New Zealand Hospitals

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20668, 5 March 1937, Page 10

New Zealand Hospitals

Annual Conference

Concluding Session

The general conference of the Hospital Boards’ Association of New Zealand was concluded in the Bay Hall yesterday. A large number of remits, few of which were of a contentious nature, were expeditiously disposed of and the conference was addressed by Dr. M. H. Watt, Director-General of Health, in regard to the health camp movement and the Government’s proposal to establish permanent camps as a memorial to the late King George V. Eulogistic reference was made to the work of the president, secretary and executive, and a compliment was paid to the South Canterbury Board on the excellent arrangements made for the conference, and on the hospitality extended to delegates.

When the conference opened shortly after 9.30, the first remit considered was that from the Bay of Islands as follows: “That in the case of patients admitted to mental hospitals leaving a wife and children, legislation be enacted to enable the grant of pensions operating retrospectively from the date of admission to such mental hospital."

Mr C. F. Miller moved the remit stating that it required no elaboration. The motion was seconded by Mr W. Bishop. Mrs S. Snow (Wellington) considered that there was no need for the remit, for the principle had been in operation for years. The motion was carried.

South Otago moved: "That the Hon. the Minister of Health be asked to confer with the Minister in charge of Pensions with a view to Hospital Boards being supplied with a confidential list of persons in the Hospital district receiving pensions, particularly old age and invalidity pensions.” The president (Mr J. W. Dove) said that the matter had been before the executive, which had communicated with the South Otago Board suggesting an alteration. Mr A. Rennie said that his Board had received a letter from the executive suggesting that the words “confidential list of” be altered to read “information concerning applicants for relief.” He went on to say that they had had a good deal of trouble on account of double banking for relief. He would leave it to the conference to decide whether they should accept the alteration or not.

Mr S. Vickers (New Plymouth) seconded the motion, and suggested that the alteration be made. The president said that the reason for the alteration was that many old age pensioners were not applicants for relief. The motion was carried. Pensions Act “That the Pensions Act be amended so that a senile person who is not eligible for an old age pension on account of his not having resided in New Zealand for the requisite period of years and who is unfit for work, be eligible for an invalidity pension," was a motion moved by Hawera. Mr A. L. Campbell said that the remit spoke for itself. Senile people had no money and could not live. The motion was seconded by Mr J. F. Thompson (Wairarapa). An ammendment was moved by Mr J. Glover (Wellington) that senile persons in the country at the time of the passing of the Invalidity Act be entitled to a pension. Mr E. H. Potter (Auckland) said that there was a danger and the matter required very careful attention. The amendment was carried, and on being put as the motion was also carried. Training Schools A remit from Hawke’s Bay read: "That those hospitals which were closed as training schools for nurses should now be reinstated, and that additional training schools should now be established." The president said that the matter had been fully discussed by the executive with the Director of the Nursing Division (Miss Lambie' and they considered that the matter should be approached entirely from the point of view of the standard of nursing training and not as a means of staffing the hospital. With the new State examination commercing next June, certain hospitals could be made B grade schools ’for the first year. Mr C. O. Morse said that certain arrangements were going to be made by which cer‘ain training schools previously cut out were going to be reinstated. The Hawke’s Bay Board would be all right, but he did not think such a body as the Nurses’ and Midwives’ Association should have the authority to cut out training schools, thus increasing the cost of having fully trained staffs, whereas they could have had trainees. Dr. Shaw said that the question whether a hospital should be a training school or not depended on the facilities at the hospital to make it a training centre. In order to overcome the difficulty there was instituted a preliminary State examination. Previously they had to pass an examination in anatomy and physiology conducted by the training staff, but now there was a State examination. It was necessary that the high standard of nursing ir New Zealand should be maintained, and to do this training had to tfe maintained at a high standard. Each institution had to be considered on its merits. The motion was carried. Ex"culive Remit The executive brought forward a remit: "Proposals of New Zealand grained Nurses’ Association for pre-

liminary training schools to be submitted for discussion.” The president said the matter had been discussed by the executive. They had heard Dr. Watt and no doubt members would go back impressed with what he had said, and it was for them to consider the proposals and determine whether they would agree to them. The motion was carried. Constitution of Boards Auckland moved: "That the designation or title of chairman of Hospital Boards be changed to that of president.” The motion was defeated. Deputy Chairman Auckland moved: “That provision be made for the appointment of a deputy chairman.” The Rev. C. Wood said that the Auckland Board considered that it would be an advantage to have a deputy chairman. At the moment the practice was to elect someone to take the chair in the absence of the chairman. If they had a deputy chairman, he would automatically replace the chairman, and they would not then have to appoint someone every time the chairman was absent. The remit was carried. Members’ Fees A Wairarapa remit was: “That all members of Hospital Boards receive a payment of £l/1/- for attendance at board and committee meetings.” Mr Thompson said that the matter was a domestic one. The time involved in attending meetings was long and was increasing and it was only reasonable that members should receive some remuneration for their services. Many members had to sacrifice their time and occupation, and that snould be taken into account. Some people were prevented from serving on boards because they could not afford the time. Mr H. G. Naylor (Timaru) said that as the motion stood it would defeat its objective. He suggested that if the remit were altered to read “£l/1/- for each day of attendance,” the difficulty would be got over. Mr Thompson agreed to the amendment.

Mrs A. G. Anderton (Auckland) considered that the motion laid the matter open to abuse. She moved an amendment that members receive a fee for each meeting not in excess of £7B a year. Mr Carman said that they would all agree with the principle of the motion, bu.t the Wellington Board contended that £l/1/- was too much. They sometimes had five committee meetings in a week, and they could not expect £5/5/- a week for their work. He suggested that the matter be referred to the executive to bring down a full recommendation. M!r Thompson said that if the matter was referred to the executive, nothing would be done for two years. He would not mind Mrs Anderton’s suggestion being incorporated in the motion. This left one amendment, that moved by Mr Carman, and it was carried. The Executive brought forward a remit: “That the present inadequate medical allowance of £1 under the

Workers’ Compensation Act should be increased to £25, against which a charge may be made for hospital fees.” The president said that there was hope of the remit being given effect to. The Minister of Labour had promised to give the proposal consideration when he brought down comprehensive legislation dealing with workers’ compensation. The remit was carried. Hospital Supplies Auckland moved: “That Hospital Boards be exempt from customs duty on machinery, surgical instruments, and similar articles used for purely hospital purposes.” Mr J. Waddell said that they were allowed to remit the duty on certain articles but Government Departments and Universities could bring in all their equipment free, and hospital boards should be allowed to buy at the lowest possible cost. Farmers could buy wire free of duty and sales tax, and hospital broads should be able to buy in the same manner. It had been suggested that contractors would be affected, but that was not so. There would be no complications, because boards would not compete with private enterprise. Mr A. E. Prentice (Ashburton) seconded the remit, but suggested that spirit vini rect should be incorporated. The motion was carried incorporating Mr Prentice’s suggestion. X-Ray Treatment Another Auckland remit was: “That the maximum charge for X-Ray examinations of limbs be 10/6.” Mr Potter said that the matter was introduced by a member of the profession on their board., They were not aware of the charges made by other boards, but he thought all boards would be affected. Mr Glover (Wellington) moved as an amendment: “That the maximum fee for X-ray examinations of outpatients be £l/1/-, the charge for inpatients to be included in the daily maintenance charge.” The amendment was lost and the motion also was lost by a big majority. Hospital Ambulances Hawera moved: “That representations be made to the Minister for exemption of hospital ambulances from the necessity of having to obtain continuous passenger licenses and certificates of fitness.” Mr Campbell agreed to the deletion of the last four words and the remit was carried. Combined Insurance Kaipara moved: “That the Kaipara Hospital Board expresses its desire for a comprehensive insurance scheme, and records its intention to participate therein.” The remit was carried. Sun-Ray Treatment The following Auckland remit was carried: “That the opinion of the conference be expressed on the proposal outlined by Dr. Kidd, Medical Superintendent, Waipiata Sanatorium, namely—that two sun-ray treatment centres be established for the treatment of surgical tuberculosis; one in the North Island and < ne in the South Island.”

North Canterbury moved: “That Section 4 of the Hospitals and Charit-

able Institutions Act, 1936, should be made applicable to all persons employed at a Sanatorium.” Note.—Section 4 of the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Amendment Act, 1936, provides that persons employed by Hospital Boards on nursing duties may be granted such amounts by way of compensation or pension as may be approved by the Honourable the Minister if they contract Pulmonary Tuberculosis in the course cf their duty.

Mr Spencer said that the remit spoke for itself. The nurses were covered but other employees at sanatoriums might contract the disease and they could not get a pension. The motion was seconded by Mr Wood (Auckland) who asked the mover to include the words “or any other institution under a hospital board.” Mr Spencer agreed to this being done. Mrs Snow said that nurses were medically examined, but all other workers were not. If this was to be enforced all employees should be examined. The motion was carried. Venue of Next Conference It was decided to hold the next conference at New Plymouth. Notices of Motion Remits brought forward by notice of motion, and carried were:— Auckland: “This conference to recommend the Minister of Health to consider the advisability of introducing some system of training whereby girls of the age of 17 to 18 may receive preparatory training for nursing.” Auckland: “That once a Magistrate makes an order for maintenance it shall be the duty of the maintenance officer to follow this up and see that payments are made in accordance with the order of the Court. Noncompliance shall be considered as contempt of Court, and treated as a serious matter. If for any reason a man fails in his payments it shall be obligatory for him to report to the maintenance officer and state his reasons for failure. The maintenance officer to investigate each case of noncompliance and act accordingly.” Executive Officers Mr T. Pryde (Southland) informed the conference that an Executive Officers’ Association had been formed the previous evening, and it was felt that such an organisation would be for the betterment of the service generally. The president expressed pleasure at the news, and said that there was no finer body of men in the country than hospital board secretaries. Congratulations Extended Conference extended congratulations to Messrs H. A. Somerville (Auckland), J. Brown (Wellington) and W. Wharton (Canterbury) on having had honours conferred on them. The president expressed thanks to the Director-General of Health (Dr. M. H. Watt), Dr. Shaw and Mr A. von Heisenberg for their assistance at all times, and particularly at the conference. He also thanked Mr Pryde for his long years of service to the Association. Comprehensive votes of thanks were passed to the South Canterbury Board for its hospitality, to the president and the executive, the ladies who provided tea and the Timaru newspapers. A presentation of a toilet set was also made to Miss N. Cannons in recognition of her work as assistant secretary. Delegates Entertained Yesterday afternoon delegates were taken for a motor drive round the district.