HOSPITAL BOARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13447, 20 November 1907, Page 7

HOSPITAL BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the South Canterbury Hospitabl' unci Charitable Aid Board was? held l \ yeisterday. Present:Messrs J. Talbot (chairman), J. Ciaigie, (i. Lyall. W. S. Muslin, 1». Studholme. and W. Ooltmail. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT. The chairman reported that, the bank balance was £1496 12s Id; the accounts to pass were £1125 10s 9d ; . louring a. balance of £371 Is 4d. A sum of £1441 6s 2d had bean received on account of the •second instalment of the demand on the local bodies .. There wae £IOOO to £I2OO yet to corne in, and then the subsidy could' be applied for. As far as could be seen therefore, the financial position was satisfactory. 'The chairman proceeded to make explanations regarding matters to come before tho'Boaid, and also gave a brief review of the years work, a.nd ai forecast of the building requirements for the coming year. WADIATE HOSPITAL. At last meeting tenders were ordered to be called for making additions to the Waimate Hospital. The trustees, however, hud asked to see the plans, to approve of them or to make any suggestions. This, the chairman said, had' been overlooked -at the last meeting, and tenders had nob yet been called for. Mr iMaslin had thought the trustees had seen them. . The plans were now returned by Mr Coltman, who stated that the trustees considered them quite satisfactory. Tenders were ordered to be called for nexb meeting. SEDDON MEMORIAL WARD. The. Seddon Memorial Committee wrote that they .had £3lB in hand and expected to make* up the amount to £350, which, with Government subsidy of- 24s per £ would erect the ward according to Mr TurnbulFs plans, and leave something to spare. The committee, approved of the plans and of the site selected, but suggested that the window of the day-room be. enlarged. They requested that the work be pnt in hand at once. The architect said the window could easily be enlarged. Tenders were ordered! to be called for next meeting. [BRAINING NURSES. : Dr Batfc reported on a circular regarding, the training of nurses for mental hospitals in the work of general hospitals, for two years. He suggested tliait if mima received for such .training it should be on certain : conditions : that appointment should ba subject to -three months probation; nurses must confirm to 'the rules of the hospital; must have''previously, passed the medico-phy'cbological examination; such nurses should not be counted as members of 'the regular staff. It was agreed .that further 'information was necessary, as to whether, for instance, the "Government or the ; Board would "pay learners. Dr Bett pointed: out that in other cases the hospitals subsequently receive some benefit in the.; shape

of 'service from their three-year probation ers; but in these cases there would be no such return. , Mr Craigie. suggested that the training required would- be* more easily arranged for in the large hospitals. RETURN'S. ' The secretary reported that there 'were 44 patients in the general hospital ■ at/the la«t meeting and 34 had been admitted, making 78' treated. Of these 20 -had been discharge"!, cured, seven relieved, three as incurable, and four by death; leaving

44 imdr.r treatment. • : NURSES EXAMINATIONS. Br Bett stated. th ; 't tha Inspector-Gen-eral reauired nurses to go to one or other of the. four centres for examination. This '■would, be inconvenient, for the Tima.ru Hospital as three reuuired to go up, and wJth two nurses at Talbot Hospital there woijH -be live out of sixteen away. . T'hev would bi 'away for three days and would have to pay the : r own fare and lodging exoe.nsfs, out of small salaries. Members protested a.o-ainst this a? unnecessary, and as a slight upon the doctors of Timaru who had hitherto acted as examiners. . As the Board had. undertaken, to tram the nurses, it was'agreed to pay their expenses in attending the examination. , RESIGNATIONS. , The matron, reported'that three nurses had resigned' Nurse McArthur, to become a Sister in Gisborne 'Hospital at £75 a vear, and Nurses Scott and Nixon to go to'Dunedin-Hospital at £57 10s, in place of £SO here. The Board expressed regret at having to receive these resignations. MISCELLANEOUS. . rthe secretary reported that iMr Gleir.e bad raid he would let drop his compltaint about delays- in the use of the ambulance, as since he had written there had been no further cause of complaint.' '■-'','".', Dr Bett askedl that the old laundry and carpenters' shop be painted'. The former was now made good use of, too rooms_as stores, the third is a bicycle shed.—the painting to be done. '• , j. Dr Bett produced a maker's circular.to gjve members an idea of the cost of furnishing the new operating theatre _ The lowest cost would be about- £W.— Mr Coltman argued that it should be well fitted up, rather than cheaply. Tnis, matter was left to the chairman, Mr Lxaigie, and- the. resident surgeon. .- ■ . • Consideration of a, circular from Messrs Scott re electric lighting, was. deferred. Dr Bett said: tMs light, would be preferable for the. operating table. .... • : ., Mr Maslin suggested that action should be taken to collect, hospital accounti from certain debtors who were deemed ab,e to make arrangements for payment, and .six accounts were selected to . be _ deal with.—Mr Studholme dissented. He diet not like forcing people to pay, a? the popular impression had grown up that the hospital* were 'free-Other members said they T»ero not free to personswho could pay; the Act provided that those who could pav should do so. . A circular was received from the lareri Hospital Board, recommending the establishment of a consumptive sanatorium for the South Island.—Reply to be sent that this Board is engaged, in providing one for Canterbury. CHARITABLE AID.

The secretary reported on some new applications for aid, and on the condition of some old proteges of the Board. A crippled lad named Frances, regarding whom a sensational story was published in Christchurch soins months-. ago, was reported to have returned to Tmiaru, after beinsr passed from the Samaritan Home at Christchurch to a Wellington institution managed by the Sisters of Compassion. The last" .previous application to the Board was a requisite from this institution for assistance in teaching the bov a trade, and 7s a week had been paid for him; and now he had returned without any notice.—His case was left in the hands of the chairman and secretary. The secretary reported that two boys who had been boarded out at Oniri Bridge had required other arrangements- to be made for them, and he had got them a horns at leust ss good near Waimate.— Approved, and the.offer' of the new foster parents to accept, them at a cheaper, rate was pub aside, the Board deciding to. pay the former rate, of 5s a week ea ch- . - r , , c An application by Dr • Crawshaw of Tehiuka' some months' ago /for the admission, of a consumptive patient to .Cambridge Sanatorium, was now withdrawn, the man being in the way of'recovery. A widow with four children who had been in receipt of aid for some time, had informed the" secretary that now the children were all old' enough to go. to school she could, manage to do without ; assist--ante, and she wrote '• thanking ' the Board

for the help (hey had given her. The Board asked the secretary to write thanking her for hftr letter. A somewhat unusual case came np that raised questions of liability to be invest*-, n-ated. This was an application from the widow .(white) of a, North Island Maori, whose- two infant children tie her to her home, and hinder her from earning a living.—The Board decided to give necstv sary aid, and to enquire whether half caste children have not some special provision made for (hem. The secretary stated that the tril>3 are willing to adopt the children, but the mother declines to part with them. They have some small interest in a piece of land.. TALBOT HOSPITAL. Two applications from married couples were received for the posts of caretaker and ui!.i so »t Talbot Hospital. These wtre dealt with in committee, and Thos. Nichols and wife were appointed, at £BO a vear and found, subject to one months notice on either side.