WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 19155, 11 April 1932, Page 2

WAIPIATA SANATORIUM

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The Waipiata Sanatorium Committee met at Waipiata on 6th April. Present: Messrs E. Macdonald (chairman), H. E. Niven, W. Bryant, J. Rodman, A. King, J. G. Johnston, J. Ritchie, P. Aitken, and Dr. T. R. Ritchie (representing the Department of Health). Dr. Kidd (Medical Superintendent), reported that there were 111 patients in the institution on 31st March, and that with the exception of 22 whose condition at present was stationary, all were doing well or improving. He reported having visited different centres in the Committee’s district, and recommended as suitable for treatment three patients from South Canterbury, three from Waitaki, and the re-admission of two female patients from the Ashburton and Southland districts.

Dr. Kidd submitted his annual report on the medical work of the Institution for the year ended 31st March. 1932, showing that of the 119 patients discharged during the year 83 had gone out with the disease arrested, and 12 with the disease quiescent; while there had been two deaths. Patients had been admitted from the different districts as follows: —South Canterbury 37, Southland 38, Ashburton 12, Waitaki 15, South Otago 6, Vincent 4, Wallace 5. Since the Institution was opened in 1923, 679 patients had been discharged, 473 with the disease arrested and 85 with the disease quiescent. He submitted a detailed confidential report showing the present ascertained condition of all patients who had passed through the Institution since its establishment, 501 of whom were still keeping well, 13 fairly well, 106 were not well or condition unknown, while of that number 43 had died, 5 from causes other than T.B. He also gave a summary of the patients examined at the different centres during the year, the total being 338, of which 118 were considered suitable for treatment, the others being either unsuitable or having no definite signs of the disease. Since he had established his clinics in the different centres, he had personally examined 2123 persons, apart entirely from the large number of ex-patients who are encouraged to report to him at different times as to their condition.

The report was adopted, the Medical Superintendent and secretary to prepare a leaflet to be given to all expatients urging them to keep in touch with the Medical Superintendent, as it is the Committee’s desire that the treatment given to patients in the institution should be carefully followed up after discharge. .

In view of the short time allowed the Medical Superintendent to interview and examine patients at Invercargill, the Committee suggested that Dr. Kidd should extend his stay in that centre to one whole day every two months. The secretary reported that at 31st March patients from the following districts were in the institution: South Canterbury 33, Southland 35, Ashburton 14, Waitaki 12, South Otago 7, Wallace 5, Vincent 3, Maniototo 1, Waipiata Sanatorium Committee 1. Of that number eight had been in the institution for more than two years, 17 for more than one year, and 85 for less than one year.

Since the previous meeting of the Committee 15 patients had been discharged, their condition on discharge being disease arrested 12, disease quiescent one. improved two. He submitted a waiting list of 13 patients from four hospital districts, and as four of these could be admitted almost at once the position was considered very satisfactory. The Committee, during the afternoon, inspected the farm, appreciation being expressed at the fine condition of the stock and the amount of winter feed available. The action of the Farm Committee in purchasing cattle and sheep for the meat supply was approved, and authority was given to erect an implement shed and stable from material lying on the ground, and some necessary alterations to the farm buildings. The tender of P. McAtamney for ploughing about fifty acres of new ground was accepted. The treasurer submitted a statement of the Committee’s receipts and payments for the past year, and in view of the fact that the Committee’s maintenance credit balance had been increased, it was decided, on his recommendation, to notify the Associated Boards that for the ensuing year (at least) the daily maintenance charge for patients in the institution would be reduced from 7/- to 6/-, which would be of material assistance to the Boards during the present period of depression.

The question of the purchase of a suitable X-ray plant for diagnostic purposes, and the housing of it was left in the hands of the medical superintendent and secretary to report. During the afternoon the committee was entertained at afternoon tea by the nursing staff, when the chairman and Mr Ritchie welcomed to the institution Miss M. Shepherd, the newly appointed matron.