HOSPITAL BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10233, 16 August 1911, Page 2

HOSPITAL BOARD.

The North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board met this morning ; present—Messrs F. Horrell (chairman), H. B. Sorehsen., W. H. Montgomery, W. P. Spencer, W. W. Tanner, 11. Moore, T. 1). Boag, C. Cook, J. Wolfe, J. H. Davison, D. M'Millan, A. H. Turnbull, C. Allison, J. Henderson, Rev W. J. L. Closß, Mesdatiies Ensom, Cunnington and Wilson. On the motion ( of the chairman a resolution expressing sorrow at th& death of the late Mr T. E. Taylor, M.P., and sympathy with Mrs Taylor and her family, was carried, members standing. • The chairman reported that the members appointed at the last meeting to confer with Ashbiirton delegates on the Board's claim for maintenance of inmates of Tuarangi met oft August 2, but after discussing the. matter no agreement was come to. It WAS there--fore suggested that the case should be referred to the Minister in terms of the Act, and that the chairman of each Board should interview Mr Fowlds at an early opportunity. Two letters had been referred to him on the subject of contributions to the Coronation Memorial Home. The question was whether, in the ©vent of local bodies outside the Board'b district contributing to the fund, residents from such outside districts should be entitled to admission to tli© homo? A principle involved, .which, he hoped the Board would consider before committing itself to an affirmative reply. The Board, would remember that letters were received last month, from softie of thi contributory local authorities by way" of protest against alleged unnecessary and extravagant expenditure, \\hen the annual levy had been made in May it bad been explained that heavy expenditure had W to be for new buildings, but when the building programme had been earned out theie would be a substantial relief. Mr Montgomery sflid that what th« contributory bodies wanted to jmow was when finality was to be At The Board had no systematic extensions. He gave notice ot motion, that a committe6 should be appointed to consider and report upon the expenditure necessary m future for exteitSlwas agreed to refer the dispute with the Ashburton autnorities to tlx© "if™, decided tint ft Memj.™! Home should not as a rule be ope» patients from outside districts, buttiiat all appHcations from outside should be considered on their merits. , « Tlie Hospital Committee remrted: that since the last meeting of t] £ e ? Dr Chamtaloup, of Dunedin, me the committee, and as a result, of the interview had kindly offered advice and assistance towards equipmen suitable laboratory and the a PP®J®r ment of a pathologist, correspondence was proceeding with that end m view. The question referred to the honorary staff and others as o fir order in which the addition of otheil portion? of the administrative block should \e made had been C ° and an answer received on wMi the committee recommended that the build ing should be completed m as soon as the architect submitted the revised plan and the Board approved the same. The committee recommended that the Board should approach the Government with a view of freeing m - terial imported for hospital purposes from the action of the Customs tariff. Dr Fox, after a long connection witii the Hospital, first as house surgeon and then as a member of the honorary staff, had tendered his resigiiation, and it would be necessary to fill the vacan- „ cy The long and signal services rendered by Dr Fox had been of essential value to the institution. . The case in which the Board authorised proceedings to recover the payment of fees from an ex-patient had been settled by full payment thereof since last meeting, and no farther action was necessary. The Hospital Committee had made a thorough inquiry regarding tne Lyttelton Casualty Ward a sub-committee having visited Lyttelton for the puipose, and was unanimously of opinion that'it met all immediate requirements, and that a cottage hospital was not required. Some slight repairs were recommended, and would be put in hand at once. The contract for the erection of the Ivaikoura Hospital had been let., and the work was being proceeded with. It was gratifying to be able to state that of 156 cases treated at Bottle Lake for scarlet fever 155 had restored to health, and the only death had been that of a lad suffering from other disease before contracting fever. This covered the whole period of the present epidemic since February <sl last. There were now thirty-two patients remaining. The report was adopted, and a motion was carried expressing high ciation of the services rendered to tlief Hospital by Dr Fox. . A lengthy discussion took place regarding the of the cook at the Hospital for a rise in wages. The Board's by-laws provide that rises can. only he given in March. The matter was finally referred to the Hospital' Committee, with power to act. The Public Health Committee report- ■ ed the appointment of Mr John Menzies i as temporary inspector, vice Mr Jolin- • son, resigned. , The inspectors' renorts for the month of ,Tulv showed that 33 cases had been don It with, comprising 22 scarlet fever , n diphtheria. 0 phthisß lerysipelas. 1 puerperal, 19 nuisances inspected, 47,

"rooms disinfected, o drains tested. The .number of notifications received of infectious disease in July was 30. | It was resolved that the Board should jjM-oride diphtheria antitoxin free in «ases of persons unable to pay medical practitioners' fees ; and to call the attention of local bodies to cases ol' had Sanitation which might come under the !observation of inspectors; also, that •medical practitioners should he requested to ring up the inspectors when the latnbulance was required for removal of infectious cases.

) The treasurer's statement showed rejfceipts since last meeting amounting to £7606. ilichldmg Government subsidy £3873 Is 2d. and an expenditure of ji£69Bo 6s 4d, including £l5O transferred Ito trust account .