NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1933, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL

MONTHLY BOARD MEETING. / ROUTINE BUSINESS TRANSACTED. The Taranaki Hospital Board met at New Plymouth yesterday, Mr. S. Viewers presiding in the absence of the chairman, Mr. P. E. Stainton. Others present were Messrs. A. Corkill, H. E. Blyde, J. Young, A. J. Brennan, J. Gibbs, E. B. Davies, R. J. Deare and C. H. Barnitt. The medical superintendent (Dr. G. F. Rich) reported that 177 patients had been admitted during the month, compared with 227 for the same month of 1932. Discharges numbered 161 (225) while 5 (9) patients had died. The highest number of patients for one day had. been 192 (179) and the patients remaining in hospital at the end of the period numbered 188 (167). The daily average was 171 (171.09) and the number of operations 129 (135). The general manager (Mr. E. Holden) reported -that relief labour had been chiefly engaged on the formation work of the new tennis courts. At the end of the month the board’s accounts were; Debits: General, £3381 3s 7d; Tabor Ward, £6000; building loan, £2489 Ils 9a. Credits: Imprest, £37 19s lid; trust, £53 6s Id; Opunake, £B9 5s Sd. ■ The masseuse reported that in-patients had numbered 58 and out-patients 52, while- 1108 treatments had been given. Dr. H. B. Leatham reported that X-ray patients numbered 222, the number of exposures being 415. ' The v.d. clinic, report. stated that tne cases under treatment numbered seven and 39 treatments had been given. The Rangiatea Home report stated that the number of inmates at the beginning of the month was 37. Three had been admitted and two discharged, leaving 38 at the end of the period. Admissions at the Opunake hospital during the month numbered seven and discharges 12. The daily average was 2.35 and six was the highest number in one day. « tt i \ The bacteriologist (Mr. V. G. Hawke) reported that a total of 810 tests had been made. Of that number 556 were from New Plymouth, 26 from Hawera and 4* from Stratford. , j Routine work in the buildings and grounds was reported on by the engineer (Mr. C. E. Dunn). . ■ . t . The Nurses and Midwives Registration Board wrote that at a recent meeting of the board the standard of education required of persons commencing training as pupil nurses was discussed. A return compiled from practically all training schools showed that a big percentage of applicants had received two or more years’ secondary education. The board was satisfied that the standard of education was improving. The board, however, desired that the necessity for a higher educational standard should be kept steadily in view and trainees should, as far as possible, be taken from those who had had a good secondary education. . Mr. Ralph Wright (Westown) was appointed gardener at the board’s Westown property. There was a number of applicants, 12 of whom were recently interviewed by the board’s farm committee, and the appointment was made upon the committee’s recommendation.