NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1929, Page 14

NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL

MONTHLY MEETING OF THE BOARD. " REPORTS ON WORK IN OCTOBER.

The monthly meeting of the Taranal Hospital Board was held yesterday. Pre sent: Messrs. 8. Vickers (chairman), A Corkill, H. Lepper, J. Young, A. J. Bren nan, W. J. Winfield,-8. J. Smith, R?J Deare, C. H. Barnitt and E. R. Gilmoui An apology for absence was receive: from Mr." C. IL.Burgess. * Through the medical superintehdan . (Dr. C. R. Burns) the matron. (Miss B A. Campbell), wrote drawing attention ti the lack of accommodation at the nurses : : home. There were four nurses and on* , maid without bedrooms, she said. 1 Tliii meant that as each nurse left on holi day or sick leave her room was' immedi . ately occupied, thus causing inconveni ence. to. thc nurses, concerned, and adding . ■ , .to the work of managing the home. Mis: Moore, of the Health Department, hat been at. the home to make inquiries re . . garding building extensions in the neai , '.future. ;■ ■■ ’ The chairman said .that Miss Moon would report to. the Department, and tin ■ ■ additions would be dealt with when ad - ditions .to the hospital were being made v The letter was referred to the house and finance committee. - • The following names were added to . . the . probationers’ waiting list: Misses Frances Uniacke (Stratford), Isobel M. Simpson (Cambridge.), ■ Mavis ;Er Bai (Dannevirke), Edna N. N. BaileyfCfirist- > church). •/ K The medical superintendent (Dr. C. R. Burns), reported.the following statistics ; for the hospital during -October the figures for the corresponding month last ..J-year being shown in parentheses:— ■ Patients admitted, 182. (1'7.8); patients discharged, 174 (144); deaths, 8 (13); remaining in hospital, 170-(162); highest number for one day, 186 (162); daily average, 170.38 (147.45); operations, 107 (100). There were four cases of scarlet . fever, and two of diphtheria. . i-; -. The matron (Miss B. A. Campbell) s reported that having completed three -. months’ Nurse F. Smith was.. now on the permanent staff. The final . hospital examinations were held on Qctobre -24 and 25. The following gained over 75 . per cent.:—Nurse H. Thomas, Nurse V. Wootton, Nurse B. Sumner, and Nurse E. Bolton. Dr. Fookes, Dr. Blackley, aud Sister Gill were the examiners. Miss Kirk, masseuse, had resumed duty after", six months’ leave of absence. Miss " Rutledge, masseuse, was on holiday leave. Miss Lynch, who had been relieving Miss Kirk, was to leave early in November. The board congratulated the nurses who had taken the examination,. all of whom had been successful. The radiologist (Dr. H. B. Leatham) reported that 215 exposures had been given 187 patients. Miss A. L. Kirk, masseuse, reported giving' 749 treatments to 36 outpatients and 59 in-patients. After giving details of . work' done, the engineer (Mr. C. E. Dunn) reported

that October had been the busiest month

on record. There was enough work requisitioned to keep all hands busy for the next two months. • The report from the Rangiatea Home said there had been one admission. There were 26 male and nine female inmates. The matron (Miss A. Hamann) left the home on leave, and was relieved by Mrs. El Eox. A concert was given by the Choral Society on October 5, and on October 19 an entertainment was given by the junior members of the Victoria League, who brought gifts ,of sweets, flowers, etc. Oh October 20 the Salvation Army Band visited the home. On October 30 Miss Hamerten and party gave a concert, and provided confectionery, etc. Gifts were acknowledged from Mrs. Sanders, Mrs. Mason, Miss .Watson, Miss Heppell, Miss Norman, Mrs. Newing, Mrs. Reid, the Victoria League, Mr H. Fookcs, and Mr. Knapton. Sister M. C. Jones reported three confinements and four medical admissions to the Opunake Cottage Hospital. There were five discharges and one transfer. The daily average was 2.35, and the highest number of patients for one day five. The bacteriologist (Mr. F. S. Hodson) reported dealing with 955 specimens, 13 of which came from Stratford, 364 from Hawcra, and 65 from private practitioners. On the recommendation of the house anil finance committee, the following tenders were accepted:' Painting Ward IV and corridor, Boon Bros., £226; erect-’ ing four side wards, cementing dado of Ward IV, and one bed ward, F. E. Cooper, £246. The board was recommended to have another ward cemented and painted as soon as it could be vacated, there being enough money in the allocation for the work. '

It was decided that the work at Rangiatea Home, to cost £GO for material, should be done by the board’s employees as recommended by the engineer. On the recommendation of the fees committee, it was decided to write off accounts totalling £1573 Ils. 10d., and staff and D.P.H. accounts £67 6s.