COOK HOSPITAL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20077, 25 October 1939, Page 4

COOK HOSPITAL

AMBULANCE GRANT

MEDICAL STAFF CHOICE

MILITARY APPOINTMENTS

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS

At the monthly meeting of the Cook Hospital Board yesterday afternoon, a number of matters of general interest were dealt with by the following members:—Mr. M. T. Tralford, chairman, Mesdames A. E. Beer, E. R. Black and E. R. Scoff. Dr. .1. C. Collins, and Messrs. H. Adair, F. G. Bcllerby, S. T. Gray, Hy. Cooper, G. D. Muirhead, and H. J. F. Tombleson. Leave of absence was granted to Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.P. The Director-General of Health notified the board that £2700 would be available as an advance | against Health Department subsidies.

In a further letter the directorgeneral approved the renewal of the board’s agreement with the St. John Ambulance Association and forwarded authority for a grant of £350 in respect of the agreement. Miss Norma H. .Morey wrote accepting appointment as junior house surgeon.

Sister K. G. Hall notified that she had been called up for service with the Special New Zealand Auxiliary Forces, and made application for leave of absence for the period of her service.—The board agreed to grant leave of absence to Sister Hall, and agreed on the general principle that permanent members of the staff should be assured of their posts on return from service with the forces and that superannuation fund contributions on behalf of members of the forces be paid out of the board’s funds. Preference in Post-War Staffing

It was agreed to adopt the principle put forward by the British Medical Association in respect to members of medical staffs accepting the obligation of military service, and make all replacement appointments on a temporary basis, with preference in postwar appointments for members of professions who had served their country.

A request for the writing-off of £97 due to the board was received from the Public Works Employees’ Medical Association, which forwarded statements of its finances, and intimated that other boards had been asked to assist the association in the same way and to a proportional degree.— The board agreed to make the concession, on the motion of the chairman.

The finance committee reported that accounts amounting to £6583 had been passed for payment from current account, and £2547 out of the building extension loan account. The treasurer had reported that when all accounts were met the current account would be £4223 in debit, and the building extension fund £6522 in credit. Ministerial consent had been received for incurring a bank overdraft for the December quarter to the extent of £13,300.

It was recommended by the committee that a fire-plug be installed outside the Memorial Home at a cost of £2O, provided for in the estimates. Hospital Population The medical superintendent, Dr. R. J. B. Hall, reported that the number of patients in the wards had decreased from 160 on August 31 to 155 on September 30, infectious cases accounting for 19 of the remaining cases. In the Cook Maternity Home, 34 patients were admitted during September and 22 babies were born. The report continued that training of detachments from the St. John Ambulance and Red Cross had been commenced.

The lady superintendent, Miss G. M. Lcipst, reported that Nurses Rapley and Warner were on annual leave on October 9, Sisters Goulstone and Cantwell, and Nurses Gibson, Dysart and O'Connor having returned from leave. Sick leave had been taken by several nurses, most of whom were now back on duty. This had disorganised the weekly day oil'. The health of the staff was fairly good.

Resignations were received from Staff Nurses Hyland and Toia, and Nurse Mackey. Sister Ward, whose notice of resignation expired on October 9, had agreed to remain on the staff for a further period while the hospital was busy. Good Examination Results The hospital preliminary examination was held during the month, with Dr. A. L. Singer as examiner, all candidates securing a pass. Special nurses had been secured owing to staffing difficulties. Gifts of papers and periodicals from Mesdames W. Davis and H. Lougher and Mr. li. Paulson and an anonymous donor, were acknowledged. The custodian of the Memorial Home, Mr. S. W. Garley, reported that on Setpember 30 the number of inmates in the home was 44, including 10 women. Gifts of reading matter had been received from Miss Caldwell, the Victoria League, and the Christian Science Church. The farm manager reported that receipts for farm produce totalled £lO4 11s 4d, and the expenditure was £72 19s 4cl, the excess of receipts over expenditure being £3l 12s.

Sister Pritchard, district nurse at Matawai, reported having treated and advised 105 patients during September, and having paid 107 visits. The visiting committee, Messrs. S. T. Gray and G. D. Muirhcad, recommended that the sterilising facilities at the isolation block were entirely inadequate, ancl that the building of a room at the end of the block was desirable.

Half Financial Year Completed

In the course of a report covering a substantial number of items, the managing secretary, Mr. C. A. Harries, pointed out that for the first half of the financial year now completed the net expenditure had been as anticipated, and the surplus in the second half of the year should be increased substantially. The receipts shown in an accompanying return were actual receipts, ancl did not include £IBOO due for September claims under the Social Security Act.

The report drew attention to the increase in the average occupied-bed figure, which was 17 in excess of last year. This would he reflected in increased expenditure at the end of the year.

The operation of the agreement

with local practitioners is working satisfactorily,” the report continued. "So far there has been a distinct falling-oil in the demands for outpatient treatment.” The report acknowledged the help of the Gisborne Borough Council in finding new soil for top-dressing the new tennis courts, and the contribution of a large supply of flowering plants which had been placed in various parts of the hospital grounds. All the reports and the recommendation of the visiting committee were adopted.