WESTLAND HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1920, Page 3

WESTLAND HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

MONDAY/AUGUST 23rd

Tho Board met at 8 p.in. Present Messrs It. Wild (Chairman), G.. H. Blank, G. Davkteon, J. J. Breeze, E. A. Wells, L. H. Morel, and T. W. Duff. Tho minutes were confirmed and

outward correspondence appoved. INWAItD CORRESPONDENCE. From Dr V? . ';tine, forwarding correspondence dealing with appointment of Dr JUnthgate as medical officer at Otira.—Received; It was resolved that Mr Gillies be urged to expedite the necessary additions at Otira Hospital In connection with Djr Bathgate residing at Otira Hospital, members differed as to the actual terms thereof, and it was resolved to write to the Otira Committee asking what the actual terms of residence agreed upon were. From Same, notifying appointment of Dr. Meade, as medical officer it Ross.—Received. From Same re salaries of nursing staff.—Received; referred to House Committee to report. From Same, agreeing to pay charges for soldier patients, the same as for ordinary patients.—Received. From Same reporting result of Department inspector’s inspection of Ross Hospital, stating the building was in good order and could be made into a maternity homo at a small cost; also promising to supply full plans for nurse’s home at Waiho if the Board so desired.—Received. The Chairman said when at Waiho last week lie had met and conferred with the members of the Waiho Committee, in connection with a nurse for that district. In connection With the section offered by Mr Searle, the Chairman repo/ted that the area was only a leasehold of a reserve, and therefore that would require further consideration before completing the purchase. For the present he thought the cottage offered by Mr Donovan would be - suitable. To secure the section on the south side of the river, a survey and an empowering Bill through Parliament- would be necessary Mr Duff said there was a doubt a-bout obtaining another nurse for the south at present. He thought it would be better to subsidise patients to come to Hokitika, in perference to endeavouring to get a nurse for the south district. The Chairman said the south Committee had £lB2 collected when he was -down there. Mr Duff said it would cost £1,600 to erect and furnish a. suitable building for a nurse at Waiho. Mr Davidson was opposed to the taking up of the lease, now it was found it was not a freehold. He also thought no aiction should b'e taken until .a nurse was obtained and not till then ■should the residence of Donovan’s be furnished. Mr Blank said too much time had been taken up over the South district question and he thought matters should be allowed to drift for a time. Mr Breeze said he did not see how the Board could finance £I6OO for the building. He approved of Mr Duff’s suggestion for a subsidy being granted to patients. Mr Wells thought it would be a cheaper proposition for the Board t-o purchase outright Donovan’s residence, : f the price was right Mr Morel moved that the Waiho Committee be notified that it had been found that Searle’s property at Wniliu was an education reserve and was there fore not suitable for the Board’s pur pose and to ask if the could recommend a suitable freehold. Seconded by Mr , Blank and agreed to. Mr Duff said lie was opposed to the Board expending an amount such '.is suggested, which would run the Board into £2,000. It was stated that the Board had agreed to erect a cottage at a cost not more than £SOO, subject to the South people finding £2OO. After further discussion it was resolved that the decision of the Board, to rent Donovan’s house and furnish same, subject to the district committee | finding one third of the cost of furniture, be given effect to. Seconded by Mr Breeze and carried, Mr Duff dissenting. tin with Ross Hospital the Chairman moved that as a medical officer had been appointed at Ross, the question of a. maternity home at Ross be deferred. Seconded by Mr Blank and carried. From Miss Mac-Lean, Inspectress of Hospitals regiretjtipg resignation of Nurse Bowie, and stating that she was afraid great difficulty would be expeionced in filling the vacancy.—Received. From Win. Duncan and Co. in reference to proposed trnsfer of area at Waiho, which was an education reserve. —Received. Fom Otira, Committee forwarding £2O 2s 9d. contributions; stating the electric light had been installed; Sister Dormer had arrived hack from leave. —Received. From St. Paul’s Church Committee Ross, offering £4O rental for Ross Hospital as a residence. —Received. It was reported that Dr Meade had required the use of Ross Hospital and that the Doctor’s residence had been rented to Rev. Thorpe at a rental of 7/6 per week. From Public- Works Department, Otira, complaining of charge of 10/6 made by Dr Bathgate for certificates of patients being fit to resume work. —-Received; referred to Dr Bathgate for attention. From Otira. Committee notifying appointment of W. Robertson as Secretary to Committee.—Received and approved. From Nurse Bowie, applying [or two weeks’ salary in lieu of leave due when matron at Otira.—Received; referred to House Committee to report. From Public Works Department forwarding £lB7 10s. subsidy due. Received. It was resolved to hold over a charge for maintenance against a. Ross resident for a- month, and if suitable arrangements were not made, to take legal ao- , tion. An offer by a Kumara resident for payment in settlement of maintenance account due, was agreed to subject to payment of amount before next meeting. From Miss Mary Ward, Hokitika, asking for information in connection

with the duties of the Master of Old

People’s Home, Kumara. —Received; Secretary’s reply thereto was approved, stating the officer [was directed to notify the Doctor and nearest relative or friend in the case of the serious condition of a patient.

From Master, Kumara Home, asking for authority to procure some curtains and screens required.—Received and authorised.

In connection with an account for £5 10s. for car to Otira by the Master, members took exception to the expenditure and it was resolved to again draw his attention to the special direction that no special expense should be incurred without approval of Board. The account was referred back to the Master, the Board considering the expense unnecessary

• The question of dealing with a para- ; lysed child was referred to the Chairman to enquire as to most suitable hospital to send it to for treatment. From M. Castle, Wellington enclosing payment of maintenance charges ,of late- D. Ziman and £8 10s donation to building fund, as an appreciation of attention given deceased.—Received; with thanks. From A. W. Peebles, Ross, enclosing voluntary contributions'to medical fund £so.—Received. From S. P. 'Evans, Boss, recommending some repairs at Hospital and to Horne’s cottage.—Received and endorsed.

From Dr Bathgate, Otira, reporting no admissions or discharges (luring July returning thanks on behalf of staff for donation in connection with fire.—Received.

From Women’s Benevolent Committee, reporting on number of matters given attention during the • month.— Received and recommendations adopted. Mr Davidson expressed his appreeiat’on of the good work being done by the ladies, which the Board deeply appreciated. From Surgeon Superintendent, Westland Hospital, reporting on 30th June there were 38 patients; admitted during July, 11 males, 12 females. Total treated 39 males, 22 females —61. Discharged cured 9 males, 7 females, relieved 2 males, 1 female, died 1 male,

1 female. Total discharged 12 males, 9 females—2l. In hospital on 31st July, 27 males, 13 females, a total of 40. In hospital for two months, 14.—Received.

From Westland Hospital Committee, reporting matters at hospital as satisfactory ; that a contract of firewood supply had been arranged; that the Matron desired to acknowledge receipt of a numbor of donations.—Received.

Mr Duff was appointed to the Committee, vice Mr Cameron. Accounts amounting to £I2BB 6s lOd were passed for payment.

The Treasurer reported receipts £1994 15s lOd, payments £I2BB 13s 2d, bank balance credit £254 7s 4d, outstanding cheques £lßl 5.s 4d.—Received. MEDICAL MAN. Mr Blank said lie. thought the time had come when an attempt should be made to secure a second doctor for Hokitika. There was a crying need for further medical attention, in the district, and he was in favor of the Board endeavouring to secure one if available. He did not think a high salary was necessary, but it was time now that an effort was made. If the Board would not move, then it would he for the general public, who felt strongly on the subject, to do so. Mr Wells thought it was time members of the Board woke up to the necessity. He gave a personal experience of the result of the one doctor being overworked, and urged on members the procuring of another doctor in Hokitika. The scope of the district was too large for one doctor to attend. The doctor here must he overworked or lie must he getting careless. Dr Teiclielmann laid never given encouragement for other doctors to come here, and he thought that this was one of the reasons they had not another doctor. He did not see why the Board should not get another doctor for the town. Mr Morel said in consideration of their medical officer being in a Wellington hospital he did not feel inclined to move much in the matter. His idea was to have a chat with their superintendent on the matter. He-thought they could I not allow the district to continue with one doctor.

Mr Breeze said in the past the other doctors had been starved out. He thought if the Government appointed a medical officer to the Mental Hospital it would meet the ease.

The Chairman was opposed to Mr Breeze’s suggestion for an appointment to the Mental Hospital, where, a special ist was required, and not a general medical practitioner. He approved that in accordance with the suggestion thrown out that Dr Vnlintine he asked to secure a medical officer. Mr Duff said lie was of opinion that in Dr Teielielmann they had a most eminent surgeon, hut he felt if it were possible to secure another medical man to work with-Dr Teielielmann it would be a decided improvement. He would not object to the proposal, if the cost to the Board was not excessive. Mr Blank then moved that application be made to the Department of Health, asking that a second medical mail he secured for Hokitika and that the sum of £IOO per annum would he paid to cover anaesthetic and consultation fees at Westland Hospital.—Seconded hv Mr Wells and eariied. \ The Board rose at 10.50 p.m.