Westland Hospital Board

Hokitika Guardian, 12 September 1922, Page 4

Westland Hospital Board

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER lltli

Thu Hoard met at 8.30 p.m. Present Messrs J. J. Breeze (Chai man), G. Davidson, J. Ritchie, AV. H. Chinn, L. H. Morel, AV. Jeffries. An apology was made for Mr Blank.

The minutes were confirmed and outward correspondence approved. I NAVA RD COR RES POND ENC K. From Department of Health. Wellington, in reference to proposed new sanatorium.—Received.

From Dr.- Fletcher Telford, Christ, church reporting on sample of water from AVestlnnd Hospital, stating it was almost pure.— Received. From Public Trustee, Wellington, m reference to a deceased person’s estate account. —Received. From Registrar of Pensions. Christchurch in reference to a charge disallowed against a soldier patient.—Received and replied to.

From Dr. Kennedy offering balance of cement left over from Church works at cost price.—Received. From Ross Rorougli Council forwarding levy for August.—Received. From C. 11. Rose. Greymouth, offering Blackball coal for sale.—'Received . From Otirn Committee forwarding £do os., voluntary contributions. —Received ; with thanks.

From Minister of Defence Welling ton. in reference to an Imperial soldier —Received.

From C. J. P. Sellers for Mr Cochrane in connection with contract moneys unpaid.—Received. From Superintendent Mental Hospital

asking for particulars of 'laundry charges.—Received and replied to.

From IT. Kidd, resigning position as dairyman at hospital. -Received and accepted with regret. From R. J. Redder, offering Reeften coal in truck lots. Received. From Inspector of Machinery in reference to certificate for new boiler. —■ Received.

From Dr Gibson, Otirn, applying for annual leave and from Mrs Gibson for same and nominating Dr Fast and Airs Singer as substitutes.—Received. From Thomas Nolan, Matainui, forwarding proceeds of dance £G for building fund.—Received with thanks. A number of letters dealing with maintenance accounts were received and dealt with. Tt was resolved to take immediate action to recover the outstanding accounts.

From Hon. C. J. Parr, AVellington. regretting that there would ho no hospital legislation this session but that the question of a grant for the hospital would be brought before Cabinet.

REPORT. (By C. S. Allan. Technical Inspector to .Minister of Hospitals on Westland Hospital new wing). I have to report visiting Hokitika on the !oh to !Hli Aug. re the uho\c building and other work eoneermng the Hospital new wing. Goo-1 progress has been made, nearly the whole of the concrete foundations having hem laid down in addition to the removal of a large portion ol the old wooden buildings. The r.orl: completed is of high quality and entirely satisfactory. A good deal in the way of taking off material was done during my stay : amt arrangi incuts made for the purchase of some- of the materials, whilst Various points regarding procedure wore decided upon. ISOLATION BLOCK This block, as you know, it was decided to provide for by means of lining a portion of the old building, and has been advanced so far as the material available therefrom will allow, hut a great deal has to lie done to make it lit for occupation. Both the Doctor and Matron stressed the necessity of pressing on with this work .no room being available in the hospital for treatment of infectious eases, other than those receiving treatment at the present time. Air Davidson (C.'iairmap of the Building Committee) and the Clerk of Works are now conversant with the position and the matter has been promised early attention. NF.AY ENGINEERING SERVICES. The contract which was let for the heating of the existing wards hv hot water, the operating room h,v steam, the supply of steam to sterilizers and to ward kitchen along with a domestic hot water .supply and the installation of another high pressure steam boilur. is nearing completion, all these services now being available, the usual oddments of wrapping pipes, strapping, etc., being about all that is required for completion. The work, with the exception of one or two small matters, I found to he satisfactory, the eontraotors (having done their work conscientiously and well, and the installation should prove of great ; benefit to the stall and patients when everything is in complete working order. WATER SUPPLY. The water supply is continually improving in quantity, the volume having now increased to about 310 gallons per hour, equalling over B,(Hit) gallons per day. This quantity should meet the requirements ol the Hospital for some time if a storage tank a,t sullieient height is provided'. A design for such a tank I promised to provide. The fact that the town water supply to the Hospital is now metered hv the Council and a charge of Is 3d per 1000 gallons is to lie- charged (10s per day if SOT) gallons are used), the installing of the water scheme should, prove a good proposition especially when no power has to he paid for . other than that taken under agree-| mem on the basis of payment on the I maximum demand principle; 20 kilowatts being the quantity of current paid for by the Board, this quantity in my opinion giving a margin for driving the pump to raise the water. A second sample of water taken by Inspector Varney was brought over by mo to Chrstehurch for analysis before switching the supply on for domestic purposes. The -first sample gave a good potable water, and as the only likely source of contamination (the septic tank effluent) has since been done away with, no doubt the result will prove satisfactory. DRAINAGE. The new scheme has been working satisfactorily and the ground which j was extremely sewage sick and a menace from receiving the hospital drainage has quite recovered and is now without a vestige ol a sign that sewage was ever deposited thereon. —Received. AIR AV. JEFFRIES’ REPORT. In pursuance of a request made to me by the Board at its meeting on i the 2lst hist, to interview the District 1 Nurse of South AVestlnnd in regard to 1 matters affecting the Nurse’s Cottage, r I now beg to report the result of n y J ( interview with Nurse Gunn at her re- i sidenee on the 25th inst. I a

(1) Nurse Gunn declines to reside

in .the cottage at Tatare (known as[ Donovans), and furnished for her by i the Board, stating as her reason that the cottage is lonely, away from ; neighbours and in other respects not | convenient to any part of the district j which demands the greater part of her services. ( (2) That if a Cottage Hospital or j Nurse’s Home is erected in or below till) AVailio she would not consent to reside there, her explanation being that from experience live cases out ol ; ' six (principally maternity) are front, the district north of the AVaiho, and ; in her opinion the neighbourhood of ( Watnroa is a more suitable place for such Cottage Hospital or Nurse’s , home. . ! (3) That the Board’s furniture in | the Cottage at Tatare is deteriorating for want of attention and ventilation. Nurso Gunn admits her own personal belonging* are similarly suffering. In view of the above and in tlie interest of economy I recommend that tho Board give serious consideration I to the termination of tin Lease ol the Cottage and that the furniture ami 'effects iu tho cottage ho disposed of by ■ auction or private treaty before they become worthless. Further in any , proposal to erect a Cottage Hospital at AVaiho George due consideration be .riven to the question of stalling such hospital. It must not he overlooked that a qualified Nurse will not under- | take to do domestic work in addition to her professional duties. I I desire to say that Nurse Gunn was most friendly in her discussion on the various matters referred to an - | pressed her desire to assist the opt a- , tions of the Board in every possible ( '-—Received ; Air Chinn did not favor j selling the furniture, as if there was a change in the nurse the furniture would probably he required for the next nurse Air Ritchie thought it was tune to take some drastic steps in regard to the cottage and the nurse. I The Chairman moved that the report he received, that the tenancy of the cottage he cancelled and that the furniture he cithor stored or disposed of. Seconded by Air Davidson and wmed. A vote of thanks was passed to Air Jeffrie* for his report. The Chairman moved that a very hear tv vote of thanks lie passed to a J the ladies who assisted, and to Ml donors for their help in connection with Hospital Ball which had proved such a great success.—Seconded by Air Moiel j ad carried. I The Secretary reported that the sup- | pi v of spirits etc for Westland Hospitn for the year 1920-21 was £39 3s; for rear 1921-22 £57 14s 3d. For Ku. mara Home 1920-21. £35 18s; 1921-22. el l 15s. Received ; after discussion it was resolved to suggest that the supply at Kuniara Hume he curtailed as much a* possible. From House Committee reporting everything as satisfactory and recommended that J. Freitas be appointed temporary dairyman and if satisfactory, tho appointment be confirmed. Received and adopted. The Finance Committee recommended payment of accounts amounting to £393 jj s pel.—Received and adopted. The Treason i reported receipts £SBO 2s 9d ; payments Cl 160 8s ml; overdraft £I4OB 18s Id; outstanding cheques £637 7s 8d; Building account payments £467 Ills Id. —Received. The Secretary reported the cost of the laundry for the past year was £l6oo 12s j Id and the receipts for same were £924 j 5s Id.—Received. I The Chairman moved that tho Board refuse to accept orders on salaries of employees. Seconded by Air Davidson and carried. The Board rose at 10.15 p.m.