HOSPITAL BUSINESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 November 1941, Page 7

HOSPITAL BUSINESS

MEETING OF WAIRARAPA BOARD CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS. MILITARY ANNEXE AT FEATHERSTON. The monthly meeting of the Wairarapa Hospital Board was held in Masterton today. The chairman, Mr H. H. Mawley, presided. There were also present Mesdames S. Fletcher. J. Robertson, Misses H. Card. C. McKenny, Messrs W. I. Armstrong, Trevor Beetham, F. S. H. Bolton, AV. Britland, A. Clark, F. Court, A. Forsberg, D. McGregor, C. T. Richardson, J. F. Thompson, P. R. Welch, J. A. McLeod and W. B. Martin. An apology for absence was received from Mr H. Thomas. The board's architect, Mr F. C. Daniell. advised that alteration work at the Pahiatua hospital and the erection cf a bulk store at Masterton hospital had been held up owing to a difficulty in obtaining materials. Accounts amounting to £9,598 3s 9d were passed for payment. The managing-secretary, Mr Norman Lee, reported on the board’s finances. Patients fee collections this year at £15,112 were practically as estimated. Dr T. L. Parr, medical superintendent. Masterton Hospital, stated that 106 patient's remained in hospital at October 31. Sixty-eight operations were performed, 144 X-ray investigations made, 226 pathological examinations made, and 469 massage treatments given. In addition 44 recruits were X-rayed for the Army. Out-patient attendances were 194 civil and 7 military. Dr Parr reported that he had visited the Greytown Hospital three times and the Pahiatua Hospital once. He recommended that in future word charts and clerical records be centralised by keeping them in a cabinet near the sister’s table instead of on the beds. The change was in accordance with modern methods in ward management. Miss H. D. Grant, matron of Masterton Hospital, reported that four candidates had sat for the Hospital final examination during the month. All had passed. Lectures were given as follows: Dr Parr 9, Dr Courtis 3. Dr Prior 6. The ambulance answered 19 calls, covering 257 miles. Sister M. E. Aitchison reported that the Anzac Military Hospital was opened at Featherston on October 13. The staff consisted of four registered nurses and twenty-one voluntary aids, all of whom worked willingly and well to quickly turn a dance hall into a clean and comfortable hospital. A total of 178 patients had been treated. The average occupied beds was 49.8. The Greytown ambulance paid ten visits to Featherston and the Masterton ambulance two visits to transport soldiers from the train to the hospital. Miss Lambie visited and inspected the hospital on October 21 and expressed appreciated of the work accomplished in so short a time. The assistance of the branches of the Red Cross Society, the Women’s Division of the Farmers' Union, and the people of the district for generous donations was acknowledged in the report. The matron of Pahiatua Hospital, Miss N. Ockenden, reported that 14 major and 7 minor operations had been performed at Pahiatua Hospital. Six out-patients had been attended to. The ambulance covered 226 miles for five calls.

The matron of Greytown Hospital, Miss L. Higginson, stated that 17 operations were performed last month. The ambulance covered 500 miles for twenty-two calls. A total of 56 people remained in the Buchanan wards. The Masterton Women’s National Welfare League visited the wards on October 8 and entertained the patients at afternoon tea and a concert. The Greytown Brownies also entertained the patients.