HOSPITAL BOARD

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 19 June 1924, Page 5

HOSPITAL BOARD

YESTERDAY’S MEETING. The monthly meeting of the South Canterbury nospnal Hoard was held yesterday. Present — Her. T. Wilson Potts H‘iia.inuan), iYLesdames W. ti. Unwin, F. A. Muyniond, and M. E. TUtirouk, Messrs G. Dash, E. Hardcastle, R. J. McKeown, B. R. Macdonald, J. Brown, and \\ r . Geddes. At the request of the chairman, Mrs W. H. L'nwin was appointed an additional member of tne social service committee. The chairman stated that the Government lial placed the sum of £SOOO upon the estimates, tor the iVaipiata Sanatorium, in addition to the £ for £. subsidy. Tho Board had visited Fail-lie on the morning of May JO, find had inspected the hospital, and pad gone to- Geraldine in the afternoon for the opening of the new maternity hospital. The function had passed o'if exceedingly well, and they were indebted to Mrs J. M. H. Tripp and the ladies-for the hospitality, they had extended to the residents and visitors. The maternity hospital was a building, of which the Board might well be proud, and he understood that the residents of Geraldine were very pleased with it.

CORRESPONDENCE

The secretary of the Wannat© Ambulance .Brigade wi'ote acknowledging tne receipt, of tiie Board s cueque. The -Department, of Health advised that the estimates of tho Board for I W24-2o iiad been approved as follows: Maintenance levy and subsidy, £26,445 fas ou; capital fevy ana subsidy, 4.fi,Uoi Os 4d. j The Director-General of Health ! drew, the attention of the Board to : the desirability of purchasing motorambulances and car chassis of British manufacture in preference to others. Careful inquiry and investigation had , been made by the Department, which j was convinced that although the first j cost might be greater, the ultimate economy would more than balance any j increase in the initial cost of British j motor vehicles. • I The Patea Hospital Board forwarded a copy of a resolution that an amendment of the Workers’ Compen- 1 sation Act should be sought, providing for tho payment direct to Hospital Boards, by "insurance companies, out of compensation, moneys due to patients insured against accident, and admitted to hospital for treatment, of all fees due by such patients for main- j tenance. I The chairman said he thought there ; was a possibility of hardship, and each ; case should be treated on its merits. J The Waitaki Hospital Board wrotev asking the Board to pay one-sixth of the total deficiency on the cost of ; the District Nurse at Kurow, until the ; Cottage Maternity Hospital could bo : opened. This was agreed to. . The Timaru Borough Council for- j warded prices for installing electric light in the Old People’s Home and the Talbot Hospital. It was stated that the lighting at the Home was very bad and was neither convenient nor particularly j clean. , j It was decided to proceed with the ■ installation of the light in the Old People’s Home, but to hold over the installation in Talbot Hospital in the , meantime.

FINANCE,

The Finance Committee, in presenting its report, recommended that the cuiary of Dr. T. L. Parr, Medical Superintendent of the Timaru Hospital, Should be increased from £7SU to £IUOU per annum. After consider able discussion, the recommendation was agreed to;

TREASURER’S STATEMENT.

The treasurer stated that the bank account was in credit that day £2979. Monthly accounts for payment amounted to £4661 16s. Receipts since last meeting were as follows: —Interest and- sundries, £B3, levies on local bodies, £93; patients’ payments were as follows .-—Timaru Hospital £334, Waimate Hospital £149, Fairlie £65, Talbot £29, Geraldine £64, Old People’s Home £sl.

REPORTS.

The Medical Superintendent, Dr T. L. Parr, prestuueu a report covering Lne worlc 01 trie institution tor the past month, anii giving uetaiis of requirements. ’the report was adopted. Deports were also received from the Matron, the Master of the Old People s Home, tne sister in charge at tne hairhe Public Hospital, tne matron ot the Geraldine Maternity Hospital, and the House Committee. Hie minutes of the Waimate Committee of Management were forwarded, and approved. It was suggested that another nurse should ho appointed to assist the ) matron of tne Maternity Hospital at ' Geraldine, and after discussion, it was decided that the Geraldine members should confer with the matron and report to the next meeting.

GENERAL,

Mr Hardcastio hruugnt up the question of luoercuiar cases. He said lie had taihed with Hr Valintiuo (.Direc-tor-General of Health) on the subject, and the. latter hau agreed that something more snould bo done lor cases other than tnoso dealt with at the Waipiata Sanatorium. He hacl suggested to Dr Valintine that he should attend a meeting of the Board, and they could discuss the matter with him. It would also be as well to discuss with Dr Valintine tho question of a maternity homo at \\ aimate. It was decided to ask Dr Valintine to attend the July or August meeting of the Board. ' Mr Tlardcastle asked that tho secretary should obtain a return of the number of tubercular cases reported in the South Canterbury district during tho past three years, and also the number of deaths. This was agreed to. Tho Board’s architect, Mr H. Hall, placed before the Board the plans lor the adaption of the upper part of Ward ;3, at the Timaru Hospital for a maternity ward. The plans were adopted, and it was decided to forward them to the Dcpartnienl for approval, Tim chairman reported that the committee had invosligated the site for the doctor's house, and lmd decided to erect U at the corner of Quc-eu and High Hi reels, in response te an invitation from Dr Parr, it Whs decided that the Board tdiouid visit the hospital on the next meeting day,