WANGANUI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19435, 22 October 1925, Page 5

WANGANUI HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of the Wanganui Hospital Board was held yesterday morning, Mr E. E. Fletcher presiding. There were also present Messrs C. H. Burnett, J. C. Aldridge, T. H. Battle, W. Ritchie, G. Spriggens, Coleman, T. A. Harris, Dr. Sherman and Airs Siddells. Infectious Ward at Taihape. The Director-General of Health (Dr. Valintine), wrote with reference to the Board’s proposal that use might be made of the infectious diseases hospital buildings at Taihape to provide extra accommodation for maternity cases, and pointed out that the matter required careful consideration. Under the circumstances, it might be possible to approve of the proposals, but he preferred to discuss the matter 1 with the board before committing the department to any definite decision. The matter was left in the hands of the chairman to attend to, it being intimated that Dr. Valintine, in the near future, would be visiting the city. Bacteriological Department. In a further communication, Dr Valintine explained that with reference to the appointment of a bacteriological officer to the local hospital, the department no longer continued its policy of appointing such officers to public hospitals. However, they still proceeded to train young men in that direction. He suggested that the board advertise for a bacteriologist at a salary of £4OO per annum, and the Department would place no obstacles in the way. Should a laboratory be established by the board, the department would be prepared to pay the sum of £lOO per annum as a grant, on condition that the Public Health bacteriologial work of the district was undertaken in the laboratory free of further cost to the department. The chairman considered the board should not entertain such a scheme until their finances were in a better position. The letter was received. Medical Superintendent’s Report. The Medical Superintendent (Dr. Nelson) reported that the number of patients remaining in hospital at the beginning of the month was 121, while 167 patients were admitted during the month, making a total of 288 inmates. A total of 128 patients had been discharged during the month. The report was received.