THE CARE OF THE SICK

Taranaki Daily News, 19 October 1927, Page 10

THE CARE OF THE SICK

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD IiEQVIKEMEN'TS AT OPUNAKE. DIFFICULTY OF FINANCE. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board was held yesterday, when there were present: Messrs. M. Fraser (in the chair), 8. Vickers, A. Cork ill, H. B. Lepper, I. Young, C. H. Barnitt, »S. J. Smith, R. J. Dcare and Rev. R. B. Gosnell. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs. E. IL C. Gilmour and T. H. H. Sinclair. T’he chairman thanked members for the holiday'' they had given him. He expressed appreciation of the splendid work that had been done by the board. It had been a severe winter and there had been much to do. He. also paid a tribute to the splendid spirit exhibited by members. particularly the new members, who took such a keen interest in the welfare of the hospital. The medical superintendent (Dr. J. M. Clarke) submitted statistics for the month of September, with figures for the same month last year in parentheses, as follows: Patients admitted 143 (119), discharged 150 (93), died 13 (10), re - mahiing in hospital 116 (117); highest, number for one day 142 (117); daily average 125 (104.1); number of operations, 54 (71). Four notifiable infectious eases had been admitted, one of diphtheria, one diphtheria carrier, and two of scarlet fever. The month had been a busy' one, more on the medical sidy U a < on the surgical, and a fairly high daily average had been maintained. The matron (Miss B. A. Campbell) reported that Sister Wade, Nurses Hobbs, Ashton. Boys, Higgie and .Wootton went oft* duty on holiday' leave, ami Nurses Clews, I. V. Thompson, Tompkins, Grove and Sumner on sick leave. Nurses I. V. Thompson, N. Thompson, Tompkins, Rutherford. Filcher, Higgie and Sumner had returned from sick leave. Sister Wade, Nurses Lewis. Ashton and Hobbs had returned from holiday leave. Nurses Masters, Clews, Perham and Wells left during the mouth. Nurses A. M. Douglas, P. Coyle and I. Gilbert had commenced on probation. Dr. H. B. Leatham, radiologist, reported that 105 patients had been attended to and 191 exposures given. Mr. F. S. Hodson, bacteriologist, reported that during the month he had made 323 tests. The engineer (Air. Chas. R. Dunn) reported. inter alia, that 600 square yards of flat roof surface had been bitumensealed and saud-coaled. The matron (Mrs. A. Bayly) reported that everything was progressing very favourably' at Rangiatca Home. Supplies had been good and discipline excellent. There bad been one admission, two departures and one death. There now remained in the. home 29 men and four women. They had to thank Mrs. Martin for a concert and Howers and Mrs. Hurlstone for flowers.

Sister M. C. Jones, in charge of the Opunake cottage hospital, reported that there had been nine cases admitted (including five confinements) and ten discharged, while four remained in the hospital. Air. E. Holden, general ma.nager, reported. inter alia, that he had arranged with the superintendent of the fire brigade regarding a fire alarm, and had visited Opunake regarding the 'suggested additions to the hospital. He. had arranged with the architects for comprehensive plans and for the supplying of plans ami specifications for all future buildings. He had not yet completed the draft set of by-laws, which, would also include the duties of the stafl'. THE OPUNAKE HOSPITAL. Considerable discussion ensued over the proposed alterations and additions to the Opunake hospital. Air. Deare submitted a report an the visit to Opunake, when they' had been met by Dr. J. S. Church and Messrs. J. Young and T. 11. 11. Sinclair. After inspection they were satisfied that a sunshine nursery and new labour ward were needed at once, as the present position was most unsatisfactory from both the medical and patients’ viewpoint. If the board was prepared to build the two new rooms they' suggested that the location* should be settled with a view to further possible extensions. It had to be borne in mind that the hospital was now used as a maternity hospital. In the face of the natural increase in population and demands for at least temporary and urgent hospital treatment, they were of opinion that the western side of the ground should be reserved for future possible extensions of surgical and medical wards. They recommended that the labour ward be built on the south side of the present building, the sisters’ and nurses’ bedrooms to be converted into a sunshine nursery, and that a new bedroom for the sister be built on the western side of the proposed nursery, the present lab--011!’ ward being used as a nurses’ bedroom. That would be the best and most economical means of providing for present aay requirements. In moving that the report be received, Mr. Deare pointed out that the population of Opunake had increased by 400 since the hospital was built. Originally Ihe hospital had been built as a casualty ward and it was now used almost entirely as a maternity hospital. The proposed alterations and additions were essential, and though he recognised that their finances were very straightened, he urged the board to take the mafter as serious, and when framing next year’s estimates endeavour to give.effect to the recommendations. They' had made representations to the department regarding the provision of a cottage for the doctor at Opunake, but so far had received no reply.

Dr. Clarke (medical superintendent) agreed that the improvements were essential. Air. Smith, in seconding the motion, agreed that something must be done, but there was the financial difficulty to overcome. He did not know whether that should be gone into now or deferred till next year, as the finance committee had arrived at the decision that nothing should be done until next year’s estimates were being prepared. He'asked the chairman's ruling as. to whether he should go i-nto the linancial position at this stage. MUTUAL HARDSHIPS. 'The chairman stated that they had gone exhaustively into the position the previous day and had agreed that no money was available until next year’s estimates were being considered, ‘There was. he said, a feeling about Opunake that they were under hardships, but so was the board. Opunake was practically a maternity hospital, 63 babies being born there during the year. The hospi-

tal had caused the board a loss of £6OO last year, so that it might be said that each baby had cost the board £lo— than they' would cost in their own homes. The board had no finance available at present with which to carry out the work, ft could be considered when they were bringing down next year’s estimates, but then they would be faced with opposition on the part of the local bodies, who were always urging that the levy should be kept down. The board therefore only' dealt with matters of extreme urgency when framing its estimates.

The chairman of the house committee (Mr. S. Vickers) stated that it had been decided at the meeting that no action could be taken at present and that a report be obtained from Dr. T. L. Paget. Air. Young asked how the chairman arrived at the position that it cost £lO for each baby born in the Opunake hospital. He should also give the cost of each patient at the main hospital. It was hardly' fair to single out one hospital and make it look ridiculous in the eyes of the public. The board should do what it could for the Opunake hospital, as with the growth of the district it was not suitable for present requirements. It was not right that patients should have to put up with the conditions that prevailed there. Air. Gosnell pointed out that besides the 63 maternity cases there were 30 casual cases, which also contributed to the loss. ' ( The chairman: The loss was £672. Air. Barnitt held that something must be done urgently' at Opunake. He asked whether the people at Opunake could not raise £2OO which, with the Government subsidy', would help considerably'. He pointed out what Waitara had done j'ecentlv in raising nearly' £6OO for the Plunkct Society.

Air. Vickers did not wish it to go out that patients were placed in the Opunake hospital under disgraceful conditions. The hospital had been built according to the requirements of thy departiiie«t, but the position was that it did not suit the present requirements of the district.

Sir. Deare said that running a hospital was like running a business. Money must be found to keep the hospital up-to-date. Nothing could be done at present, but it was only a matter of £650 to provide an up-to-date maternity hospital, and he felt that with voluntary effort on the part of the Opunake people which would have the sympathy and Support of the board, it could be achieved. The chairman said that it, was for Dr. Paget to say what was necessary and the board could then carry out his recommendations. Mr. Corkill was sympathetic with Opunake, but the linancial position was the difficulty. He asked whether the casualty ward could be cut out and thus give more room for the maternity department.

Dr. Clarke did not think it would be advisable to cut. out the .casualty ward, as it would necessitate patients travelling perhaps 40 miles for 21 hours' treatment at New Plymouth.

Mr. Corkill pointed out that the people out Matau way. had to-travel that far and nothing was said. The, chairman: Opunake raised £l5OO and deserved consideration. Mr. Deare suggested that some arrangement -might be made to adopt n car to be used.as an ambulance to bring .in-patients from the Opunake district, thus saving the two hours' necessary in sending the ambulance to Opunake. Mri Deare was authorised to report on I the matter .of'converting a car so ar to imike it. Suitable for ambulance eases. The motion was. then carried. TREATMENT OF SENILE CASES. The Hospital Boards’ Association of New Zealand forwarded a circular letter regarding the proposal to commit to old people's- homes certain senile cases (including delinquents) hitherto dealt with in. mental hospitals or prisons. It expressed the opinion that whilst, perhaps. many of the cases referred to might not be distinctly cases for confinement in menial hospitals or prisons, they were undoubtedly less suitable for admission to old people’s homes. Many would agree with the Inspector-Gener-al’s statement that "as a general principle, it was not right that those old people, many of whom bad been hard working, good citizens of the early pioneer type should have to end their days in an institution whose function it was to care for the insane.” On the other hand it was .claimed that the feelings of the. large number of ordinary inmates of old people's homes were entitled to greater consideration. The main point urged, however, was that, having regard to the mental and physical disabilities of cases, their liability to suffer recurring attacks of insanity or to commit-criminal acts, the requisite observation, care and control could not be exercised at old people's homes. The admission of such cases would be a constant source of anxiety. They suggested that the eases should be dealt with in a special institution and the establishment oj‘ such an institution should be considered in conjunction with an earlier proposal submitted by the association for dealing with T.B. cases. Mr. Deare moved that the board heartily endorse the opinion of the association. This was seconded by Mr. Gosnell and carried unanimously. Mr. Gosnell reported tlrat the work of the social welfare committee was proceeding satisfactorily. Messenger, Griffiths and Taylor, architects, reported that the garage, fencing and paths at the doctor's residence had been completed, the cost, with the additional fencing, being £l7l 10s. The tender of F. E. Cooper at £1570 had been accepted fbr the building of sixteen additional rooms at the nurses’ home. Notification was received from the Stratford Hospital Board that its chairman. Mr. W. McL. Kennedy, had been appointed its representative on the bacteriological committee.—lt was resolved to congratulate Mr. Kennedy on his appointment. . The names of Nurses Norah Mills (HaweraL V. M. E. Griffiths (Rotorua), 8. F. Terlcsse (Fitzroy), and E. H Robb (tVestown) were added to the list of probationers.