HOSPITAL CONTROL

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1934, Page 8

HOSPITAL CONTROL

STRATFORD BOARD MEETS. SUPERVISION OF MAINTENANCE. Matters concerning the control and maintenance of the Stratford hospital were dealt with at the monthly meeting of the Stratford Hospital Board yester T day. There were present Mr. W. L. Kennedy (chairman), Mesdames M. T. Philips and D. Shannon, Messrs. M. Gernhoefer, T. R. Anderson, L. Bunn, G. P. Harkness and J. Cormick. The hospital matron reported that in the senior half-yearly examinations Nurses Moore (honours), Newton, Sandford, Legge and Benfell had passed, and all candidates had passed the junior examination. The gardener, Mr. M. Priest, acknowledged a donation of plants for the hospital grounds from Dr. Doris Gordon, Mrs. Nowell and Messrs. H. C. Johnson, Craig and A. J. Davey. The district nurse at Whangamomona, Nurse D. Workman, reported that during October she treated 45 patients, and transferred five to hospital. Thirty-seven patients were admitted to the hospital during October, reported the medical superintendent, Dr. D. Steven. Thirty-four were discharged, two died, and 30 remained in hospital. There were 10 admissions to the maternity ward and 70 visits to the ante-natal clinic. Acknowledging, the board’s letter regarding the appointment of a full-time superintendent for the hospital, the Minister of Health, the Hon. J. A. Young, explained that' except insofar as amending the by-laws governing the duties of the medical staff were concerned the proposal was one requiring his approval. He understood that the board would prepare and submit amending by-laws in due course for nis approval. 'Die question of the system of medical staffing to be adopted was one that, was to be determined by the board itself and one bn which, without a close knowledge of local circumstances, he would be loath to express an opinion, said the Minister. The board’s object was doubtless to provide an efficient service consistent with reasonable economy. ■ A hospital board had a definite duty to ensure as far as lay in its power that it had a competent staff. In this connection the board should consider carefully whether the salary offered, taken in. con junction with the conditions of appointment, for the medical superintendent was adequate. SUITABILITY OF APPOINTEE. The Minister advised the board that it should not as a matter of course permit all practitioners to be members of the honorary visiting medical staff, but should be satisfied before appointing any practitioner to the honorary staff that he was suitable for such appointment. Tribute to Mr. N. H. Moss, the board’s solicitor, for the excellent services he had rendered the board was paid by Mr. Cormick. Mr. Moss had done a tremendous amount of work, he said, and the board should show its appreciation of it. Thanks were also expressed to the Hon. R. Masters for his help in connection with the board’s change of policy, and to Mr. T. Penn, secretary, Tor his invaluable assistance. The Transport Licensing Authority wrote asking for particulars of the running of the board’s ambulance, and pointing out that a passenger license would have to be taken out. “This should be taken up with, the member for the district,” said Mr. Cormick. ‘‘lt is ridiculous.” “The ambulance is a public service run without profit,” said Mr. Anderson. The chairman pointed out that the mat-, ter would almost certainly be taken up by the Hospital Boards’ Association. A suggestion that the board should ask the Stratford County Council to allow its engineer, Mr. J. ’V. Spence, to supervise all maintenance work at the hospital was made by Mr. Cormick. -Mr. Spence was a competent and experienced man in all classes of engineering work, he said, and it would probably save the board a considerable amount of money. The board, would pay Mr. Spence. “I think it will mean a great saving,” said Mr. L. Bunn. “I am against it,” declared Mr. Harkness. “Here the council has a full time man on a salary and we are suggesting giving work to him instead of to architects in the town. It is unfair.” Mr. Cormick explained that his suggestion involved merely supervision; he did not suggest taking work from Stratford architects. Work like section of drainage, the laying of tennis courts etc. was not given to architects. There could be no doubt, said Mr. Cormick, that in some of the maintenance work done the board had been “tipping the ratepayers’ money down the drain.” The supervision of work at the hospital had been hopeless, said Mr. Bunn. The board should adopt a system of obtaining a qualified man to supervise its work to save the ratepayers’ money, said Mr. Cormick. His suggestion was adopted in the form of a resolution. ELTHAM CROQUET PLAY. TOURNAMENT CONTINUED. Further games In the Eltham croquet tournament were played ycsteruay, the ' results being:— A doubles: Mrs. Peacock and Miss Thomas beat Mrs. Jenkins and Mrs. Collingwood 26—12. A and B doubles: Mrs. Peacock Egarr beat Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Evans 26-10. , ~ B doubles: Mrs. Bridger and Mrs. Thomas beat Mrs. Townsend and Mrs. Thurston 25—20, Mrs. Gower and Mrs. Bates beat Mrs. Bridger and Mrs. Thomas 26—18. A singles:—First life: Mrs. Lampshire beat Mrs. Fountaine 26—14, Mrs. Collingwood beat Mrs. Peacock 26—17, Mrs. Jenkins beat Mrs. Williams by default. Second life: Mrs. Evans beat Mrs. Arthur 26—22, Mrs. Jenkins beat Mrs. Evans 26— 14, Miss Thomas beat Mrs. Lampshire 26—5, Mrs. Collingwood beat Mrs. Fountaine 26—21, Mrs. Collingwood beat Miss Thomas 26—25. B. Singles:—First life: Mrs. Bates beat Mrs. Tyack 26—18, Mrs. Bates beat Mrs. Lewis 26—19. Second life: Mrs. R. Thurston beat Mrs. Bridger 26—19 Mrs. Tyack beat Mrs. C. Thurston 26—11.