HOSPITAL TRUSTEES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2174, 25 April 1908, Page 2

HOSPITAL TRUSTEES.

A meeting of the Gisborne Hospital Trustees was held last evening. Frosent: Alcssrs.. J. W. Bright (chairman), E. 11. Alann; A. F. Matthews, AV. D. S. AlacDonald, G. E. Darton,’A. Dewing, and Captain Tucker. Air. H. ICenway forwarded his resignation, and Air. B. Shorratt was elected to fill t-lie vacancy. Dr. Valentine wrote asking it it was intended to appoint a house-sur-geon at the hospital, and if so he would inform the trustees of the details of the applicants. The Chairman said Dr. AVilson desired a house surgeon for the hospital. , . ... After some- discus-sion a committee was appointed to consider the appointment of a surgeon. - An extension of time was granted to Air. Benson to complete his'firewood contract. . Air. H. Hei, solicitor, -wrote informing the Trustees that as Dr. Wi Ilepa’s appointment .was a yearly one, lie could not accept a month’s notice as sufficient, and wished tot bo compensated for breach of contract, as lie cancelled his previous engagement to take up the position in tho Gisborne Hospital. The Chairman said Dr. AVi Repa had cashed the cheque sent to him, and nothing further would be heard of the matter.

REPORT FROAI DR. YALINTINE. Dr. A r alintine (Inspector-General of Hospitals) reported that he saw no sanitary objection to the present site of the hospital. It would ho necessary, at no very distant date, for the Charitable Aid Board to erect a suitable old men’s home, with possibly a chronics ward attached. If that' was done it might be advisable for the Board to take over the building now used as a hospital, leaving the trustees free to erect a new hospital for acute cases on a more suitable site, but thero was no need for hurried action. He suggested the maintenance fees be increased to 4s per day, or to make patients pay according to their means, so that the hospital should ho reserved as far as possible for acute eases. Chronics should be sent to their friends or to suitable institutions. He hoped the Trustees would define the position of the lady superintendent, as suggested by Aliss AlcLean. The by-law to exclude infants was ultra vires. For the reception of delirium cases, the Government was prepared to erect suitable accommodation, and until such accommodation was' provided, the Government was prepared to Pay any reasonable expense of extra attendance that the medical superintendent deemed necessary. He congratulated the Trustees oh the great improvement of tho institution. : A supplementary report stated that the Government was prepared to erect, in tho larger centres, suitable wards for the treatment of delirium tremens eases and alcoholic cases that require treatment at the expense of the State. Until suitable wards were erected, the Trustees should mako temporary arrangements, and tho Government u ould undertake to pay the full cost of the maintenance of tho patients. It would be necessary to engage a special attendant for such cases.

In moving that the report be received, the Chairman said the opinion on the hospital site was most favorable, and need not be discussed. He thought the suggestion that patients who could pay be charged 4s a day should be adopted. Captain Tucker said the charge was reasonable, and the clause was adopted. It was decided to ask Dr. Va 1 inti ne to make some definite recommendation for treating chronic cases. A small committee was appointed to confer with Dr. Wilson in defining the duties of the lady superintendent. The Chairman said the Government appeared anxious to deal with alcoholic cases, and should provide means for treating them. The Clerk presented the annual balance-sheet for the year endin nr March 31, 1908, which si owed the receipts to have' been £4097 3s, with an overdraft of £272 7s lOd. Tlio principal items werePatients’ fees £565 4s lOd, donations £298, Government subsidy £325, and requisition j. from District Road Boards £-teo/ 10s. The expenditure totalled £4396 14s lid, the principal items being: Salaries £1361 9s 3d, rations £629, buildings £279, and land purchase £607. Mr. H. J. Brownlee, architect, submitted plans and tenders for additions co the Nursing Home, and ' a padded room at the hospital. The lowest- tender was that of' Messrs. W and A. Hill at £636 10s, and the second lowest-, Messrs. Mackrell and Colley, at £734. As there was such a difference between the two lowest tenders they were referred to Mr. Brownlee to acCe JJi, “ 10 enc^er he thought best, . alio Clerk reported that Mr. Harris, butcher, had, under the rules of the Butchers’ Association, cancelled ills contract. On the motion of tho Chairman, it was decided to obtain meat from all local butchers, trading from each a month m turn. On the motion of Mr. Darton, it was decided that provision be made on the estimates lor two shelters for consumptives. Visiting Committed recommended that fire appliances be obtained at a cost of -about- £3O. It was decided to place a number of hose lengths attached t 0 taps in buildhig« nt P aCeS ill the hospital The meeting then concluded.