CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12588, 18 August 1910, Page 7

CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The xisual monthly meeting of the abovo was held yesterday. Present : Messrs W Ritchie (chairman,), T. PI. Battle, G. Carson, A. Robinson, 13. P. Lethbridge, G. Spriggeus, A. G. Bignell. R. K. Simpson, D. Fraser, and E. E. Fletcher. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs C. J. Bennett, ,H. D. Bennett, W. McLennan, and J. Punch

MINUTES.—The minutes of ihe previous "neetinj? were read and confirmed. FINANCE.—The bank-bock showed a. cr. balance *if £2,561 19s. Accounts to the value of £1,484 7s 5d were passed for payment.

BALANCE-SHEETS.—The balancesheets of the Wanganui Hospital Board r.nd'tho Wanganui Charitn Irlo Aid Board certified io by the Auditor-Gen-eral were laid on the. table.

X-RAY APPARATUS.—Letters wero received from Wellington firms re supplying the necessary apparatus.

-• STATISTICS.—A letter re statistics from the Inapect-or-General of Hospitals was also received.

MIDWIFERY.—A letter was received, from the Assistant Inspector of St. Helen's Hospital re an application by Mrs Hall, of Ohakune, for free midwifery training. The proposal was agreed to by the Board.

HOSPITAL REPORT—Tho medical superintendent reported iihnt during the month 116 indoor patients received treatment in the hospital. Fifty-one new patients were admitted, 52 patients were discharcrd, whilst 59 patients remained in residence on August 1. The number of accident cases admitted was y, ainl 11 cases of infectious disease were under treatment. Seventeen operations performed required the administration of :i. sreiural anaesthetic. Five patient?, died in the hospital during the rrtonth. The Jubilee Home was visited four timeis. The health of the imn;rte,3 remains very good. HOSPITAL STAFF.-The superintendent reported that Nurse Kiernan had contracted enteric fever whilst nursing patients suffering from-the disease. As under the most favourable circumstances Nurse Kiernan would be ineapaeited for at least three months, he asked the Board to consider the question of adding another probationer to the staff. By the time Nxxrss Kiernan would be fit to return to duty, vacancies Avonld have occurred on the staff, which would allow of the extra probationer suggested joining in the usual way. The report also stated that Sister Southall had been granted an extra, fourteen days' holiday. The attention of the Board was drawn to the difficulty experienced in obtaining suitable housemaids for the hospital and nurses' home at the present wage offered. Tho position of hospital housemaid is one of some responsibility, as the servant is entrusted with messages from patients' friends, and by .telephone, etc. He suggested that the Board raise the wages from £3 10s to £3 15s per month and the wages of the nurses' home housemaid from £3 6s Bd*to £3 15s.— The report was adopted. PROBATIONER.—The secretary reported that Miss P. Giffor-Moore" had been .selected as extra probationer on the nursing staff, on the usual three months' trial. The secretary's action was endorsed.

COMMITTEES.—The reports of tho various committees—Finance, Institutions, and Charitable Aid—were read and adopted.

The Board adjourned till 1.45, when the Board visited the hospital and inspected the site of the proposed infectious diseases hospital. The Board resumed at 1.45 p.m. at the Hospital, when the same members, with tho exception of Mr Spriggens, avlio was unavoidably absent, were present. Dr Reid, medical superintendent of the Hospital, and Mr T. H. James, architect to the Board, were also in attendance. The plans and >site of the proposed new ward were considered. It was decided that the sketch plan for an 18-bed ward, parallel with the main corridor, and that for the cross-veran-dah between wards 1 and 2 he adopted. Mid that the same be referred to the Department for approval; and being satisfactory to the Department, Mr James be roniieoted to prepare plans :uid specifications for the work,ttogether with an estimate of the cost, and submio same to the Booard at its next meeting.

It was also resolved that^ Nurse J. M. Goldfinch be appointed sister on the nursing staff of the hospital. It was further resolved that the secretary be instructed to write Dr Stowe. of Palmerst'm North, thaViking him for his advice and courtesy extended to Messrs Battle and Robinson, who waited upon hiir. with reference to the matter, of an X-Ray apparatus for the hospital; at the same time tr> stnto that the Board will avail itself of his kind offer of further assistance.