MORE SHELTERS NEEDED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20335, 6 February 1936, Page 6

MORE SHELTERS NEEDED

WAIPIATA HOSPITAL large waiting list The Waipiata Sanatorium Committee met at Waipiata, there being present, Messrs E. Macdonald (chairman), W. Bryant, J. Rodman, H. A. Brough, T. Golden. J. G. Johnston, J. Ritchie, T. A. Louis and Dr. T. McKibbin representing the Department of Health. Mr William Wallace president of the Hospital Boards’ Association of New Zealand, Dr. Kidd, Medical Superintendent, and Dr. L. C. McNickle, Medical Superintendent of the Southland Hospital were also present. Before commencing the business the chairman made reference to the passing of His Majesty, King George V., and a resolution of sympathy with Queen Mary, King Edward VIII. and the members of the Royal Family was adopted. Out of respect for the memory of the late King the committee adjourned for a few minutes. The chairman made reference to the recent deaths of Mrs Johnston, wife of a member of the committee, and Mr John Horrell who had been for four years the Wallace Hospital Board's representative on the committee. The secreeary’s action in forwarding letters of sympathy to the relatives was approvved.

The chairman took the opportunity of welcoming Mr William Wallace of Auckland, president of the Hospital Boards’ Association of New Zealand and chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, to the meeting, and in reply Mr Wailace stated that he had enjoyed his visit and inspection of the Sanatorium and farm very much. He stated that the Auckland Hospital Board was contemplating the erection at an early date of a hospital in that district for lung and chest cases, and his visit to the North Ilsland sanatoria and other institutions in the South was for the purpose of getting all the information he could as a guide to his Board in the matter. He complimented the committee and the Medical Superintendent, Dr. Kidd, on the fine work that was being done at Waipiata and commended the committee for its action in releasing its Medical Superintendent for nine months to visit Great Britain and Europe with a view to getting in touch with the latest methods of treating the complaint for which the Waipiata Sanatorium had been established. Dr. Kidd reported that on January 1 there were 114 patients in the Institution, and with the exception of 14 whose condition was stationary all were doing well or improving. He recommended as suitable for treatment patients from the following districts: Waitaki 1, South Canterbury 3, Ashburton 4, Southland 10 and Wallace 1. After considerable difficulty he had secured the services of Dr. W. A. Maclaurin, at present resident medical officer at Balclutha to relieve him at the Sanatorium during his absence to Great Britain and Europe, and that he expected to leave the Dominion early in March. The Director-General of Health advised that the Minister had signified his approval of the appointment of Miss E. E. Pryor as matron of the Sanatorium.

The secretary reported that at the present tiriie every male bed in the Institution was occupied and he submitted a waiting list of 30 patients. 26 of Whom belonged to the Southland hospital distfict. Southland Request. The Southland Hospital Board wrote asking the committee to meet the situation by providing more accommodation for male patients. This application was personally supported by Mr Golden, chairman of the Southland Hospital Board and Dr. L. C. McNickle, the Board’s Medical Superintendent. It was unanimously decided, on the motion of Messrs Ritchie and Rodman. that the committee take steps to provide 12 more shelters for male patients at the Sanatorium and the necessary accommodation for extra hursing staff, the request to be forwarded at once to the Department of Health for its approval, and the cost to be provided for in the committee’s estimated capital expenditure for next financial year. Mr James Ritchie reported on the water supply, which, owing to the dry season, was causing the committee and Sanatorium staff some concern. He indicated what was proposed in an endeavour to improve the intake cf the head waters of the race, and these matters were left in'the hands of the Farm Committee with power to act. The treasurer (Mr T. Pryde) submitted a statement of the committees finances for the nine months ended December 3. 1935. which showed an improvement, so far as revenue was concerned, over the previous month, while the expenditure was a little over the amount estimated for the period. In view of the request from the Department of Health for an indication of the committee’s capital requirements for the next five years, the secretary was directed to confer with the Medical Superintendent and farm manager and report to the next meeting. The committee conveyed its good wishes to Dr. and Mrs Kidd on their early departure to Great Britain and Europe and trusted that they would both benefit by the trip.