HOSPITAL BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12068, 25 July 1917, Page 6

HOSPITAL BOARD.

TO-DAY'S MEETING. The North Canterbury Hospital and Charitablo Aid Board met this morning: present—Mr F. llorrell (chairmen), Mcsdamex Wilson, Green and Christie, Hon AV. Moore, Messrs H. B. Sorensen. T. I>. Boag, W. Nicholls, W. 11. Cooper H. J. Otley. F. G. Norton, W. M'Millnn, J. Patcrson, I. Andrew and S. Andrews. Tho Hospital Committee's report stated that the patients' fees collected since last meeting were £2BO 19s 3d. and for the corresponding period last year £204 iss. The average number of patients in hospital during June was 2(53.07. In the geuito-uiiuary department forty-two patients were treated, eighty-five, different -treatments being given. The Minister had agreed to tho hoard granting assistance to the Social Hygiene Association until the end of the year. STATISTICS. Reports submitted .showed that there was one patient in the AUaroa Cot.tago Hospital on .June 30, and four in the Kailcoura Hospital. For the Christchurch Hospital the following figures were submitted by Dv Fox: Patients remaining from previous month, 2<3; admitted during June. 272; discharged during June, 270; died during June, 2-J; patients remaining in Hospital <m June 30, 2-1-0; outpatients' cases 315; outpatients' attendances, J 805; number of operations under aiui'stlietics, 108; number of patients in Hospital over two months, 27; number of massage cases by masseuses, 50; number of treatments, 503.

The dental department's report stated that the number of fillings was 253; dressings, 83; other operations, 215; operations under anavsthetics, 72; total number of operations, 510; patients supplied with artificial dentures, 25; total number of attendances, (525; nunilH'r of fresh cases examined, 100.

The report of the pathological department stated thai the total examinations wen! 717; hospital cases. 101; outside cases, 012; post, mortem, I The number of inmates in residence, at various institutions on Julv 20 were:

-Tuarangi, 105; Memorial Home, 08; Female Refuge, 51; Orphanage, 20. The Sanatorium statistics were: - Cases admitted during June, 11 : discharged during June, I ; in residence, on June 30, 00. All the patients discharged had the disease arrested.

For the Coronation Hospital the figures were:—Admitted during June, 13; died, 1; in residence on June 30, 50.

The report for the tuberculosis dispensary .stated that during the month there, were L'sl attendances at the dispensary, and -I I persons called lor information. Sixteen new' cases were notified, and two houses were notified for disinfection. The muse pair! 07 visits to patients in their own homes. During last month sewn military patients were admitted to the Sanatorium and one to the Coronation Hospital. There were eighUrn soldiers and two Army nursing sisters under treatment at the end of the month. Of these patient*, eight came from outsido the North Canterbury d.isttict, four being from the Xorth fsland. Two more soldiers have since been admitted lo the Sanatorium, leaving no vacant beds on the men's side. Dr Blackmore is still working all tho institutions single-handed, as he has been doing sit.ee early in April. Mrs Wilson asked what assistance could be given to I)r Blacknrtirc,. Mr Moag said that the doctor's health was being endangered. ])r Blackmore was absolutely tied up aE the institution. Air Otley urged that some of the local doctors should be approached to relievo Dr Blackmore for a day or so weekly.

It was reported that I>r Blackmore was endeavouring to obtain assistance.

Tho lady superintendent's report stated that eleven nurses were successful in passing the State, examination, five gaining over To per cent. COM.MITTEK K KIWI'S. The Public Health Committee reported that the acting lady superintendent of nurses was making temporary arrangements for the. niatronship of tho Infectious Diseases .Hospital, Sister M'liCau being installed as acting matron. T.he committee desired to inform the board that Mr Orum. Bradley had generously provided JtJOO pinus insignis to ho distributed between the Infections Diseases Hospital and Tub'.rciilosis Institutions.'

Tilt- report was adopted. The Institutions Committee's report stated that tlit> reports received from tlio various insitutions proved quite satisfactory. Tlm orplians returned to tJieir home at Waltha-in on July ~>. The question of lighting at Tuarangi had become rather anile, and the coinmitteo was obtaining a. report from the engineer with regard U> < onneeting tho institution with lli:> electrical supply of (ho .Vshburton boroiiL'h. The committee, regretted in repjri that, Mr Fordhain, the board's head gardener, had resigned his position after twentyem' years' faithful .servin.-. The, hoard was recommended to forward to Air Fordhain a letter expressing the appiw ciation of tho work iu had done and to gran', him one month's 1 crave of abscjkv- oe. full pay. The report u;r,-. adored. The Finance Committee's report stated that although the Chatham Islands County had he i incorporated in the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid District, there w-as considerable difficulty in collecting (he anniiiili levy, as the Counties Act. was not in force. Tlu> notification of the levy was at present forwarded to the Valuei-lJeiK'jal, with a request that hi) would, collect the money on behalf of the board, but thai method did not appear to bo very satisfactory. The committee wis making inquiries through tlio Hon I{. Moore with regard to tko position and to ascertain whether the consolidated revenue paid any subsidy to the Chatham Islands County. Following on the. board's instructions, specifications have been prepared for repairing the old building .at tho ' Female Refuge, and also tor the installation of electric lighLing. Tlio committee "had under consideration the question of fire prevention at the various institutions. It would be necessary, to meet requirements, to considerably supplement the present number of. extinguishers, and, so far ;is the Infectious Diseases Hospital was concerned, consideration was being given to the question of purchasing a. small hand chemical engine which had been offered by the Fire Hoard. At the sanio time the committp.e had considered the best means of utilising the existing water supply. Owing to thct large number of institutions now under the board's control, the committer ivas of opinion that a clerk'and inspector of works should be appointed, and recommended the board to appoint Mr \Y. Harrop. ..'The inspection of buildings and carrying out. of repairs had previously been jn the lianas of thel board's engineer, and in making the suggestion for appointment of a now officer the committee desired in no way to reflect upon Mr Loughton, who undoubtedly had been very seriously overburdened with the, multifarious duties wist upon him. The- oom.ni.iUoo also roeomonded that Mr T. Sen-ell should to appointed forcni:>.n electrician. Tire report was adopted and the recommendations approved. . KAIKOURA HOSPITAL. The board went into committee to consider recent circumstances at Kaikoura. Hospital, and, on resuming, it wa.s reported that the action of theV Hospital Committee regarding fcho medical sorvico at tho Kaikoura Hospital had boon approved.