GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

Grey River Argus, 15 September 1937, Page 3

GREY HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. At the monthly meeting of the Grey Hospital Board last evening, there were present: Messrs J. Smeaton (Chairman), J. Mulcare, H. G. Carter, A. Robinson, R. McTaggart, A. H. MeKane, J. B. Kent, J. Kyle and A. Mosley. The Director General of Health wrote approving of the appointment of Dr. Douglas M. Logan as resident physican. A report made by Mr Kent relative to the smoke nuisance created by the Board’s steam plant was tabled. Mr Kent suggested the trying out of a boiler with an increased grate area. He considered that if this were done, and if approved fuel were used, the Board would not only mitigate the smoke nuisance, but effect a considerable saving in the coal bill, while the open brick work might not be necessary. He said that it was obvious that all the black smoke issuing from the plant denoted a great waste of fuel. The small cost entailed in the alterations would be saved in a short time by the lesser amount of coal used. There was not the combustion in the coal that there should be. He moved that the furnace be tried out as suggested. No doubt the combustion chamber should be larger. Mr Mosley thought that the proposal should be tried out, and seconded the motion. Mr Kent said that it was a matter of enlarging the furnace. He did not know why the present furnace was made like it was.

The Chairman said that, if anything could be done to obviate the smoke nuisance, it would mean a lot. He thought that any money spent in endeavouring to obviate the nuisance would be well spent. The motion was carried in an amended form, to the effect that the proposals outlined by Mr Kent be put into operation on the one boiler, subject to the price being ratified by the Board. On the motion of Mr McKane, it was decided that tenders be called for the supply of garden plants, the House Manager and Gardner to accept the lowest tenders.

The Chairman asked how the T.B. Block was getting on. The Managing-Secretary, Mr J. E. A. McKeefry said that Mr Lewis, the Architect, had visited Greymouth last week, and he had with him a tentative design for the block, which was going forward to Wellington, where it was hoped to secure tne approval of the Department of Healtn within a short space of time. The Chairman said that, unfortunately, they had '-ad a lot of T.B. cases and it was going to prove expensive to the Board. The building could not ! be put up quickly enough. Congratulations were extended by the Chairman to Mi’ J. Kyle, for the speedy manner in which he had had the proposed new bowling green laid down in grass. The Hospital Committee recommended that the letter of the Undersecretary Ministry of Housing, advising that Hospital Boards were not eligible for the special loan moneys provided for housing purposes be received, the matter to be again brought up if amending legislation is put through as stated; also that the visiting committees report, of its meeting on the 3rd September, be adopted, and that in connection with the new buildings, the Secretary confer with the overseer re. the position of down pipes and report to the Board; that the fourth side of the Bowling Green be planted with a hedge similar to that on the three other sides; that the Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Hospital Committee with the Secretary, be empowered to conclude the agreement with the Karoro Bowling Club; and that in connection with a suggested scheme of erecting staff houses, the Board members individually inspect available sites on the Hospital Reserve. The Committee reported that the Minister of Transport, through the Director General of Health had asked that the Board take steps to provide deatils of cases of motor accidents admitted to Hospital which could be due to pnysical disability or ill health on the part of the driver. It was recommended that the Medical Superintendent be asked to co-operate as far as reasonably possible. The recommendations were adopted. Accounts amounting to £1157 11s Id were passed for payment and accounts paid amounting to £1387 8s were rati-’ tied.

The Finance Committee reported as follows:—With an idea of providing uniformity in the allowances granted to pensioners, the Hospital Boards’ Association, at the request of the Minister, had prepared a statement showing the allowances made by the various Boards. At 46 institutions, allowances are from nothing to 17s, and at seven, allowances of £1 and over are given. The Grey Board is included in the latter class. The committee does not recommend any increase until it is found whether universal increases are being made. Regarding Section 92 Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act, 1926, it is recommended that the copy of ts 6 proposals of the Hospital Boards’ Association Executive be received, and the Association be informed that, in the opinion of this Board, the proposals do not conform to the resolution passed at the last Conference, which was almost unanimously in favour of the abolition of the above section. It is also recommended: That the following letters be received: — From Secretary Hospital Boards’ Association, covering letter from the Minister of Justice re. enforcement of manitenance orders; from same re. treatment and relief of Maoris; from the County Clerk advising the Board’s estimates had been approved by his Council, and from the Borough Engineer re. light at hospital. It is recommended that in connection with a letter from the District Engineer, P.W. Department, stating the overall charge for architectural and supervision fees, the Engineer be again requested to apportion the charges against the various items, and the secretary take the matter up with the Health Department. It is recommended that the resignation of Miss Raleigh be received with regret, and that the following appointments be made to the positions as advertised: Ledger Clerk (temporary) Mr N. W. Jones; Shorthand Typist, Miss J. Ware. Messrs Mulcare and Carter were appointed visiting members for the ensuing month. The Secretary was empowered to apply for the extension of the overdraft authority to the 31st December. The report was adopted. Departmental reports were approved as follows:—From the Medical Superintendent: Hospital: Patients at beginning of month, 58 males, 32 females; admitted 69 males, 45 females; discharged 67 males, 38 females; died one male; remaining, 59 males, 39 females. Old People’s Home

Patients at beginning of month, 38 males, 5 females; admitted, one male;! discharged 2 males died two males, one female remaining, 34 males. 4 females. Operating treatre: Operations, General 27; orthopaedic 11; E.F.H.T., 21; Dental 1. Radiological Department: inpatients 57, outpatients 33; No. of films 125; No. of exposures 157; Screenings 4. Bacteriological Department, Hospital examinations 140; outpatients 20; other hospitals 5; miscellaneous 21. Physio-therapy Department: Inpatients treated 725; outpatients 215. Rewa Hospital: Patients admitted 30; births 27; discharges 25.