PARK ISLAND HOME

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 24 November 1927, Page 9

PARK ISLAND HOME

JOINT COMMITTEE MEETS MANAGER’S REPORT. GENERAL BUSINESS. The bi-monthly meeting of the Parke Island Home Joint Committee was held at the Home yesterday. Present—Messrs J. B. Andrew (chairman), L. Stein, W. Shrimpton, A. ». Bedford, A. Drummond, W. ll'.- Bathbone, C. O. Morse, and F. J. Witherow.

The manager (Mr R. Hay Chapman) in his report stated that there had been admitted 14 males and no females during the past two months. Twelve males had been discharged, leaving 64 males and 4 females in the Home at present. Accounts totalling £620 4s Id were passed for payment, while intermediate payments totalling £235 2s od were approved. The balance-sheet showing a credit balance of £270 18s lid was adopted. THE VEGETABLES. “Months ago I insisted that the inmates of this Home should have the first call on our vegetables grown here. If there is any surplus then it could be sold to the Hospital or anywhere else ” said Mr D. Drummond. “The question to-day is whether the inmates ar 0 getting the vegetables that they should get. lam still of the same opinion that we should look after our Home first, the hospital being quite a second concern. PURCHASE OF DRUGS. “Our arrangements for buying drugs from the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board is up to putty. We are paying a hundred" per cent, more than what we could get them from the chemists,” said Mr. D. Drummond “There is something wrong somewhere. We ought to be able to obtain our drugs much more cheaply from the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board than from chemists.” Mr. F. J. WitheroA': 1 think that this matter shduld be gone into to see if this committee is not' being salted. Mr, J. B. Andrew (chairman): We want to be assured that we are not being overcharged. Mr. W. H. Rathbone: There is £l7 19/3 charged for one month’s supply of drugs—isn't that excessive. Mr. Rees (secretary): Of that amount £6 is for brandy, leaving only £ll for drug?. It was then agreed that a report on the matter be obtained by the secretary. REMOVAL OF PATIENTS. The manne tin which two patients who had been inmates of the Homo and who later were patients in the Napier Hospital, being subsequently discharged and sent to the Waipukurau Hospital, was commented on by the members representing the Waipawa Hospital Board. The discussion arose over a letter received from the Waipawa Hospital Board pointing out that it was decided to take advantage of clause 7 of the Parke Island agreement and charge the Parke Island Committee at the rate of 9/- per day for the two patients for their maintenance until they desired their removal from the Waipukurau Hospital. The letter pointed out that a precedent was established in 1917-19 when a resident of Napier was found to be unsuitable for the home and the Parke Island Committee for a considerable time paid for k,-r lodging in a boardinghouse. Mr. F. H. Rathbone: I wish to protest against this peremptory letter sent by the secretary of the Hnwke’s Bay Hospital Board to the Waipawa Board. It is not playing the game.’ The two patients were dumped into the Waipukurau Hospital on a Satur-' daj- afternoon when it was well known that our secretary would not be in residence. This kind of treatment is a distinct 'breach of the by-laws. The handling of these two patients has not been at all right, and I wish to say that they are still legally inmates of the Parke Island Ilome while they are inmates of the WAipukurau Hospital. Mr Andrew ('chairman): It is a matter for the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board and the Waipawa Board. Mr. Rathbone: It is nothing of the kind. There is too much of the Hawke’s Bav Hospital Board wrapped up in the Parke Island Committee, and I am of the opinion that it would be better for all the parties concerned if our admirtistrativc staff was quite independent of the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board. The way these patients were dumped into the Waipukurau Hospital is disgraceful and wants fullv enquiring into. Mr Andrew: One of them refused to be admitted to the Home and was consequently sent back. I received a' request about ten o’clock one night asking if this old man could be taken back into the Home. I pointed out that he had refused absolutely and further that he showed fight despite his old age. Later, however, he waj admitted to the home but was sent back when he was found to be quite unsuitable.

Mr. Drummond: The mistake was made in the first place in admitting one of the patients without the authority* of the Waipawa Board. A grave error occurred somewhere; nevertheless, when the inmates leave the Home this committee ceases to have any responsibility with them and is in no way liable to the Waipawa Board. Mr. Rees (secretary): The Mar garet Ward was fully taxed and tho superintendent had considered that both were fit enough for discharge. The relatives of one was asked to assist, but refused. Both these patients were not able to look after themselves. We could not discharge them from the hospital and turn them outside the gates to let them go wandering about. It was then decided to hand them back do the care of their own board. Mr. Rathbone: Your explanation is very weak. Mr. Drummond: It all comes back to the fact that they were nut admitted by the board. Mr. Kr’es: To wait until they are admitted, by the board would mean a lot of hardship. Mr. Wltherow: There is no doubt that there has been a lot of misunderstanding about one of these inmates. We tried 1 to get rid of her hut her relatives refused to have her. We too.r strong exception to the way she was sent back and dumped on

us. We should have been advised first. Mr. Rees: You were. Mr. Drummond: We are not getany further and I move that the matter be closed. Mr. Morse: I will second that. The Waipawa Board say that this particular inmate is not suitable for the Home; well, that ends it. Mr. Rathbone: There are regulations to guide us. Mr. Morse: In some cases we have to go over the regulations. Mr. Stein; Both patients should have been returned to the home when discharged 1 from the Napier Hospital until the Waipukurau Board was actvised that they were to be returned. The discussion then closed.