HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143769, 18 April 1912, Page 6

HOSPITAL BOARD.

ANNUAL MEETING. The board resumed at 1.30 o’clock, Mr. G. W. Browne, who was absent at the morning session, taking his seat at the table. MEDICAL OFFICER’S REPORT. Dr. Walker reported that, as anticipated in his report on the eight-hour svstem, he had recommended certain changes in the hours of duty of the nursing staff of the New Plymouth Hospital. He had to advise hours for sisters as per a schedule forwarded. He added that it was the expressed wish of the sisters that such a mode of control should he adopted. He also felt that the hours suggested would make for increased efficiency, and the patients’ highest good. In the meantime it would seem wise to adopt the schedule for a term of six months, with a view' to a further report. He had to advise that the hours of duty lor all nurses on the morning section should be from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., in place of 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. as at present. This did not really mean more than eight hours on duty, as breakfast, lunch and dinner were taken during the period. At present it was rarely possible for nurses to complete ward duties by 2 p.m., and the extra hour would suit the position consistently, and enable duties to be carefully completed without the hurry that is often associated witli a busy period. The schedule showed that day sisters would be on duty for eleven hours. Both would be on duty from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., one from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and the other from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sisters taking afternoon and evening duty on alternate days. Term of duty four months out of six. Holidays, one day, or two half-days, a month. Night sisters, ten hours', duty, from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., term of duty two months out of six, and holidays two days at the conclusion of duty. Each sister would bo present on duty in the theatre at operations coming from her own ward during her hours ,of duty.—Resolved, that the recommendations of the medical superintendent be agreed to. A LETTER TO THE PRESS. Mr. Dllncan M'Allura referred to a letter which had appeared in the Herald by Rev. J. W. Burton, in connection with a woman who was leaving the Hospital, and asked the chairman to explain the matter to the board. The Chairman said that the patient in question was from the Opunake district, and Dr. Walker had recommended that she should go to the Old People’s Home during her convalescence, the accommodation there being quite adequate, although the hoard was not responsible for convalescents. Mr. Burton rang him up and asked him if special treatment could not be accorded to her, as it was inhuman to send a convalescent to the Home. He had replied that there was no reason why this should be done, as the institution was under capable management by an experienced nurse, who was a qualified person. Tho policy of the board was a good one, and by no stretch of the imagination could be thought otherwise. If the patient would not go there, her friends must provide for her. As a public body this was all that could he done, and if special accommodation had to be fount! in those cases, the hospital expenses would increase by leaps and hounds. . , ,

Mr. M‘ Reynolds said that ho had been asked to get accommodation for her at Opunake, but he was satisfied that tho institution at New Plymouth was preferable to the accommodation possible at Opunake. Mr. J. Brown said that he thoroughly endorsed the action of the chairman. If people could not afford to live outside, when they left the Hospital they should go to the Homo. The institution was an exobllently managed one, and comfortable in all particulars. Mr. M‘AUum said that he thought that Mr. Burton could not have been conversant with the other side of the question. He had thought that Mr. Burton was a man of broader views. The letter was quite uncalled for, and ho could not find language sufficiently strong to express his disgust at the way Mr. Burton had acted. He should not have written as he did till he had heard both sides of the question. Mr. A. H. Halcqmbe said that the letter should be treated with the contempt it deserved, and he hoped that the press would fully report the discussion. A motion was passed unanimously to the effect that the chairman’s action in the matter met with the entire approval of the board.

THE R ATE. Tn accordance with his notice of motion, the chairman moved that the rate for the year should be lOd in the £IOO, saying that the increase was necessary on account of the extraordinary expenditure, and pointing out chat they had an overdraft of £I6OO. The extra rate would, he said, produce £194. 1 * The motion was seconded by Mr, M‘Allum. , . Mr. G. AY. Browne moved an amendment that the rate for the year be 9d. as a large amount of the expenses of last year would be non-recurring. Mr. M'Bevnolds seconded the amendment, suggesting that the money should be borrowed. , This led to considerable discussion as to the possibility of borrowing a large amount. Mr. Maxwell being of the opinion that they could borrow £I4OO, but the chairman thought that this would not be possible, and stated that the maximum amonut that they would bd able to borrow on this account would bo about £SOO. A division was taken on the amendment, which was lost by 7 to 4—Ayes: Messrs. G. W. Browne. M'Reynolds, Hill and J. Brown. Noes; Messrs. Outfield, Maxwell, M'Allum, Tate, Haloombe, and M ‘Donald, and the chairman. ' . _ The motion was then put and earned.

GENERAL. Nurse Kennedy, district nurse at Gruti, reported that she had attended several cases in the district. Messrs. Sanderson and Griffiths, on behalf of Mr. A. Goad (Dartmoor) asked leave to connect with the board’s water main, pointing out that as the section was some six feet above the road level tho connection would not in the least diminish the supply to consumers.— Refused, ns the board had not given leave in other cases. Mr. J. Brown said that he and the committee which had been appointed to report on the ambulance at Opunake had viewed the shed, which was * moveable one, and recommended that the board should apply to the Police Department to have the building to the police reserve. —The matter was ieit in the hands of Mr. M ‘Reynolds. The secretary of the Stratford Board wrote disclaiming any • liability for the keep of a man who had been over twelve months in the New Plymouth district.