HOSPITAL MATTERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 50, 15 November 1946, Page 5

HOSPITAL MATTERS

MEETING OF WHAKATANE BOARD

QUESTION OF NURSING BURSARIES

The November meeting of the Whakatane Hospital Board i took place on Thursday morning, Mr J. Mullins presiding. Present Messrs. A. F. McGougan, J. P. Caulfield, J. Mitchell, C. A. Suckling, F. Burt and the Secretary, Mr F. Prideaux. The Medical Superintendent, Dr. E. T. Dawson, was also in attendance.

Reporting for the visiting committed Mr A. F. McGougan said that he had noted with pleasure the improvement to the outside grounds of the hospital and he desired to compliment who ever had sponsible. He had once again received no complaints whatsoever from any of -the patients, many of whom had reiterated the fact that the treatment there compared very favourably with that received in other centres. .•

Messrs. Buddie and Suckling were appointed visiting committee for next month.

The Matron’s report recommended that training bursaries be established by the Board tas a means of retaining staff interest in the institution. By this means it was considered that a consistent standard of efficiency would be maintained. The matter was referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and report back again at the December meeting.

Fire Fighting Drill ,

In the course of his report the Headporter-Storeman stated that he had given some thought to the question of fire fighting, whereby certain members could be trained to take up fire stations in the event of ( an - emergency. The matter was referred to the Works Committee for investigation.

A letter from the Health Department with regard to the free issue of service shoes and stockings to members of the nursing staff stated that this gesture was intended only to apply to nursing trainees.

Members mentioned the fact that several Boards had decided to make the issue general to all nursing employees. The Board decided in lieu s of granting an actual issue of footwear to make a special allowance of £4 10s (the approximate cost) to each nursing trainee at the hospital.

Footwear For Cripples

A letter from the Crippled Children’s Society (Bay/ of Plenty Centre) notified the move which was now being made to establish a permanent specialist bootmaker in the Bay for the purpose of meeting all local requirements of cripples in this district. The question was a matter for agreement between the Tauranga, Whakatane and Opotiki Boards. The salary required would be £7 10s weekly and it was estimated that the necessary equipment would cost £2OO.

Dr. Dawson considered that a fair demand for footwear of this nature Would arise in this district and a specialist at Tauranga would save a lot of travelling and expense for the patients who now were compelled to go to Auckland. The matter was referred to the Finance Committee.

In response to a suggestion from the St. John Ambulance Association, the Board decided to establish a fund of £5 to be drawn Uoon by members of the Brigade who might feel the need to defray expenses on long trips. Mr R. Thomas, the Board’s engineer, was authorised to attend' the first conference of Hospital Board engineers to be held at Wanganui.