NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1924, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL

MEETING OF THE BOARD. PAST MONTH’S WORK. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board was held at the .board’s office, New Plymouth, yesterday, when there were present: Messrs. M. Fraser (chairman), F. J. Hill, E. •R. A-. Gilmour, H. Lepper, S. Vickerw, A. H. Halcembe, Jas. Young and J. R. Sutherland. Apologies were received from Messrs. A Corkill and T. H. H. Sinclair. The medical superintendent (Dr. E. A. Walker) reported that during the month of August 134 .patients had been admitted, 131 discharged, and 10 died. There were 120 remaining in the hospital. The highest number for any one day was 134, and the ’ average 123.5. There had been 44' operations The high daily average was maintaineu during the month, and the. hospital was busy in all 42 cases of diphtheria were admitted to isolation. The deathermy apparatus had arrived from England and was already in use. The matron (Miss B. A. Campbell) reported that Nurses Babbage and Boys had gone on holiday leave, and Nurses Grant and Fenwick had returned from hcliday leave. Sister Gill had been token on the staff as ward sister. Nurse Kilbride having completed her four years, had resigned her position as charge nurse. Nurses Ashton, Hobbs and Topp had filled vacancies on the staff.

Mr. E. Holden, general manager, reported that du’iing' the past month nothing of an unusual nature had occurred. The hospital had been running a fairly high average number of occupied beds. A second wave of diphtheria seemed to have come back, but he was pleased to say that during the past week or so few admissions had been made to the isolation ward. He was having repeated complaints about no heat in the drying room at the nurses’ home. Reports were reaching him that people would persist in visiting the isolation block, and in some cases when asked to go away becajne very impertinent. He suggested that enquiries should be made towards the purchase of a motor lawn mower. The tennis court for the nurses at the home should also receive consideration. Sister L. MacDonald commenced her duties as sister in charge of Opunake Cottage Hospital on the Ist inst. He was given to understand that both she and the Opunake people were very satisfied. Six heifers were sold at Waiwakaiho saleyards, and realised £3l I*sB 6d nett; two were sold privately for £8 each. The engineer (Mr. C. E. Dunn) reported on various matters in connection with the plant.

OPUNAKE HOSPITAL. Dr. J. S. Churdh, in charge of Opunn.ke Hospital, reported that four cases had been admitted during the month, three discharged, and three remained. All wore midwifery cases. RANGIATEA HOME. Mrs. Bayly, matron at Rangiatea Home, reported that during the past month everything had been progressing very favourably in the above institution. Supplies were good and discipline excellent. There were 25 males and 7 females in the home. They had to thank Mrs. Dr. Hine for magazines and Mrs. Hurlstone for flowers, also ■the Salvation Army for a very good concert.

TREATMENT OF OONSUMPTIViES.

The Department of Health forwarded a circular letter regarding the cost of treatment of consumptives who had not established settlement in any hospital district. Cases had come under the notice of the department in which a hospital board under the Act was called upon to pay for the treatment of conaumptive patients in a sanatorium who, on account of the short length of time they had been in the Dominion, had established settlement in no hospital district. In future the department would bear the cost of any such cases. The department cou-ld not, however, undertake to bear the cost of treatment o', patients who might have been soma years in the Dominion but who had not established settlement, and, generally speaking, the decision only applied to those who had been leiss than two years ii the Dominion. Every case, however, would be dealt with on its merits, but the department expects the boards to supply proofs. TENDERS. On the recommendation of the House Committee, tenders were accepted a»i follows: Meat, City Meat Stores; groceries, C. Carter and Sons; vegetables, G. Yuka; bread and fuel, held over. GENERAL. The name of Mrs. A. F. Lindsay, of Ngaio, Wellington, waa added to the probationers’ list. It was decided to ask the medical superintendent to report on oases that ih-ad been in hospital for an unusually long time. The Minister for Public Health (Sir M. Pomare) forwarded approval of the board’s expenditure of £2,000 for building an X-raj department. Accounts amounting to £l6OB 14s 5d were passed for payment. The chairman and secretary weir appointed the board’® delegates to a conference of hospital boards to be held in Wellington on October 7.