WANGANUI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17476, 22 January 1919, Page 4

WANGANUI HOSPITAL BOARD.

The Wanganui Hospital Board met' yesterday. Present: Messrs Leihbridge (chairman), Sane. Ritchie, "Basse ti, McGregor, Simpson, Fletcher, Joblin,, Pilkington, Brown, Svenson, Mesdames Comyn s and Siddells. THE TAIHAPE INQUIRY. Mr Joblin took exception to tlie minutes of th e Taihape Hospital inquiry* when read, and explained that he did not move that the inquiry should be held in committee, only charges number on c and two. Mr Battle moved that the executive go into tlie matter of itie honorary staff at the Taihape Hospital, with regard to the present by-laws, with instructions to suggest necessary alterations to put them on a satisfactory footing. Mr Joblin said there was a lot of feeling about Taihape matters.- He did not hold a brief for any medical man. He was net a member ot the Board whon i-he existing arrangements at Tailpipe were.icade, and could not be held responsible. What h« did want to know was oir the conditions in regard to the honorary surgeons at Taihape were the bum-Q as at Wanganui. Tho Chairman : No —the honorary surgeolls at Wanganui go to the Wanganui Hospital when they like. Mr Joblin considered they should adopt the same conditions at Taihape. v A Member: That is what the notice of motion is for. Mr Joblin said if they found conditions as they should not be, they should alter them. Mr Battle said his motion was so that •they could go fully into ill© matter and report at the next meeting. Mr Joblin said an account came up of £40 for the administering of anaesthetics as Taihape Hospital. The speaker pom-ted out that it v\a s for Dt Boyd's partner, and asked him why he did xiot call in other surgeons* as well:- Dr. Boyd replied: "I am treating Ihem exactly the same as when I was out, and they were in." His excuse was that he should do the same as they did. The speaker said he pointed out two wrongs did not make a right. It was-necessary i\> remove any friction, and the only way was to appoint honorary surgeons, on the same footing as at • Wanganui. If they put out on^'doctor to put another in, the old trouble \y;ould go on. This was what Mr Battle's suggestion would mean. It was better to " take the bull by the horns," in an endeavour to get over the present difficulty. Mrs Comyns: Dr Boyd said he was treating the medical staff the same as he was treated when he was "kicked

Mr Battle said Dr Boyd had agreed thai the honorary staff should come,in and work in the institution. Mr Joblin moved that a house surgeon be appointed at Taihape, and that thi honoraiy surgeons be placed on {,he sam e footing as formerly. This motion lapsed. The Chairman moved that a commit, to© of three Taihaps residents be invited to work in conjunction with Ihe Tnihape executive.. H 9 pointed out that under the Act they had the power to appoint a local committee.

.Mr Joblin complained tliat th^.Board was responsible for some of the shortcomings at Taihape, and was responsible for tlie breakdown of the water] supply. For a year the Board had promised to do something, but*tiothing had been done. They had found fault with the food, but a previous cook had lold them that he had to draw the fires because there was no water. He considered they could get eight or ten1 men out of "Wanganui who could give splendid advice, and they were as much m need of it as 'Ilaihape. Mr Joblin ruoved that the Taihape Borough Council be asked to nominated delegates to assist the Taihape execn-1 tive. I Mr Fletcher considered the resohi-l tion would "cast a reflection upon the! electors. They had ih© matter in theirl own hands. If jlie Taihape electors! had selected the wrong people, they! would hay© another opportunity later.l If the ratepayers did not take sufficientl interest in local bodies to appoint peo-| pie- to look after them, th-en they I sliouVl suffer, and not cast' aspersions on the Beard. The thing seemed to be ridi. culoas. * Mr Joblin said they had always put their wants before the Board. Mr Pilkington considered the executive should b& reconstructed, and he felt that he was in a false position as ha lived forty miles away. He approved of a committee living close at hand which could visit the hospital. Mrs Cornyns asked if it. were true • that during the epidemic the new buiidings at Taihape were not u=ed. The Chairman said the new buildings were not used, as they did not have tlv, necessary staff. Finally it was resolved; to adopt then suggestion made, and the Taihape Bor- ■! ough Council is to be asked to nominate three delegates to assist the executive. ALEXANDER BEQUEST. V A letter was received from the Minister of Hospitals, which said; It is evident that the bequest of £500 must nut bp ii'Sed for ordinary maintenance, anH must be expended to actually increase the- comfort of the inmates or improve tiro home, such as the addition of corrifortable chairs, the addition of a sittingroom, sun verandah, elc Under tjie circumstances the Government cannot give a subsidy on the bequest, being only concerned in seeing that the institution is rim on proper lines and that all necessities are provided. The Government could not give a subsidy to provide anything beyond reasonable comforts and necessities. In regard to the £2,500 bequeathed for t.h^ "benefit of the Wanganui Hospital, the wording of tho will suggests that it should be used for capital expenditure in the direction of permanently increasing the efficiency of the hospital. The Minister has decided to give a subsidy up to the statutory limit of

] £500, provided th c money is so used; ■ The total amount resulting from <ho ; bequest and subsidy is £3000. The" Minister asked the Board's "views on expending the money, raid suggested aii increase of the nurses' home, the ts- ■ tablishnieni oPa bacteriological labors' tory. a maternity home, or a dental ward would fulfil tha, donor's wishes, such an institution to be named after her. Mr Bassett faid it was a quibble oW--the part of the Minister, as they were constantly spending money .for tlie comfort of the inmaie? of the Jubilee Home. Such actions would deter people giving bequests to public institutions. ! . It was decided to set up a committee to determine how to spend the .Tubilf©Hom c bequest. ;, INFORMATION WANTED. < Commenting upon the resignation of two nurses from Wanganui Hospital. - Mrs Comyns said it was time the Board; knew the reason for -so re any resigna^: tions. No probationers were commgforward, and the Board seemed lo kiio«" very jittj e abouj its staff. The- repo-f.: from Jie Jubilee Home consisted of ikz couple of lines. -; Mr Battle said at present lherc v>f:o; no probationer nurses' name* on citelirit. Mrs Siddo'ls said the Board was n-■ titled to'-i full report. , • On Mr Biittje's motion it was decidcii-: to ask t!i«> manager of tho .itibilf a Ho;«o : to forward a monthly report. MISCELLANEOUS." V Tlu, Marton Di.stric: Nursing CoinmittPr, wrote in 'orirs of appreciation-" of tho work of their district nurse, tim;; urging ll'Ht har salary should be *'r-: croaked This was agrf^a to. Nur-eK A. I. Jones oi»d M. L, Amir ■ strong rci'ined frmjj^ t]i e staff of :lw " Wanganui Hospital.