Hospital Control

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 7, 1 October 1937, Page 4

Hospital Control

NAPIER INSTITUTI0N Board's Eiforts to Attain Highest Efficiency * RECENT CONFERENCE A stricter medical supervision of eack nurse on joining the training staff ; care fo ensure that no nurse who is siek, Whether ske has reported so or not, icf alloAved on duty; tke inclusion of mealiime iu tke eight-liour period of duty; the proposed provision of a large recreation room and a study for trainces; and tke buildil).g of an entirely ttew block for tke kouslng of the trained staff. These are sonie of the moasures rvhick tke Hawke's Bay Hospital Bo&rd kas introduced, or is about to introduco, aecording to the minutes Uf WednCHday's special meeting of the Hospital Board with tke Director-General of Health, Dr. H. M. Watt, wkick were released for publication this mofning by tke ckairman, Mr C. Lassen. Tke findings of tke recent Royal Commission into tke administration of tke Napier Public Hospital, together witk tke eommentary of the Director-General were considered by tke board, it being discovered that a great many of the recommendations kad already been given effect to, while any measuroa wkick kad not yet been brought into being were reeeiving tke consideration of the board witk a view to their being speedily establisked, ' ' Soine of tke salient f acts wkick emcrgcd from the discussion Were," states tke minutes: — • (1) That there is now, speaking in a general s§nse, complete harmony existing among fke members of tke board. (2) That regarding members of tke board being aiso uieuibers of tke konotary staff it was pointed out that l)r. J. Allan Ber rym has resigued from tho board,, and tke otker board member affected, Dr. H. M. Wilson, is giving careful consideration to tke matter. In this connection, Dr. Watt pointed out that it was extremely probable that an amendment to tho Hospital Act during this session of Parliament would clarify tke position. kne DirectorGeneral stated that it Xas his opinion that the board shouhVmaintain a close affiliation with tho konorary staff and explained what w^s being done in other places by means/E>f having a representative of tho kojlorary staff attaehed to the hospital ccmmittee. This matter is to be given eaihest consideration by tke board. Modea By-Laws for Dominion. (3) With legard to tke relationskip and tke resporsibilties existing betweeu tke Medical Srperintendent, tke Matron and tke Man&ging Secretary, it was mentioned by Dr. Watt that tke Department of Health kas now in kand tke drafting d model by-laws to govern tke kospitals in tke Dominion and tnat tkese would he available for tke guidai|ce of tke Toard in tho near futuro.

Ivpk kad intended to revise p,s decided to await tke 1 if the department beforo rin tkis direction.

tm ro cne conrroi 01 tne |vas generally agreed that ISuperintendent is, and w, regarded as tke kead iustitutioli, and this ^■iraied.

regarding tko traiu- ( found to be quite LMatrou recognising fcibility to supervise & iiurses and to see

f are fully conjetkods of nursing Iteekly meetings ■Matron and tko B in wkick all techniquo of dealt witk. ^Hlth and gen|^wf tke nurstke follow-

ipervision fche train■ken. ■aken to ■ is sick, A so or Wm go on |H|ed in Hnging the

lient Ived ■paHda- ■ ]

hoine i'or tlie use of the uurses is now before the Health Departmeiit, and avvaits ministerial consent. This verandak will include a study for the nurses in training. (h) The board projects the building of an entirely new block i'or the housiiigi of the trained staff. Facilities as Training school* (7) It was noted that the Nurses' and Midwives Registratidn Board intends to carry out pericdical mhpections and to advise regarding any improvements which may be naade with reference to tho hospital facilities as a training school. (8) The Medical Superintendent stated that all treatments, before being put into effeefc are defmitely written in the patients' records. (9) Steps have been talren in the outpaticnts' department to cnsure that at any time of tlie day or night attentiou will be available in tho event of an urgent cuso al'riving at tho hospital. Tho sister hi charge has pc.wer to admit the patient to the examination foom penaing the arrival of the medical officer, (10) The board intimated that it was giving consideration to the suggestion put iorward that the visiting staff of surgeons and physicians should be a part-time, part-paid staff. in additkm it was shown that every effort has been Inade to increase the number of staff mirses but without avuil, and the board now iniettds tq endeavour to obtain a supply of trained nurses from Australia. Dr. Watt pointed out the necessity of making sure that any nurses available should be registered in New Zealand by the Nurses and MiuwiVes' Registration Board, and he was informed that steps were already* being taken with regard to tkis point. "Visiting hours of the honorary medical staff had recently been revised. The Medical Superintendant has taken the responsibility of notifying relatives when he is informed regarding any drastic change of treatment being cotttemplated by the honorary medical officetr in charge of the case, At the conclusion of the meeting the chairman expressed the hearty thanks of the board to Dr. Watt for his valuable assistance, and the visitor expressed himself as quite pleased and satisfied that the board Has done, and is doing, everything in its power to carry out the Commission's recommendations and to attain the highest state of efficiency for its institution.