HOSPITAL CONTROL

Taranaki Daily News, 20 February 1935, Page 3

HOSPITAL CONTROL

TARANAKI BOARD MEETING. RENOVATION OF WARDS. A meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board was held at New Plymouth yesterday, when domestic . management of the hospital was discussed and routine reports from officers and committees ’received. Present at the meeting were Messrs. P. E. Stainton (chairman), E. R. C. Gilmour, C. H. Barnitt, R. J. Deare, E. B. Davies, J. Gibbs, A. J. Breman, J. Young, J. Corkill and S. Vickers. On the recommendation of the house and finance committee it was decided that Mr. T. H. Mander be appointed as working engineer. The grounds committee was authorised to secure applications for the position of gardener. Appreciation was expressed of the good service given by Mr. S. Roberts who had resigned from the position, members remarking on the efficiency of his work. Mr. P. N. R. McDonald was appointed chief clerk in place of Miss M. Campbell and Mr. F. T. Mclver- was appointed a warder to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mr. V. Upshall. It was decided internal renovations of ward 2 would be done in ■ a manner similar to those of ward 3 and internal telephones are to be installed in the office.

A number of country workers had applied for temporary assistance to tide them over the “stand down” period reported the social welfare officer. The average family food allowance had increased at an alarming rate while the children were home from school. New applications for assistance balanced those declared off. In the permanent class those now off were relief workers who had benefited by the new allotment by the Labour Department or else had been put on sustenance. The Maori applicants were now quite reconciled to the altered conditions of relief work. The medical superintendent, Dr. G. F. Rich, reported the number of patients admitted during the month was 263 (217); discharged, 215 (204); deaths, 7 (11); remaining, 176 (144); highest number for one day, 191 (157); daily average, 167.29 (144.64); number of operations, 181 (141). Five typhoid fever cases and one meningitis cases had been admitted to isolation. In-patients who had received massage treatment numbered 41 and outpatients 35. In accordance with the decision of the Unemployment Board no unemployment labour had been allocated to the board since January 26 .reported Mr. E. Holden, general manager. Some slight adjustment in the staff would be necessary at the hospital and on the farm. Dr. A. W. Costello, hospital radiologist, reported the number of examinations for diagnostic unit was 269 (205 last month); number of exposures for diagnostic unit, 641 (282); number treatments given, 168 (123); time taken for treatments 67hr 53Jmin (40hr). The number of inmates at the Rangiatea Home at the beginning of the month was 39.