HOSPITAL BOARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 17 December 1925, Page 4

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting ot tho Soufcii Canterbury Hospital Board was held yesterday. Present—Rev. T. TV. Potts (chairman), M'esdaines M. E. Tilbrook, F. A. Baymond, Messrs G. Dash, E. Hardens tie, E. Macdonald. _ B. R. Macdonald, G. Saunders, AA . Geddos, and T. J. Brown. Before commencing the business the following resolution was passed in the usual manner: ‘‘That the South 'Canterbury Hospital Board respectiully requests His Excellency the GovernorGeneral to convey to their Majesties and members of the Koval Family,, an expression of condolence irom the Board on account of the demise of the Queen Mother, whose gracious and beautiful personality remains enshrined in the hearts of a. grateful and loyal people.” CORRESPONDENCE.

The Division of Dental Hygiene wrote asking for particulars as to . what accommodation would be available in the event of a nurse being stationed at Timaru. It was understood that, the Main, School Committee were willing to provide a room in their building. A copy of conditions governing the establishment of clinics, showing tinfacilities . which would bo required, would be forwarded. If the Board decided on go ahead with the matter, and suitable accommodation could be provided before March next, -it could bo safely said that one nurse at least would bo appointed to Timaru. The secretary said that ho would supply the information to tho Timaru Main School for their consideration. The Otago Board advised that at a recent meeting it was resolved that the charges, for maintenance in the Dunedin Hospital district bo fixed in future at a rate equal to the cost per occupied bed for tho previous year. The' cost per occupied bed in thp hospital for the year ended March 31, 1925, was £219 15s 2d, and charges in future would be at tho rate of 12s ■per day. The appointment of Miss M. L. Lindsay, as matron of the Waimato Hospital, was confirmed, and the Minister’s approval given. Tho Department of Health advised that the Minister had approved of the Board making a payment of £SO as ah annuity to Miss Todd, and that the necessary legislation would be provided next session. REPORTS. Tho medical superintendent (Dr. T. L.Parr) reported that the- new house for the R.M.O. was completed, and had been occupied since November 23. The superintendent’s 'new office , was also complete, except for electrical fittings. The upper rooms of the central block wera now available for occupation by the hous'o surgeons. Ho recommended that Dr. Austin be granted his three weeks’ annual leave, from January 10 to January 31 ; that Dr. Barnett’s •services be retained for the mouth of February, and also that Drs. Gordon Rich, and I, C. Eraser bo appointed house surgeons for next ' year, tho former from February-1, and the latter from January 10. In-patients remaining from October totalled 62 ; admitted in November, 79; discharged in November, 63; remaining in December, 78, ■ mailing a total number treated of 141. The average beds occupied were 68,0*-.,an.d fpy the corresponding month' last-year' the percentage was 71.9. Of tho 63 discharged, 38 were cured, 16 relieved, and 1 unrelieved. Of the 78 remaining, 26 : had been .in hospital . over two months: - Fifty-five-,operations had been performed, and five confinement cases were attended. For out-patients, consultations numbered 317, with 313 Tor the corresponding month (last year; surgical dressings were given to 130, against 150 for the corresponding month last year. Massage treatment (was applied' to 43, as against 68 for November, 1924. The total attendance of out-patients was 490, and for the same month last year, 531. At the Talbot Hospital, there were no patients remaining from October. Two were admitted in November, and the number remaining .in December was 2. The report was adopted. ; The Matron (Miss Finlayson)" reported that the final State examination was held on December 2 and 3, and the general half-yearly examinations were in progress. ’ The midwifery trainees (2) would require to go to Christchurch for examination that week. She sug-gested--the'purchase of a vacuum-cleaner lor the Nurses’ Home. Sister Gladys Cuthenvood commenced duty on November 26. and a- new probationer .(Marjorie. Kent.) had been taken on three months’ trial. During the month, Miss Pope visited the Hospital, and was given every iaeility in the conduct of her investigation into hospital dietetics. The report was adopted. . . The Sister in charge of .the I‘airlie Hospital reported that patients under treatment at date ‘ol last lqliuii numbered 2. There were admitted during the month a total ot 1.3, and there remained m the institution on November 30, 3. , lv The Sister in charge of the Geraldine Hospital reported that three patients were admitted during the month, five were treated, and there were tworemaining under treatment. Mi K. Morrison had presented a gramophone to the Hospital, and the C.l .C.A. nine records. These gifts were much appreciated by both patients and staff. Tho report was adopted, .and the donors of the gifts named were U of the Old People’s Home (Mr F. Mulvihiil) reported that during tho month, one man and one woman was admitted, and one man discharged, leaving in the Home 43 men and three women. The health d the inmates had been normal, and there wore no cot eases. Divine service had been held on Sundays- as usual. Donations l.rnl been received as follows i-llowe.s, Mrs Tooth and Mrs J. Hurdley; reading matter. Airs' A. Thompson, Mrs Berry, Mrs HalketD Mr AY. Ronton, All C Uvrne Mr Newman, Airs List, All | Palmer, “a friend." Salvation Army, | St. Vincent do Paul Society, and Alls S. Anderson. . The report was adopted.

HOUSE COMMITTEE | Tli,' House Committee roporto<i that iMi s 0 Catlmrwood had appointed i ‘ i.kr position of Ward Sister, a... Miss Scanned! bad been appointed i dental nurse. The committee rccom,needed Unit Mr Morrison a.nd C.t’U.A. 1,, thanked for donations ot gramophone and 1 coords, respectively, to t" <-eraL dine .Maternity Hospital , tha tin Dental Clinic be closed from 2 noon on December -Mill to drd January. I Tib. II OS PITA I - BOARDS' ASSOCIATION (’ONEERKNCK. The commit tee shimmied the lollowing ivinils tor tin* JJo«ml s C'o; iuoialion:—(h That the Oovernnienl be. creed to provide an institution where deserting liu-bainls could be employed on productive works, and tints lwln tn inaintain tlieir wives and laniihi . CJ) That tb.e (biveniuieiit lie ado I .o ii na innall.v assist Boards m nlurn u lidesi ra ble iinm lgra n t s. ( .11 ! ba L t be necessity ol providing pensions lor chronic invalids and their dependents lie strongly Urged on the Oovcnmicni. Tim report, was adopted. SOCIAL SKR.VICK COMMITTEE. Tim commit lee reported that eight new applications Inr rebel bad been received, at a cost ol' Ll<>. and two were likely Ln become permanent. at. a monthly cost oi l'l Id. Kiirthcr tempoi'iirv assistance bail been granted in six ca<es. at a cost of til-'! I‘2s. Tein-

porary relief in two cases was declined. Tho secretary reported that the chairman and ho reviewed nine Waimato cases, and the recommendations made therein, that six eases he continued, and that throe be stopped, at a saving of £5 Its 4d per month,, were agreed to. Two cases were reviewed by the committee, one being continued and the other stopped. An application for a reduction in. hospital fees was Jett to the secretary to deal with. An application for admission to the Old People's Home was held over, pending receipt of further particulars. The .secretary was authorised to tako legal action in two cases for the recovery of hospital lees. The chairman reported on tho visit of Airs Raymond and himself to a ease at Cooper’s Creek. The report was adopted. FINANCE COAIAJITTEE.

This committee reported as‘follows : Letters were'received from the Palmerston North and AVaitaki Boards, suggesting reciprocal agreements under Section 72 of the Act. —Recommended. Superannuation scheme. —Tho adoption of the scheme was recommended. Tho secretary was instructed to put the matter in hand, and to visit tho Board’s institutions to explain the scheme. m ~ . , Pension for Aliss Todd. (a. foxmei matron in the Public Hospital). It was recommended that an annuny oi £SO per annum he granted to Aliss Todd as from April, 1925. Tho House Committee recommended that Chrismas comforts for patients m tho Board’s institutions be provided as usual. The treasurer presented the monthly statements, which showed -the financial position to he quite satisfactory. For the eight months, receipts (excluding levies aud subsidies) exceeded the proportional estimates by £925, whilst maintenance expenditure was £1037 below-the estimate. Alter pav'ino- the November accounts, a cash bafanco of £2309 3s <d was earned ronvard. - , „ Accounts as follows were passed for payment:—Month of October, £3917 3s 2d; November, £3971 os lOd. The report was adopted.

DENTAL TREATMENT. Dash said it was unfortunate that some of -the children from AY annate attending the Timaru Hospital loi dental treatment had to- make so many trips then). He thought that perhaps country children who had to travel a loim distance should be given a longer sittTim One child in AVannato had to journey to Timaru twice to have one tooth tilled. The cli airman said that he was quite conversant with the position, and had conferred with the dental officer about the -matter. He had been given to understand that a child could not stand too much treatment at one time. Ha could quite understand that it would prove costly to the country children, and would see what could be <]one. Airs Raymond said tho difficulty could probably be overcome by Betting two days aside flo|r countiy pupils 01 The chairman said that he had seen by the papers that T’emuka- was endeavouring to obtain a dental nurse, and c understood that tho same applied t > Timaru He thought that AVannatecould also do with a dental nurse, and the present time was the most oppoitUAlr said tho trouble was lack of room for a nurse Some time ago the AVaimate dentists had offeied do the work free, if the material and room wpro supplied, but owmg 0 inability to procure ' accommodation, this offer could not be accepted.

GENERAL. The Minutes of the last meeting ol the AVaimate Hospital Committee v\ eit made complimentary reference to the work ot the Boaid s staffs and wished them all the season s gl 'The“secretarv was granted kaye of absence from January 22 to i'ebiuai.