NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1933, Page 4

NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL

MAINTENANCE WORK REPORT meeting of the board. large number of patients. The Taranaki Hospital Board met at New Plymouth'/ yesterday, Mr.. P. E. Stainton 'presiding. Others present were Messrs S. Vickers, A. Corkill, H. E. Blyde, L Young, A. J. BrennanJ. Gibbs,. E B. Davies, R. J- Deare, C. H. Barnitt and E. R. C. Gilmour. ■ ' _ „ The medical superintendent (Dr. G. u. Rich) reported that. w . e £ admitted, compared with 205 for;_the same month of the previous year. Discharges totalled 188 (168),'6 (7) had died and 177 (175) remained at the end of tne month. . The . highest number for one day was 191 (182), while the daily average was 179.76, against 165.86. The ? number of operations was 133 (134). , Reporting on the activities of the nursing staff the matron (Miss B. A. Campbell) stated that Sister Morgan completed her maternity training . and was in charge of the isolation block. The State examinations were, held at the Nurses’ Home on July 7-and 8,. candidates being present from the; Hawera, Stratford, Masterton, New Plymouth and King George V hospitals. The results were not yet known. The masseuse reported, that thei;e were 64 in-patients, 46 out-patients and that the treatments had numbered' 1040. Dr. H. B.'Leatham .reported that there had been 421 X-ray exposures, the number of patients being 232. . ■ Admissions at the Opunake Cottage Hospital numbered 9 and discharges 7, there being 5 patients at the end of the month, stated, that report. . The. daily average was 4.23, the highest number in one day being 6. Ante-natal clinic visits numbered 18. The v.d. clinic report stated that the total number of patients treated was 14, treatments numbering 77. There was one new case during the month. The Rangiatea Home report placed the number of inmates at 38 at the beginning of the month and 37 at the end of the period. There had been two admissions and three discharges. The bacteriological report stated that the total number of tests was 1149, 602 being from -New Plymouth, 32 from Hawera and 43 from Stratford. The engineer (Mr. C. E. Dunn) reported that the first section of- the drainage improvements was completed. The old cottage at v the rear of the Nurses’ Home had been dismantled. House and finance committee recommendations were adopted as follows: That the medical practitioners be informed that owing to lack of space the board regrets that separate parking areas for their cars cannot be set aside; that consideration of the solicitors’ draft agreement regarding blood donors be deferred until after the pending case of the Waitaki Hospital Board has been settled; that a copy of Inspector Day’s letter regarding sewerage at the Old People’s Home be sent to the department with a request to allow the board to carry out the work; that the engineer be asked for a detailed report; that when making appointments married men who are on the unemployment relief schemes shall be given preference, other things being equal. In view of the difficulty of collecting rates due upon native lands the Native Lands Rates Committee recently formed by the Government sought information regarding boundaries and comparisons of European and Maori patients in numbers and the payment of fees. It is understood the committee is seeking to ascertain whether readjustment is necessary or expedient in the system of granting Government subsidies to local authorities for hospitals and other purposes in view of such difficulty in rate collection.—The matter was referred to the house and finance committee.