HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 90, 14 October 1947, Page 5

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

BAY OF PLENTY BOARD

OCTOBER MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Bay of Plenty Hospital Board was held at the hospital on Thursday. Despite a late start the business was quickly dealt with and was through by noon.

Present were: Messrs. J. S. Mullins (chair), F. Prideaux (secretary), A. F. McGougan, C. A. Suckling, H. C. McCready and J. P. Caulfield. Porters’ Accommodation Mr Mullins said that some collapsable huts had been advertised for sale at Waitoa and advocated that immediate enquiries be made regarding these for the'* purpose of housing porters. . It was decided to contact the vendor . immediately and if necessary that Messrs. Mullins and Caulfield should go through and inspect them. , Occupational Therapy The question of training one of the staff to instruct in occupational therapy had been referred to the Matron and Medical Superintendent said Mr Mullins. They had .in turn suggested that an outsider be trained. There were many influencing factors and Mr Mullins recommended that the matter be investigated further before a decision was made. Financial Accounts totalling £4450 were passed for payment. z Spray Outfit In moving that a spray outfit be purchased at a sum of £4l Mr Mullins said he was confident that the outfit would pay for itself in a short time. It would be used for spraying D.D.T. as well as being tried out to find its suitability for spray painting. Cottage Sumps Connecting the overflow from the cottage sumps to the drainage system of the main institution was impracticable in the opinion of a local plumber said Mr Mullins. Field tiles had been laid as an experiment. Later it might be possible to work the system in with any additions to the Nurses’ Home. Fuel Question

The chairman stated that the fuel controller had been contacted with the aim of securing increased supplies but no reply was to hand. Members were of the opinion that the method of storing the coal should be gone into and improvements effected.

Mr Suckling stated that the system was primitive and he also commented on the untidy appearance of the area at the rear of the buildings and in the. store rooms. The amount of rubbish was untidy and must be unhygienic. Mr Mullins pointed out that this would soon be tidied when the new morgue was put up.. It was decided that the engineer be' instructed to investigate coal feeding systems when he attended an engineers’ conference in the near future.