HAWERA HOSPITAL BOARD

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1932, Page 8

HAWERA HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING YESTERDAY.

QUEER TASTING PORRIDGE.

The Hawera Hospital Board met yesterday. There were present Messrs.. J. S. McKay (chairman), F. Gillanders, A. Kemp, A. G. Larcom, A. L. Campbell, E. A. Washer, S. J. Bennett, W. G. Simpson and E. J. Gifford. . ■ ■ The medical superintendent (Dr. J. Caimey) reported that there were 50 patients in hospital at October. 31. Fifty-nine were ‘ admitted and .79 discharged during November, leaving 38 in hospital, at the end of the month. The daily average of occupied beds, was 46.1, as compared with 69.4 last November. Twenty-five X-ray cases were dealt with and 16 physio-therapeutic - cases were handled, 376 treatments being given during the month. One hundred and thirty-one out-patients attended and. received a total of 474 treatments. Fire preventive measures in the hospital and the Old People’s Home were discussed. The. relative merits of the telephone and the Duplex system were compared but it was decided to obtain further information before making a final choice. A letter from the Minister of Health relating to the use of catgut was received. An extract from the Sydney Sun was read relating to the liability of patients contracting post-operative tetanus tfith the use of a certain make of catgut. Dr. J. Cairney explained that this particular brand was not used, only the British makes being bought for the Hawera hospital. Coal is expected to be cheaper owing to the facilities of the new Stratford railway and this should, it was thought, effect a considerable saving in the coal bill.

Eight circulars were received from the Unemployment Board dealing with the technical applications of the Act, most of the material not affecting the board.

ANALYSIS OF PORRIDGE.

An unpalatable flavour in the porridge served to the inmates of the Old People’s Home led the secretary to submit a sample to the Government analyst. The report received, established that one and a-half tablespoons (4.3 per cent.) of washing soda. was. present to the pint of porridge. The secretary ex-, plained suspicions as to . the cause. The quality, of the food, had improved. - The application of..the Hospital and Charitable Institutions.. Amendment Bill was discussed in connection with.a circular from the New Zealand Hospital Boards’ Association. It was explained that the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Insurance (third, party, risks) Act, 1928, would now be more effective from the board’s point of view. The board will now have the same power as the injured person to recover monies from the third party responsible. The section, applies particularly to motor-car accident cases and. actions at common law for injury; also in. cases where a claimant abandons an action fox loss of wages in favour of a claim for damages for j negligence or defective equipment. The Workers’ Compensation Act does not conie. within the new. benefits likely- to-'accrue .to . the board. Under, the new amendment the hours of unregistered training are limited to 56 in any one' week; consequently the practice of requiring extra theatre work from these nurses over ahd above their 56 hours will be illegal. ' Dr. Kearney explained that the nurses must still be given the theatre training, but this time must be taken off the ward time in,future. It was resolved therefore that the matron be given authority to employ a fourth year trainee if necessary to cope with extra’work.

! Difficulties in connection with the admission of urgent cases who may be resident, of another district were the. cause of much trouble, to the secretary, he reported. Correspondence .of a somewhat acrimonious nature - was, continually passing between the contiguous boards. The peculiar boundaries of the districts led to much confusion. Very often the patients themselves were unaware of their district situation. The. secretary suggested that a conference with the 'New Plymouth board might be productive of some good. . ' A sum of £1 Is was received from the Taranaki TPreceptory of the, Great Priory of the Order of the Temple in Scotland towards the Christmas festivities of the hospital and was acknowledged with thanks. INDIGENT MATERNITY CASES. ' Some months ago the Hawera board, after receiving' a deputation from the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, decided to admit to the Hawera hospital maternity cases who were unable to pay for private nursing attendance. At yesterday’s meeting the medical superintendent reported that the Department of Health now proposed to insist on applying the regulations affecting private hospitals to public hospitals insofar as they concerned charitable aid maternity cases. The board agreed that such an arrangement would be unworkable and therefore decided to make arrangements with one or more private maternity hospitals for the admission of cases at the board’s expense. Prospective cases will first be investigated by the board’s charitable aid officer, who will arrange the matter between the parties. PERSONAL ITEMS. i References to the excellent work performed by Sister Russell, who is resigning her position after being in charge of the women’s ward at the Hawera Hospital for four year,, were made-at yesterday’s meeting of the Hospital Board. In accepting her resignation with regret the board passed a resolution placing on record the excellent service rendered by the sister. Individual members of the board spoke in eulogistic terms of her completely satisfactory work. Mr. J. T. Inkster, Wellington, is the guest of Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Startup, Hunter Road. PATEA PARAGRAPHS. Campers have quickly responded to the call of the sea following the exceptionally fine week-end. At Patea beach cottage owners are moving -in for the season and tents have been erected by others. The absence of wind has permitted- schnapper fishing from the end of the walls, and catches include kawhai and herring. ......

Negotiations are in progress to hold a speed-boat regatta on the Patea River on New Year’s Day, similar to the programme held in February last. Whilst the appearance of New Plymouth boats is assured tile - attendance of Wanganui craft has not yet been decided upon by that club.