HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1931, Page 2

HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT

TAIRANAKI BOARD MEETING

PROGRESS OF GEORGE TABOR WARD

REPORTS FOR MONTH OF JANUARY

The Taranaki Hospital Board held its monthly meeting in New Plymouth yesterday, present being Messrs. S. Vickers (chairman), A. Corkill, J. Young, A. J. Brennan, J. W. Winfield, J. Brown, R. J. Deare and E. R. Gilmour.

Consequent upon the recent earthquake at Hawke’s Bay, wrote Dr. M. H. Watt, Director-General of Health, there were several house surgeons and a number of other medical men surplus to the requirements of the district. He suggested that any vacancies on the staff of hospital institutions should not be filled until it had been ascertained whether a suitable applicant was available from the earthquake area. The Rev. R. B. Gosnell was appointed to act with Mr. Gilmour in procuring an oil painting of the late Mr. George Tabor to be hung in the children’s new Hine was appointed theatre sister, vice Sister Hobbs, who had resigned. Subject to the clerk of works’ certificate, the tender of Messrs. Julian and Son is to be accepted for the erection of a concrete base for the chimney stack at the new boiler house. The tenders of the Union Foundries, Ltd., at £238 17s for the supply of an iron chimney stack and of Messrs. Nixon and Anderson at £l9B 12s 6d for tlie erection thereof were accepted. Applications to be placed on the waiting list of probationers were granted to the following: Lorna M. Bairstowe, Pahiatua, Phyllis E. Lyall, New Plymouth, Phyllis ' Ford, Auckland, and Monica E. Fitzgibbon, Napier.

i’EWER PATIENTS THIS JANUARY.

The medical superintendent (Dr. G. F. Rich) reported for the past month as follows, the figures for the corresponding month last year being given in parentheses:—Number of patients admitted, 192 (195); discharged, 169 (174); died, 4 (3); number of patients remaining in hospital, 142 (148); highest number for one day, 160 (160); daily average, 139.67 (145.16); number of operations, 120 (131). The following cases had been admitted to isolation:—Diphtheria 5, scarlet fever 2, chicken pox 1, Vincent’s Angina 2, scabies 1. The matron (Miss B. A. Campbell) reported that the movements of nurses during the month wefe: —Off duty on holiday leave: Sister Wade, Sister Dew, Sister Evans, Nurse Torlesse, Nurse Mills, Nurse Taplin, Nurse Thorpe, Nurse Denniston, Nurse Marshall, Nurse McKinnon, Nurse Openshaw, Nurse Simpson. Returned to duty from holiday leave: Sister Rose, Sister Dew, Nurse Newton, Nurse Patterson, Nurse Richardson, Nurse Thorpe, Nurse Openshaw, Nurse Bai. Returned from sick leave; Nurse E. Baily, Nurse Craig, Nurse Syme and Nurse McGibbon. Staff Nurse B. Bacchus, having completed her training, resigned and left early in February. Staff Nurse A. Thompson, who was in her fourth year, intended shortly returning to England, her resignation to take eflect from March 1. Staff Nurse Richardson, who resigned on December 22, had now asked if she might be reinstated and so complete her fourth year of training. The medical superintendent and matron recommended that the request be allowed. Nurse Little having completed her three months’ term of probation was now on the permanent staff. The matron of the Rangiatea Home (Miss A. Hamman) reported that there were 34 inmates at the beginning of the month. Three were discharged during the month and the number at the end of the month was 31. • Gifts of flowers were acknowledged. Concerts were given by the Salvation Army, Miss Martin (Nelson) and Miss Watson. / The engineer (Mr. C. E. Dunn) reported that the following work had been dealt with: Nine sterilisers had been completed for the new ward. The sterilisers had been constructed in very heavy copper to avoid buckling and displacement. The average price to manufacture them by outside firms was £24 each. The.,, three-inch light gauge flues for carrying off vapour would arrive from England about February 20 and would be made into shape immediately. A low pressure water main was being laid to the heating chamber. The chimney base, flue and boiler foundations were being prepared. The matron of the Opunake hospital (Sister K. Spensley) reported for the month as follows:—Admissions 8, discharges 6, transfers 2, highest number in one day 5, daily average 2.45, antenatal visits 15.

The masseuse (Miss E. M. Rutledge) reported that in-patients numbered 36 and out-patients 27 during January. Altogether 649 treatments had been given. Dr. H. B. Leatham reported that 167 patients had been treated with X-ray. The number of exposures was 316. The acting-bacteriologist (Dr. J. S. Church) reported that tests had been made altogether, including 399 for the New Plymouth hospital, 36 for Hawera and eight for Stratford.

NEW WARD AND ISOLATION WARD.

The clerk of works to the George Tabor ward reported that the tiler had completed the roof and jointed it to the old building. The plasterer had all walls inside and out ready for the final coat and was getting ready to level the floors ready for the laying of the various composition floorings. Some terrazzo floors were completed but generally, that work was behind hand. Fibrous ceilings were well in hand and would be completed in a few days. Painters were keeping well up with their ■work and wall tilers were expected to start at aiiy time. Plumbers and electricians were getting all pipes and conduits in and all sanitary fittings were on the job. A start would be made next week •with the excavating and concreting of the area and the laying of drains. He would be glad of a decision as to the removal of part of the old wooden building so that the contract for the children’s ward might bo completed. The chairman suggested that only a small necessary portion of the isolation block should be removed. It would be unwise to remove it completely at present as it would be useful in an epidemic.

The former chairman of the board had promised the donor of, the George Tabor ward that the whole of the wooden building would be removed, said Mr. Gilmour.

The board decided to remove the portion asked for by the clerk of works. ’The question of any further demolition was left to the house and finance committee.

The board decided to ask the manager to report on all the departments of the hospital, pointing-out where economies might be effected,