HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 9, 9 August 1946, Page 5

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

WHAKATANE BOARD MEETING ADMINISTRATION & GENERAL Mr J. Mullins presided at the August meeting of the Whakatane Hospital Board yesterday. Present: Messrs. A. F. McGougan, A. J. Mitchell, J. Caulfield, H. C. McCready, F. Burt, C. A. Suckling, L. Buddie, the Secretary (Mr F. Prideaux) and Dr. E. T. Dawson.

Before commencing the business of the meeting the chairman welcomed Mr H. C. McCready back again to the board and expressed the hope that all members would see to it in future that never again would the Board be placed in such a position where it had to take such drastic measures.

Mr McCready said he was sorry he had transgressed, but the same contacts which had been made to the Board during his absence had been made with the County Council and nothing had happened there. The question of purchasing lab-our-saving equipment for the kitchen was raised when a communication offering to supply a potatopeeler for £97 10s was received. The wastage aspect was fully discussed, Mr Suckling observing that whereas these devices did save labour this economy was seldom reflected in the wages bill. The matter was held over pending the receipt of further information. Grave Dissatisfaction

Discussing the new buildings recently completed, members were once again strong in their. criticism of the shortcomings and oversights which had occurred both in the structure and in the drainage facilities serving the buildings. The blame for these weaknesses were assumed to be the responsibility of the architect and it was decided to write a strong letter intimating that the Board was highly dissatisfied with the whole undertaking and seeking redress. The question of suggested staff salary increases was taken into committee, Mr McCready dissenting. The drastic shortage of nursing staff in the Annexe was conveyed in a special report from Matron Runciman who pointed out that with Sister Harding’s six months leave the establishment would be severely handicapped. Another Sister desired to get married and in spite of all her efforts to obtain new members she had been unsuccessful. She suggested that in view of the desperate position which would occur advertisements might be made inviting any married women who were qualified as midwives or maternity-trained to lend a hand.

The chairman agreed that the whole position was likely to deteriorate in the near future. The same position obtained in most districts and unless some help could be obtained Whakatane would come to a dead end. The Board decided to write Dr. Doris Gordon (Director of Maternity Nursing) and Miss Lambie (Director of Nursing) setting out the seriousness of the position and also to carry out the Matron’s suggestion of advertising locally for assistance. Visiting Committee Messrs. Mitchell and McGougan reported for the visiting committee that they had had no complaints regarding food or treatment whatsoever. The question of slamming doors in the men’s ward was mentioned and this matter would have to be attended to. The Board decided to take immediate action with regard to the door causing the main complaint, this matter being referred to the chairman and secretary with power to act.

Dr. C. H. King (T.B. Medical Officer) wrote intimating that a steady increase had been noted in the number of patients who used the clinics. As a result of this a district basis for the suggested beds in the proposed South Auckland sanatorium was now as under: Opotjki 4, Whakatane 8, Tauranga 8, Thames 10.