HOSPITAL BOARD.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4303, 12 August 1921, Page 2

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING.

-The monthly meeting of the Thames Hospital Board was held on Wednesday. Present: Messrs W. McCormick (chairman), W. Baker, W. J. Hall, C. Death, A. R. Robinson, W. E. Hale, W. C. Kennedy, J. Rowe, Halliburton Johnstone.

Owing to being engaged compiling matter for the Rivers Commission, Mr P. E, Brenan was unable to be present. NURSES’ HOME. A voucher came to hand authorising the payment of £2240 to Mr C. W. Patterson, contractor for the building of the Nurses’ New Home. This made the total to date £8415. The chairman said the final payment would probably be another £lOOO above the loan. CONVALESCENT BUIuDING. The Director, Division of Hospitals, advised that the old school opposite the hospital could, be used for convalescent purposes, providceKthat it was only temporarily so used, pending the provision of a permanent building, and provided 1 that the Board’s medical superintendent approved. SUBSIDY RATE. The Department of Health agreed to the Board’s estimate of subsidy rate, 17s 6d in the £.—Received, THE £BOOO LOAN. ' The Public Trust Office gave the mournful information that it could not at present give the Board an advance of £7OOO on .the £Bouo loan. The application would be again considered on August .1. —Received-. NEW LAUNDRY. The Board’s architect, Mr G. W. Allsop, wrote that the plans for the n#w laundry bad been approved by the Health Department.—Received. AN AUCKLAND REQUEST. The secretary of the Auckland. Hospital Board asked for payment of £129 Ils on account of Thames patients treated'at Auckland, but.who had not ’paid their dues, though endeavours had been made to collect. NATIVE PATIENTS. The Auckland Hospital Board wrote refusing to pay Thames for Native cases -treated at Thames. The Board would have to apply to .the Department of Native Affaire. The secretary said th,at in regard to the first letter there was a contra account.

Regarding the second, the chairman said the Board would never get a penny from -the Native- Department. It was not a fair position, that the Board should, without payment, take Native patients from other hospital districts.. The Board seldom got paid for Native cases. Sixteen were taken in from Kerepeehi at one time, and not a penny was paid. Mr Johnstone: If natives in our district were in Auckland Hospital w.e would have to pay. The Board decided to h.dd the accounts in abeyance, pending a letter pf protest to the Auckland Hospital Bpard.

TREATMENT OF NURSES.

A letter was received from the I Auckland Hospital Board in reference i to the treatment meted out to nurses. I “In ordinary cases hf sickness or disability, wages cease, in the Auckland Hospital, at the end of 14 days, it being understood that, all employees shall be received as patients into the wards until able to return to duty or leave the hospital as the case may be. In special cases, hpweVer, and especially where there may be reason L o think that the disability has been acquired in the discharge of hospital duties, the medical superintendent shall submit the case for the consideration of the Hospital Committee.” KEREPEEHI SITE. The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr H. M. Skeet) asked if the Board wanted" section 29, block VIII, Kerepeehi township. Another application was pending. The secretary was instructed ;to reply that the Board had not the finance to entertain the purchase, thougn very reluctant to lose the section. JUNIOR RESIDENT SURGEON. The- Board. decided to appoint a male junior resident surgeon, as from March 1, 1922.. HOUSE SURGEON’S REPORT. The house surgeon reported that the admissions since the previous report were: Males 53, females 41;

deaths, 1 and 2 ; discharged, 53 and 35 ; remaining at date, end of July, 31 and 32; outpatients, 29 and 1; attendances, 158 and 13 ; operations, 18 and Of the 38 anaesthetics used, 16 were for schoolchildren'. GENERAL. Accounts amounting to £3807 18s 4d were passed for payment, of whicn £2588 18s 3d was on general and the balance pn loan account.

The Board decided ,to ask _ for a bank overdraft of £2OOO. It was also decided to ask for Government subsidy pn rates overdue ty local bodies.

THE NEW HOMES. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr .Johnstone, authority was given for the occupation of the Nurses’ New Home as from yesterday.