HOSPITAL MATTERS

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXVI, Issue 7904, 19 September 1929, Page 2

HOSPITAL MATTERS

MONTHLY MEETING OF WAIHI BOARD INFLUENZA AMONG NURSES MOTOR FOR X-RAY PLANT The monthly meeting of the Waihi Hospital Board was held on Tuesday evening, the chairman, Rev. J. D. McFarlane, presiding. There were also present: Mrs S. F. Williams, Rev. E. S. Wayne and Messrs B. Pascoe, S. H. Brown, A. E. Robinson, J. Kemp, F. Raddings, J. W. Meiklejohnand J. W. Tetley (secretary). MEDICAL REPORT The medical superintendent, Dr. J. McMurray Cole, reported that the nursing staff had escaped influenza when it was prevalent about the town, but that some of the nurses had been affected lately. For the use of nurses who were golf enthusiasts a six-hole putting course had been made in the hospital grounds. The domestic staff was satisfactory. Examinations in hygiene had been conducted by Dr. T. G. Short, and all six nurses who sat had passed, their names being as folow: Nurses Keenan (with credit) WaPon. Harris, Shepherd, Payne and Pettigrew. Three candidates had sat for their examination in cooking, but the results were not yet available. The report was received. THE X-RAY PLANT Dr. Cole asked that authority be given for the purchase of a mater transformer for the X-ray plant if requirements were not able 10 bo met by alterations to the present generator. He suggested this because he considered it better to have the plant in good order without having to wait until after the next meeting of the board in the event of the adjustments not being successful. The board agreed to do this, and on the motion of Mr Wayne the committee that had previously been appointed to go into the matter was given power to act.

PATIENTS TREATED

Reporting for the month, the house manager and secretary stated that there were in the hospital at the beginning of the period 25 patients, 12 of whom were females. Twenty-one males and 19 females were admitted and the total number treated was 65 —34 males and 31 females. Eleven males and ten females had been relieved, while four males and one female had died. The total discharged or died was 34, 22 of whom were males. There remained in hospital 12 males and 19 females. The report was received. MAORI PATIENTS’ PEES Treatment of Maoris was referred to in a letter received from the secretary of the Waikato Hospital Board, who enclosed returns for his own district and also the returns supplied to the delegates who waited on the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) early this month with regard to the matter. It is hoped that the boards interested will not allow the matter to drop,” concluded the letter. The figures supplied, which covered a period of the last two years, showed that 3487 natives had been treated in the North Island, and their fees had amounted to £32,988. Pees paid totalled £5107, leaving £27,881 outstanding. Other expenses, such as those of district nurses, etc., cost the boards £sOll. In the South Island for the same period 368 Maoris had been treated, their fees amounting to £5282, of which £4409 had not been paid. Other expenses were £33. The totals therefore were; Natives treated, 3855; abount of fees, £38,271; fees paid, £5980; fees outstanding, £32,290; cost of incidental treatment, £5045. On the motion of Mr Raddings, the letter was received.

PAUPER FUNERALS The matter of pauper funerals was brought up by Mr Brown, who suggested that undertakers should be asked to tender for them. They only happened "once in a blue moon,” however, added Mr Brown, and had of recent times been carried out by Mr D. G. Saunders, ' Mr Meiklejohn thought tenders should be called. The secretary stated that there had been only two such funerals in the last three or four years, and both of them had been Thames cases, which the Thames board had paid for at the rate of £4 10s each. Tenders had not been called for many years. Mr Brown: We had better drop the matter, then. A Member: It’s the cheapest funeral I ever heard of. Mr Wayne: We would not want to cut that price down. The discussion then lapsed. MISCELLANEOUS The house committee reported having visited the hospital several times during the month, and that work authorised had been carried out satisfactorily. Messrs Brown, Pascoe, Robinson and Kemp were appointed the committee for the ensuing month.

Authority was given the secretary to pay accounts to the Thames Valley Power Board without having first to submit them to the board for approval in order that discount could be obtained. This was done because the meetings of the board fell at such times that the last day on which discount could be obtained had passed. Notification was received from the New Zealand Hospital Boards’ Association that Mr Krnest Cannons, A.1.A.N.Z., of Wellington, had been appointed secretary and treasurer. It was decided to call for contracts for supplies of food and other commodities to fhe hospital as usual.