaiion between the main building and the isolation block was severely felt, especially at night.

The secretary stated that damp had got into the wires and if they were to be encased in lead, the only way to deal with the wires as they ar© situated at present, would cost a considerable

The matter was left in the hands of die house committee to go into the question as to whether some better system could not be devised.

Disapproval of the admission of a ?ase of delirium tremens to the Opunako Cottage Hospital was contained in a letter froun the Director-General of Health. He pointed out that such a case should not have been admitted into such an hospital as the one at Opunake where there was neither suitable accommodation nor adequate staff for tjie necessary treatment.

A copy of the letter is to be sent :o the local committee.

GENERAL. j ’ The Director-General of Health advised that women patients could now be admitted to the Queen Mary Hospital at Hanrner, where the following classes of cases could be treated: —Neurasthenics, phydiasthenus, hysterics, and convalescents alter acute illness or following surgical operations. Treatment at Hanrner was not recomended for skin diseases or for rheumatoid arthritis and its effects. The fees for treatment had beep fixed at £3 3s per week for ordinary patients and a special foe 1 of £5 5s per week for patients who desired a single room.—'Received. Regarding the representation of contributory local bodies on Hospital Boards, the Director-General of Health advised that, on considering t'he latest figures as regards population and valuations, no change was required in the Taranaki district. The representation would, therefore, he the same as at present, viz., Clifton County 1, Taranaki County 2, Egmont County *2, New Plymouth Borough 3. Inglewood Borough and AVaitara Botough 1 between the two. Inglewood County 1. The tender of Messrs. Darby and Hannan, Broug'liam Street, was accepted for the painting of the old buildings at the public hospital. Four tenders' were received, the successful one being £378.