GOOD HEALTH AT STRATFORD

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1933, Page 8

GOOD HEALTH AT STRATFORD

REPORT TO HOSPITAL BOARD. SATISFACTORY YEAR PASSED. The Stratford Hospital Board kept within its estimates for the past financial year, said the chairman, Mr. W. L. Kennedy, in his report to the annual meeting of the board yesterday. “Our noted economy of management has been favourably commented on by the Director-General and others,” said the chairman. The board could not hope to live on the reputation of the past, Mr. Kennedy said. The prospect for the coming year was fraught with concern in view of the low prices being received for primary products and the consequent inability of many patients to pay their The spirit of the conference of hospital boards had not been departed from during the year, said Mr. Kennedy, and the Minister of Health favoured a mutual agreement between boards, as against the drastic proposals of the National Expenditure Commission. One of the most important clauses of the amendment to the Act was no doubt brought about by the repeated requests of hospital boards for protection from the gross evasion of payment of fees in accident cases in which damages were awarded the patients. A clause now provided that hospital fees would be a first charge on any damages recoverable. ABSENCE OF EPIDEMICS. “The health of the district has been good in that there has been an absence of any epidemic of infectious diseases, continued Mr. Kennedy. “The number of occupied beds fell from 39 the previous year to 35, and the admissions to the isolation ward from 72 to 41, with only four remaining at the end of the month.” ... With regard to the working of the maternity annexe, the chairman said th Pre had been 163 admissions and 155 babies bom during the year. There was still no maternal mortality, and to date there had been 1365 admissions. A great deal of responsibility had been thrown on the matron owing to regrettable changes in nurses in charge. Since the completion of the StratfordMain Trunk railway, the membership of the Tangarakau Medical Association had of necessity dropped, so in the near future it was anticipated that new arrangements would have to be made. Steps were being taken with a view to the possibility of combining with the Whangamomona Association. In the meantime arrangements had been made between the board and the association for the continuation of the doctor’s services for another six months on the present agreement “We have to thank the association for the loyal way it has met its obligations, and for the friendly relations that exist between the association and the board,” said Mr. Kennedy. The Whangamomona Association had continued to function to the satisfaction of the board. For some time Nurse McCarrol had been indisposed and her place taken by nurses from the hospital, Nurse Robertson at present filling the vacancy. Nurse Carroll was to return on May 1. The whole position of Whangamomona and Tangarakau would have to be reviewed, as the withdrawal of the department’s subsidy for the support of the associations had meant a heavy drain on the board’s finance. Mr. Kennedy considered representations should be made requesting a re-instatement' of the subsidies. Many improvements were to be made to the older parts of the hospital by way of painting and general repairs, Mr. Kennedy said. Such repairs had been neglected on the score of economy but could no longer be overlooked and would be provided for in the year’s estimates. There had been cordial and satisfactory relations between the friendly societies and the board. Thanks were due to the medical superintendent (Dr. D. Steven), to the patron (Mrs. Hunt) and the staff for their courtesy and loyalty to the board, and to Mr. T. H. Penn for the manner in which his work as secretary was done. OFFICERS’ REPORTS. For the Public Works Medical Association, Tangarakau, Dr. J. C. Smith reported as follows: Births 2, deaths 0, visits 13, consultations 13, medicines dispensed 66. Dr. Steven for the year ended March 31 reported that admissions had decreased from 674 in 1931-32 to 616, which was t largely due to the lessened number of' admissions from Tangarakau. There had been 23 deaths. The number of operations performed was 194. Radium emanation, procured from Wellington, was used on four cases. There were 155 births at the maternity ward and no maternal mortality had occurred. For the Whangamomona Medical Association the acting-district nurse (Miss E. Robertson) reported as follows:— Patients 7, visits 41, cured 4, dressings, etc. supplied 4, fees received £1 Os 6d. The welfare officer (Mr. E. Marsh) reported that she had received several complaints as to the condition of the rest house in Miranda Street for travelling unemployed. It had been reported that the noise was sometimes terrible, and one man had told her he would not think of sleeping there. Mrs. Marsh did not consider it fair that the house should be used by men of the town to the exclusion of those for whom it was built. Messrs. M. Gernhoefer and L. Bunn were appointed to look into the matter with a view to some improvement being made. The visiting committee considered there was too much ground under cultivation, and put forward several suggestions regarding improvements in that direction. It was decided to have the roof of the isolation ward re-tiled. Dr. Steven reported for March as follows: Patients admitted 51, discharged 49, died 3, remaining in hospital 30; admissions to maternity ward 16, births 14; visits to ante-natal clinic 91; admissions to isolation ward 4; operations 18. TO-DAY’S HOCKEY MATCHES. The following hockey matches will be played to-day, the home team being mentioned first:— Southern division:—Seniors: Manaia v. Alhambra; Egmont v. Hawera. Juniors: Manaia v. Hawera; Tokaora v. Egmont A; Opunake v. Egmont B. To-morrow’s Games. Thursday A division:—Seniors: Eltham v. Kaponga; Otakeho v. Auroa. Juniors: Mangatoki v. Eltham; Mahoe v. Otakeho. Thursday B division:—Seniors: Stratford v. Waitara; Tariki v. Inglewood. Juniors: S.T.H.S. A v. S.T.H.S. B; Waitara v. Stratford.