HOSPITAL BOARD.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14979, 28 May 1914, Page 2

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING,

The ordinary monthly meeting of the North Cunterbnry Hospital Board was held yesterday. Present—Messrs F. Horrell (chairman), H. B. Soreraen, T. D. Boag, Dr. Fenwick, G? Scott, W. H. Cooper, W. W. Tanner, W. McMillan, D. McMiillaD, A. H. Turnbull, O. Bradley. R. Moore, J. D. Hall, H. J. J. Ashley, S. Andrews, J. H. Davison, Mrs Wilson, and Mrs Christie. HOSPITAL COMMITTEE'S JREPORT. A letter was received from Dr. Fenwick, pointing out that at the present time the Hospital had certain outpatient departments, and in addition there were out-patient days for the general surgical and medical patientsHe, suggested that the Board appoint one' hou. surgeon and one hon. physician to attend the out-patient department. The Committee recommended the appointment of one honorary surgeon and one honorary physician, the honorary eurgeon to have charge of the venereal diseases department as well. The Committee further reported tnat the Inspector-General of Hospitals had forwarded suggestions for a scale of salaries for matrons and nurses throughout the Dominion. The Committee was quite in accord with the proposal, but so far had no information with regard to the attitude of other Boards. The United Friendly Societies had made a proposal to subsidise a number of beds in the hospital for the free use of affiliated members. The Committee had no recommendation to make at present, as further information was being obtained for the Board's guidance. The report was adopted. DR. BLACKMORE'S REPORT. Dr. G. J. Blackmore, medical director of tuberculosis institutions, reported that two patients were admitted i during April, and one discharged, 67 I being in residence on April 30th. Dur- , ing the month there were 2t>s attendances at the dispensary, and 38 persons called for information. Six new patients were notified during the month. The nurse paid G6 visits to patients in their own homes. The report was approved. PUBLIC HEALTH COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Public Heo.ith'Committee report--1 that the Health Inspectors had made enquiries during the month of April into fifteen cases of scarlet fever, two of enteric fever, thirteen of diphtheria, twelve of tuberculosis, one of puerperal septicaemia, one of chickenpox, one of erysipelas, and nine of infantilo paralysis. 'Of the 35 cases of infantile paralysis that had occurred in the Board's district three had died; seven were reported as cured; eleven as showing improvement, and as far as could be ascertained, the others were still in a doubtful condition. There were seventeen cases m Bottle Lake Hospital on the 19th inst. The committee was making provision for extra accommodation at the tuberculosis dispensary. The proposal to extend the benefits of. the Sanatorium to other Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards in the South Island, north of, the Waitaki river, had been favourably received, three Boards having decided to pay for the erection of a shelter, and one othei Board was making enquiries as regards cost. The report was adopted. ELECTION OF COMMITTEES. The following committees were elected: — Charitable Aid? Mrs Christie, Mrs Wilson, Messrs Ashley, Cooper, W. McMillan, and Dr. Fenwick. Hospital: Mrs Wilson, Messrs D. McMillan, Otley, Sorensen, Turnbull, and Dr. Fe"nwick. , Institutions: Mrs (Jhristie, Messrs Turnbull, Scott, Tanner, Cooper and Spencer. Public Health: Messrs Hall, Dr. Fenwick, Scott. Boag, Bradley, and W. McMillan. FINANCE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The Finance Committee reported that it had no recommendation, to make at present with regard to the promotion of a Bill for the acquisition of a portion of the Domain for Hospital purposes. The committee recommended that an application from the Kew Zealand Metropolitan Trottin" Club to rent I 2£ acres of land at present occupied by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company be approved. The report was adopted. CHARITABLE AID. . The Charitable Aid Committee reported that the Canterbury Law Society had agreed to provide honorary legal assistance for such poor people as may requiro the services of a legal practitioner. The report was approved. GENERAL. Mr Hall moved, according to notice Riven, ."That, in view of the unsatisfactory arrangement which exists in connexion with the maintenance of tlie public health of tljie district on the part of the Government Department and the Public Health Committee of this Board, it is desirable that a comprehensive report should be furnished to the Board by the Public Health Committee dealing with the whole question of the conservation of the health of the people of the North Canterbury district and the best methods that can be adopted for that purpose."—This was agreed to. The following motion, by Mr Tanner, was aleo passed: "That a return be prepared and laid before tho Board, showing the amounts paid by way of bonus and reward to any and every member of the Hospital staff for taking part in carrying, out the duties of any other member of the staff when the latter ie away on holiday or sick leave, from April Ist, 1910, to March 31st, 1914."

The committee appointed to consider the proposal to convert the Sanatorium for Consumption into a sanatorium for the South Island, reported that it was not yet in a iweition to make a definite report to the Board, as it was necessary to obtain further information from the Inepector-General with regard to the Government's attitude in the matter. —The report was adopted.