HOSPITAL BOARD.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14834, 27 November 1913, Page 5

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday. Present: —Messrs G. Horrell (chairman), W. W. Tanner, J. Boag, H. B. Sorensen, I>r. 'Fenwick. W. H. Cooper, J. McMillan, A. H. Tnrnbull, J. H. Davison, R. Moore, J. D. Hall, Ashley, and Mesdames Christie and Wilson. REPORTS. The Hospital Committeo reported that patients' fees collected for four weeks to 19th November, 1913, totalled £423 16s, and for the corresponding period in 1912 £332 9s. The Medical Superintendent was making enquiries for two junior house surgeons to fill the places of those retiring in February next. Dr. Sinclair was ■willing to accept engagement as senior house surgeon in place of Dr. Robertson, whoso engagement expires in February. The Board was recommended to give the collector ono month's notice of thetermination of his engagement. In conjunction with the institution's committeo tenders wore being invited for a supply of invalid chairs for the hospital and other institutions. The isolation wards were now in use, and the old building was being demolished, and the ground cleared. The plans of the proposed convalescent home for children had been approved by the Hospital sub-committee, appointed for that purpose, and the- Board was recommended to pass them subject to the final approval of the Hospital and Buildings Committees, when the plans could bo forwarded to Wellington for consideration by the Minister without further loss of time. The report was adopted -with the exception of the last clause, which was j handed back; to the Hospital sub-com-mittee "for further consideration and re- j port. THE CHRONIC WARD SITE. The Special Committee's report regarding a , site for the chronic ward stated that the Board was recommended to adopt the eito of the present No. 1 Ward, as it was the only one now available, and the possibility of obtaining a portion of the Domain appeared to be somewhat remote. The report was adopted. THE PUBLIC HEALTH. The Public Health Committeo reported that there were 25 cases at Bottlo Lake Hospital on October 15th; 19 were discharged, 11 were admitted, and there were 17 remaining on Novem- I ber 18th. The Lady Superintendent communicated regarding Bottle Lake as follows: —"Sister reports to mc that she and the nurses had a nasty experience whilst walking home from the tram the other night (this is not the first timo it has happened). She is convinced that they will, one and all, have to give up their outings to town if they continue to livo down unless some provision can be made for • their protection." The , report regarding the possibilities of cultivation at Bottle Lake was so encouraging that the committee recommended the Board to authorise the sowing of two or three acres with annual lupins this year, with a view to planting that area in potatoes next spring. Sister Jonkins had resigned her position in connexion with the tuberculosis dispensary. In view of the "difficulty of providing snitable accommodation the Board was recommended to offer a salary of £150 per annum, withopt board and lodging. The Coronation Hospital for consumptives would probably be completed in February, and the committee "was now arranging for furnishing the institution. The Chairman asked what the nature of the complaint was that was made by the Lady Superintendent, and it was stated that the nurses had 'been accosted in an insulting manner. Dr. Fenwick said he had arranged with a patrol of the Boy Scouts to escort the nurses home twice a week. It was decided to thank l>r. Fenwick for the trouble ho had taken in th# matter, and also to notify the police of the occurrence. Dr. Fenwick said there had been many complaints made to him, not as regards Burwood in particular, but as regards Gloucester and Worcester streets. Ho had had seven complaints from ladies in one week, and had gone out with indiarubber shoes and a pickhandle, but failed to catch the offenders. He had also told the police, but with a like result, so far. OUTSIDE CONSUMPTIVES. The Public Health Committee Department also stated that in view of the hardships entailed on consumptives in adjacent districts where there was no provision for treatment, the Board was reeommunded to rescind the resolution passed on August 17th, 1910, declining to accept sanatorium patients from other districts, and that consumptives from those Hospital and Charitable Aid districts north of Otago be admitted, provided:—That there are vacant beds, and, that the Board of the district from whence they come guarantees the payment of £3 per week to cover the cost of maintenance and interest on capital expenditure per bed. After some discussion the recommendation in the committee's report was rejected, and it was decided that the case of a Westport consumptive, about whom some correspondence had been received, should be taken individually and on its own merits. The medical superintendent at the Consumption Sanatorium (Dr. G. J. Blackmore) reported that there were 23 men, 26 women, and one child at the sanatorium on October 31st, a total

' 210 attendances at the dispensary, and 45 persons called for information. The nurse paid 84 visits to patients in their own homes. —Tho report was adopted. I • :