HOSPITAL BOARD.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11734, 11 September 1902, Page 2

HOSPITAL BOARD.

The ordinary monthly-meeting of the Wanganui Hospital Board was then held. Chairman. —Mr. William Ritchie was elected! to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. James Laird. —On the motion of Ma1. Beckett, a similar resolution t<J that passed by the Charitable Aid Board, of regret, 'appreciation, and sympathy, was officially recorded. Minutes.—The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. Bank Book.—The Bank book showed a credit balance of £1264 9s. lOd. Correspondence. —Ordinary inward and outward correspondence was read. Medical Report.—The report of the House Surgeon for the month showed that during the (period 44 patients were admitted to and 45 discharged from, the Hospital. One death occurred. Ninety patients were treated during the month, and 44 remained in om August 31st. . Amongst the admissions were ii cases requiring operative treatment and eight accident cases. The House surgeon reported that Nurse Sproull, one of the senior nurses, had resigned during themonttih. —The selection of Miss Worgan, as probationer for three months' trial, was approved. Inspectov-General's Report.—The In-spector-General's report was presented, -containing the following reference to Wanganui : "The Queen Victoria Ward for women and children, now1 in' course of erection, will make a handsome addition to this Hospital. A larger number of patients means a larger staff of nurses, and, the accommodation for the staff being already cramped, it would be as well if the Board were to Build a separate cottage for the nurses. This is a well managed Hospital, and! Dr. Anderson and Miss Allen are attentive to their duties, and excellent officers." Assignments. —Several assisgnment of leases held under the Board were, approved of. Statistical Beturn.—The following re-

turn1, showing the number of patients admitted to the Hospital for two years ending 31st March, 1902, from the undermentioned localities, was presented by the secretary: —Wanganui:Borough, year ending 1901, 274; year ending 51st March, iyu2, 281; Marion Borough, 15 and 22; Rangitikei County, IU6 and 109; Wanganui County, £>y and 70; .Waitotara County, 60 and 55.—Mr. Beckett asked what was the percentage in proportion to revenue.—The secretay said the liangitikei County was, of course, tne largest contributor.—Mr. Beckett said that it had, of course, to be remembered that all the "dead beats' 5 drifted into the town from the country.—The matter was not discussed.

I - Mangaweka Cottage Hospital.—A letter was received from Mr. James Harrison, of Mangaweka, stating that the Federated Branch of the New Zealand Liberal Association of Mangaweka intend, with the help of the public and the Government, to start a cottage hospital. Subscription lists have been sent out, and several meetings have been held. The writer stated that it was intended! to call a public meeting shortly, and m the meantime applied to the Board for information. It was intended to apply for a reserve section, appoint, a peraianent qualified doctor, give a guarantee, provide as -many beds as could be afforded, secure an ambulance stretcher, and to vest the interest of the Hospital in the proper authorities.—The secretary stated that, under instructions of the late chairman, he had replied that the matter would be duty laidl before the meeting, and giving such information as was asked1 for. The letter pointed out that after the establishment of the Hospital the annual cost of up-keep would be considerable. It was also mentioned that the Inspector-Gen-eral, in his report for the year ending 31st March, 1901, stated that the daily average cast. per head of patients treated at the Otaki Cottage Hospital is £1 2s. 4d., and commenting on this Dr. MacGregor said: "The cost per head ought t& open the eyes of districts1 which will have email hospitals." It was further pointed out, in ordler to show the significance of the Inspector-General's comment, that the cost of patients treated at the Wanganui Hospital for the same periodi was 4s. 9£d. —Mr. Beckett mjoved that the letter sent by the secretary be .approved.—Carried. Resignation of Dr. Anderson.—The following letter was received from the House Surgeon: "With great regret I beg- to resign my position as House Surgeon in the Wanganui Hospital. During the past 4^'-years it has been my utmost endeavour to carrr- out the duties'of my office faithfully and to the ,jest of my ability, and I feel keenly the severance of. my connection with the Hospital. I thank the members of the Board for .their unvarying consideration of me during my term. To your late chairman, Mr. James Laird!, I have been under an especial debt of gratitude for hia untiring interest in the Hospital and for his help and advice in the many difficulties of an institution, like tihe Wanganui Hospital. I shall always look back with pleasure and pride to my connection with the Hospital in which I have had the honour to serve as the first House Surgeon. Dr. Connolly (has taken me into partnership with, him, and de- ! sires me to join him immediately, so I would like to be relieved) of any duties as early as convenient.-—! have, etc., J. W 5. Anderson, M.D., House Surgeon." A further letter was received from Dr. Anderson, stating that, in order to facilitate matters, he had communicated with Dr. •Crawford, of Christchurch,, asking him if he would, if appointed, take up the position of House Surgeon. Dr. Crawford was known both to Dr. Anderson and Miss Allen, who considered him fully qualified to take up the position. Dr. Crawford was at (present in charge of' the Christchurch Hospital, during the vacation of the House Surgeon.—Mr. Beckett moved that Dr. Anderson's resignation be accepted with regret, and that the Board invite applications for the vacancy.— The members spoke in terms of appreciation of Dr. Anderson's connection with the Hospital, and it was indicated that, provided that Dr. Crawford woui'jd tem,porarily take up the duties of House Surgeon, Dr. Anderson be allowed to resign immediately oil his arrival. Nurses' Home.—The following letter was read from the House Surgeon: "In compliance with your request of August Btih last, the matron and myself have consulted with Mr. James, the Board's architect, re the preparation of plans for a detached nurses' home to accommodate 16 nurses. We have given considerable time and thought to this matter, and cohisider that the plans he is to lay before the I Board at its next meeting will, if adopted, give the nurses ia very comfortable and suitable home. At our request the dining and sitting rooms are large, so that if the Hospital should continue enlarging the Board will not be in the diffi- . culty it is in at present in having rooms too small to. accommodate the extra nurses. Separate "bedrooms have been provided for the 16 .as advised. These, along with the kitchenmaid's rooms, etc., make a very complete home, and we hope that the Board will see its way to provide tliis for the nurses.".—Mr. James attended with the plans, xle explained that the accommodation which he had provided waa certainly more than he had been instructed to "provide by letter. But the late chairman had asked him to consult the matron and the doctor, and to provide what was necessary. The dining and sitting rooms were larger than was necessary at the present time, but, with the extra bedrooms whichi he liad put in, and the addition of only one other bedroom, the building would eive the accommodation required when the eight hours' system is adopted. There were 20 bedrooms provided for, including those for the housemaids'. He did not think it could be built for under £2000, but the estimate given him b- letter was for £1500. He could put up a shell, but a building which would be creditable to himself and to the Board, and which would iprovide accommodation .as at present provided, could not be done for less. —After discussion, Mr. Williams proposed that this matter be referred back to the ooonmittee, with instructions to confer with the architect, and to prepare a pi'<an in accordance with the original estimate for presentation at next meeting.—Mr. Richardson | seconded the resolution. —The Chairman said that unless somethiner substantial was to be built he woiuld rather not see the detached home built at all. He considered the plan provided was the outcome of the experience of the doctor, the matron and the architect, and unless something of the kind were put up he would! sooner

see them revert to the old plan. The estimate given by Mr. James was for the building alone, without drainage, etc., and he should like to see tenders called! for the place as it stood, or for the same plan less the four bedrooms which the architect suggested could be cut down. —-Mr. Fletcher supported the' chairman, and Messrs. Hole and Beckett supported Mr- Williams' motion, Mr. Beckett ex(pressing the opinion that the building suggested was too elaborate and too large, and he felt sure that Mr. James could provide for a building wnich would go into the estimated cost. If the Board wanted ta play hokey-pokey with the public, they need only call for tenders for the place, and then tell the public that it could not be done for the money. If, on the other hand, they wanted to build a detached home, he felt quite sure they could do it.—ln answer to Mr. Wilson, Mr. James said that he could put up a paltry shell far much less, but such a building would not prove satisfactory to anyone. After further discussion, the. Chairman moved as an amendment that the Board revert to the original intention to erect an attached ward. —Mr. Fletcher seconded. —On the amendment being put it was declared lost, and Mr. Williams' motion was carried.—Mr. Wilson's name was added to the Building Committee.