HOSPITAL CONTROL

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1933, Page 2

HOSPITAL CONTROL

WESTLAND BOARD MEETING. The Westland' Hospital Board wet last evening when there were present Messrs, W. Jeffries (chairman), G. Davidson, W. A. Jamieson, R. Meliarry, W. H. Evenden, M. McGavin, M. Keenan, H. Wells, T; W. Duff, and the Rev. H. J. W. Knights. The Returning Officer wrote advising that Messrs Knighte, Duff, and McGavin had been elected to the Board at the recent poll. Tho chairman advised that Mr Evenden, had been re-elected for the borough of Kuinara. - The chairman congratulated Messrs Duff and Knights on their success at the poll and welcomed them back to the Board. He aLo extended a welcome to Mi* McGavm who had takeh Mr Heenan’s place. He said that the result of the polling had shown the Board was carrying the trust and| confidence of the ratepayers. He ap-| pealed to members to give every assistance during the coming year, and lit ■ was sure that they- would. The next year might be a very hard one for the hoc pita!, , in, ooniwion with other hospitals.}; There would be a good deal for all to do. 1... The question of the chairman’s honorarium was raised, and Mr Jeffries said that ho was not desirous of accepting it in view of the difficulty of the times. Mr G. Davidson said that Mr Jeffries was to be congratulated on liis generous offer in helping te keep down the costs. He realised that a great deal of time and thought was involved ifei the discharge of tho chairman’s office. Other members spoke highly of tho chairman’s ofbr, which was accepted. The Board’s committees were reelected las at last year. Tho Matron /Miss M. E. Anderson), reported that on May 16 there were 54 patients in the hospital, the ]r. -vest at auy time during the month being 46. Operations totalled 23, and X-rays ten. The Nurses and Midwives Registration Board advised the Westland Hcg. xjntal was regarded as ,a B. grade training school. The chairman said that early in the year they were told that owing to the low occupancy of beds in the institution, the Hospital had been graded as a B. training school. The A. grade required 45. The number of patients had now gradually increased until, during the past five months the average land reached 46.65. With the figures for June included, the average would reach 48 or 49. It, w as a .serious position, for, if the members of the staff were , sent away for training, as they would be, it would mean additional cost to the Board.

It* was decided to advise the Nurses Board of tire, pee it ion whereas the Hospital Board was in the position to qualify as an A. grade training school, and seeking an amendment of the present conditions. | Mr Daviugon supported the motion, i stressing the financial side of the , question saying that the Board had j been requested to economise whet- ! ever, possioie, but this would be im- j possible if the Board had to incur ! expenses in training members of its staff beyond Hokitika. The Board dec-idea to enter into a reciprocal agreement with the Buffer, Wallace and North Canterbury Boards, along the same lines as existing between this body and other Boards. Mr T. Nolan, Matainui, wrote asking for particulars regarding the sum of £450 appearing on the Board’s estimates tor South Mestlancl. flie secretary said that he had replied supplying the information, i Trustee wrote regarding jj >jorstyin estates on which the Board had Posimk. In one case an offer of one " i|klf : was made in full settlement, the ' offer being accepted. The Hospital Boards Association advised that the next election for chairman of' this Board would not occur untiF June 1934. The Association wrote advising an amendment to the Friendly Societies | Agreement, regarding third party risk j in accident insurance, j Regarding the question of uniformi ity of fees the Director-General wrote i recommending that the fees be 12s a I day for adults and 6s for children. } The Nurses and Midwives Registrai tion Board recommended that apI plicants for positions :ns probationers ; on the nursing staff should be qualified by passing the matriculation or an j oopiivalent examination. The chairman asked how many nurses had passed matriculation. It wap decided that it is the experience of this Board that the educational qualification of its nurses had been, and is, quite sufficient. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr E. W. Heenian, who was . replaced at the recent poll, the chairman referring Highly to his services as a member. The- Board. alpo thanked the Municipal Band for its sendees in the , way of hand concerts throughout the . year. i The Medical Superintendent -veport- ■ ed that 1 the patients in -hospital on May 1 were 26 males, 22 females, total i 48; admitted during May 25, 9, 34; treated 51, 31, 82; discharged ewed , 22, 9, 31; discharged relieved 1,4, 5; , in hospital at May 31, 28, 18, 46. i The finance, committee reported that ' j receipts during the period amounted ; I to £447 5s 9-1 and expenditure to > j balance of £l9O 15s 53. Accounts £925 los lOd. Thwe was a debit

amounting to ££6l 18s 3d were p'aseed for payment. The chairman said that since the , last election of chairman prior to hip ! own appointment several changes had j occurred in the personnel of the j Board’s officers. He referred to Mati ron Strongman, the late Mr J. J. S Breeze (chairman), and Mr T. W. • Bruce (secretary, who has retired). 1 The last Board had entered into its 1 past year of office'facing a big handicap ,in the form of a debit of £4OO. When this was conveyed to the Board, the members had looked on the year ahead with a lot of diffidence, but, later, when it was reported that this had bee u wiped out, and that a slight reduction had been made in the levy, there was a general expression of 'Satisfaction. The members had given much valuable tirco to the smooth con. duet of the Board’s affairs. The services of the hospital had been called upon in increased measure during the past year compared with previous years, and they could regard the services and treatment given at the institution as excellent. During the year there had been 478 patients as against 451 for the previouG year, 205 operations compared with 212, while the percentage of occupied beds showed an increase of 6.2. The financial position could be regarded as satisfactory. The only disquieting feature, would be that of feeis, and the Board looked to its secretary to do his utmost to see that as many fees as possible were collected. Times were hard as they knew, but there was :a lot of money owing to the Board, which could be paid. One lady had paid 5p off her account, and was without bread in her bouse at the time. That spirit was to be highly commended. One matter that he would have liked to see settled was that of the South Westland medical service, and lie hoped that something, tangible would be placed before them by the residents. Staff salaries had been reduced, and if it were at all possible, after getting their finances adjusted, and the Department offering no objection, be thought that the Board should endeavour to restore the cuts in the salaries of the lower paid members of the staff, who were deserving of the increase. Continuing, the chairman said that he realised they had a difficult year ahead, but if they pulled together lie was sure that they would see it through, and show as good a record as they had in the past year. The Rev. Mr Knights said that tho members were indebted to the chairman, os a very large proportion of thei year’s good results was due to the tremendous amount of time, service land energy given by him. He hoped Mr Jeffries would take the mem.

hers’ hearty congratulations on tho j position in which the Board now i found itself. j