HOSPITAL MATTERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 34, 19 December 1944, Page 5

HOSPITAL MATTERS

QUESTION OF STAFF

POSITION IN WHAKATANE

At the meeting of the WhakatancHospital Board last Thursday Mr C. A. Suckling for the visiting com-' mittee reported that after his rounds lie could only say that the position was still highly satisfactory and Avith the exception of one written complaint, they had no others to report. The. complaint mentioned was dealt with in committee. Messrs Mullins and Caulfield were appointed new members of the visiting committee for the current month. The Chairman, Secretary and Dr. Dawson were appointed delegates to attend the hospital conference on (sth to Bth February next year at Wellington. The Minister of Health notified that satisfactory sketch plans for the new T.B. ward in Whakatanc had been completed and copies would be l'orwanded as .soon as possible. Tn response to the Board's- enquiry as to why an increase, in staff should be demanded for the annexe the 9 Nurses and Mi'tlwives Registration Board pointed out that for 15)4.3 there had been 259 births recorded at Whakatane. For the first six months of 1944 there had been no less than 158 which would mean a possible total of 300 for the year. This would mean that the position warranted an increase in staff as Whakatane had always carried a much smaller staff than other hospitals of a similar size. It was recommended therefore, that a i'ur'9 t ther sister and two trainees should be added to the staff. The Secretary pointed out that the position had been brought about b3 r the fact that many more Maoris were making use of the annexe than previously, and that the average Maori mother did not spend as long a period there as did the average Pakelia, Taken on an average occupied bed basis, the position did not appear to have altered a great deal on previous years. The question of establishing district nurses throughout the district as a means to relieve the overloaded medical services was raised by Mr F. Burt who recommended that this scheme be supported as a remit, to the forthcoming conference. He pointed out the. benefits which would follow the establishment of district nurses at Edgecumbe i Te Tcko and Matata where small dispensaries could also be set. up. It would be a godsehd from the Maori point of view. The Chairman said that the Department had at one time suggested such a scheme under Social Security but it had been deemed so unweildly that, the Board decided to temporarily shelve it. He agreed with the principle of district nursing and was prepared to reopen the subject. Mr McGougan spoke, in support and delegates were instructed to bring the matter up at the conference. Mr McCready criticised the standby plant at the hospital and urged that a committee nominated by himself should make an inspection and report to the Board on the question of its efficiency. The Board decided to hold the matter over until suitaide repairs had been effected .and then to go more, thoroughly into the matter. The Chairman extended the compliments of the season to Boaid members and staff and complimented one and all on the progress made, (during the year. \