WAIPIATA SANATORIUM.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18490, 4 February 1930, Page 10

WAIPIATA SANATORIUM.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The Waipiata Sanatorium Committee met at Waipiata on January 29. Present: —Messrs J. Matheson (chairman). H. Grenfell, J. Clark, J. G. Johnston, J. Ritchie, P. Aitken, Dr. C. A. Paterson, and G. Hardy, the two latter representing the South Canterbury and Ashburton Hospital Boards in place of Messrs E. Macdonald and W. Bryant, who were unable to attend. The Director-General of Health wrote thanking the Medical Superintendent, chairman and secretary fop kindness and consideration shown to Dr. McLean, the Medical Superintendent of Pukeora Sanatorium on the occasion of his recent visit to the Waipiata Sanatorium. The Otago Hospital Board wrote regarding a conference with the committee to discuss the proposals of the lace Hospital Boards’ Conference regarding group control of consumptive sanatoria, and suggesting that a meeting should be held in Dunedin at the same time as the Committee held its March meeting there. The date of the proposed meeting was agreed to. The secretary of the Maniototo Hospital Board wrote inquiring if the committee would be prepared to enter into an agreement with his Board to treat the latter’s consumptive patients on the Sanatorium grounds on condition that the Maniototo Board erected the necessary shelters there, and paid the cost of maintenance. After discussion, when the chairman informed members that the Waipiata Sanatorium had been established by the Associated Boards, for the treatment of insipient cases of T. 8., and the majority of the Boards had already made provision for the care of advanced cases in their own districts, a resolution was adopted (Mr Aitken dissenting) expressing regret that the Committee could not accede to the request.

Dr. A. Kidd (Medical Superintend- ; ent) reported that, during December, 4 patients had been admitted, 8 dis- ; charged, while 113 remained on January 1. He reported that all these, with the exception of 1 1, whose con- j dition was reported as stationary, were doing well or improving. He advised the result of his visits to the different j centres, and the number of patients there examined, and recommended as suitable for treatment in the Sanatorium. The report was adopted, and requisitions for sundry requirements granted. The secretary reported that, on January 23 the following Boards had patients in the institution: —South Canterbury 35, Southland 33, Ashburton 14, Waitaki 12, South Otago 12, Wallace 7, Maniototo 2, Vincent 1, Waipiata Sanatorium Committee 1, total 117. Of this number, 4 had been in for more than 18 months, 16 for more than 12 months, and 97 for less than 12 months. Since the previous l meeting in November, 15 patients had been discharged, 8 with the disease 1 arrested, 3 disease quiescent, 3 im- | proved, and 1 condition unchanged. He submitted also a waiting list of patients, who had been examined by the Medical Superintendent and recommended for treatment as follows: South Canterbury 14. Southland 11, ! Waitaki 6, Wallace 4, South Otago 3, total 38.

The report was adopted. The treasurer (Mr T. Pryde) sub- ! mitted a report on the state of the committee’s finances, as at date of meeting, showing that for the ten months ended January 31, 1930, the actual maintenance receipts were £B7O in excess of the estimate for the periods while the expenditure was considerably under the estimate. —The report was received and adopted. Mr E. R. Wilson, architect, reported on the present contract for the erec- j tion of laundry building and assist- ! ant doctor’s residence and drainage, | and recommended a further progress payment to the contractor. At the request of the committee, Mr Wilson outlined proposals for the erection of an administrative block, near the entrance gate of the institution, to consist of public and inquiry office, offices for medical superintendent and matron, dispensary, laboratory ’ and X-ray room. This matter was left in the hands of the architect-, medical superintendent and secretary to sub- j mit a sketch of the proposed building with estimates of cost, to next meet- I ing of the committee.

The chairman reported that, on behalf of the committee, he had met me Hon. A. J. Stall worthy, Minister of Health, at the Sanatorium in November, and that he and the treasurer had paid accounts and salaries totalling £1074/5/11 at the end of December.

The report was adopted. Accounts and salaries totalling £2016 18s lid for the current month were passed for payment.