THAMES HOSPITAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4688, 16 April 1924, Page 4

THAMES HOSPITAL.

MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD. The regular meeting of the Thames Hospital Board was held on Monday last, there being present: Messrs W. E. Hate (chairman).;W.' Danby, W. J. Hall, G. Death, A. R. Robinson, P. E. Brenan. H. L. Berney, D. McKay, and the secretary, Mr G. Tonge. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN. Being the Hr,st meeting of the financial year, the first duty of the board was to appoint a chairman. Mr W. E. Hale thanked members for the manner in which they had assisted him during what had been probably one of the most strenuous years in the history of the board and vacated the chair. The secretary then took the chair and called for nominations for the vacancy. Mr W. Kennedy proposed that Mr Hale oe reappointed, and said he realised that Mr Hale held the confidence of the members. Mr Berney seconded the motion, ami there being no further nominations Mr Hale was re-elected unanimously. Rett rning thanks Mr Hale said that he would endeavour to do his best in the coming year. Mr Robinson thought that the board should have a deputy chairman, as it was not always possible to get into touch with Mr Hale. He suggested a local man as being in the best inter - ' ests of the institution, and moved that Mr Danby be appointed. Mr McKay seconded. Mr Hale said that it would be an advantage, and he was pleased to see the matter brought up. Other members supported, and the motion was carried unanimously. Mr Danby said that he appreciated the appointment, and would do his best to give satisfactory service. VALUATION. The Valuer-General wrote supplying the rateable capital values of: the various contributory local authorities in the board’s area for the purpose of the levy as follows : Hauraki Plains County, £1,574,577 ; Thames Borough, £775,690; .Ohinemuri County, £684,679 ; Thames County, £590',£91 ; Paeroa Borough, £362,960- Total, £3,987,:»97. LEVIES. Cheques for £95 5s 5d and £l7B 12s 9d were received from* the Paeroa Borough Council : and Ohinemuri County Council, respectively. KEREPEEHI HOSPITAL. Air AV. Booth, Kerepeehi, wrote stating that at a public meeting a committee of three had been appointed to endeavour to reach finality in regard to the hospital site. To that end he de.-,ired certain information. It was decided to invite the committee to visit the office and go through the correspondence. AMBULANCE On rhe application of Mr W. G. Hayward, president of the Ngatea Farmers’ Union, and Mr S. Kendall, secretary of the Waitakaruru Football Club, the board granted ambulance stretchers for use at Ngatea and Waitakaruru. They would be placed in the charge of Mr AV. G. Hayward and Mi W Stretton, respectively. The Paeroa Borough Council wrote expressing appreciation of the board’?: consideration in supplying an ambulance stretcher fbr Paeroa.’ THE BABY BONUS. Mrs Hodgson, Patetonga wrote acknowledging the gift of £2 2s to her so:), the first baby born in the maternity ward. She expressed pleasure at the manner in which she. had been treated in the hospital, and wished .t every success. TUBERCULIN TEST. Tlie Inspector of Stock, Tnamcs, rebortei. that the remainder of the cows at the Tararu Homes had been tested, with the tuberculin test during rhe month and all the animals had passed. The chairman said that the miik suppl'cd to the hospital was now satisfactory. CHARITABLE AID. The .secretary of the Hauraki Ladies’ Benevolent Society, Thames, forwarded a number of receipts and asked for a cheque for £lo.—Granted/ THE PATETONGA NURSE. The secretary of the Patetonga Medical Association wrote accepting, on behalf of the people of Patetonga, tiic offer of. the board to meet the full expenses of the district nurse upoir receipt of an annual unconditional donation of £5O. The board was asked to accept this in two instalments of. £25. —Accepted.

VISITING COMMITTEES. The visit committees appointed were : Hospital, Messrs Robinson and Kennedy; Homes, Messrs McKay and Danby, . ESTIMATES. The secretary reported at length on the estimates for the coming year. Members commented on the satisfactory increase in the Government subsidy from 17s 3d to £1 Is 8d to the .£. ‘ * ■ Air Danby pointed out that during the past year 2371 out-patients had been treated in the hospital. The donation box had produced £BO 0s s’/d, including several bank notes. He suggested that a small charge should be made to cover the cost t f material used, as there was no doubt that this department v T as being abused. On his motion it was decided that the nurses committee report on the matter. Mr Brenan pointed out that no provision had been made for the matern ■ ity hospital at Paeroa. 1 The chairman .said that it was not included because no estimate, of the co.-t was available. The money could not be raised bj’ levy, so it would re quire a loan. The estimates were approved. The formal resolution authorising the rate of in the £ on the, local bodies was carried, it being pointed out that probably’ there was no hbspi-, tai district in New Zealand, with a lower rate. THE MATERNITY ANNEX. Mr Danby moved that permission be given to private doctors to treat patients in the maternity annex. Ha stated that this was a new departure in New Zealand, but was common in America. The scheme -had much to recommend it, and was favoured by the resident surgeon. The board would receive the benefit of the extra patients and the staff would receive better training. Mr McKay said that a similar scheme in England was proving satisfactory. It was decided to hold a conference between the board, the resident surgeon, and the local doctors and discuss the details. The chairman said that the annex should be open by next month. It was agreed to invite the public to inspect the annex when it was ready to be opened. PAEROA COTTAGE HOSPITAL. Air Brenan moved that the preparation of the plans and specifications for the Paeroa cottage hospital be authorised, and that the board take steps to raise the money.—Seconded by Air Danby and carried. • Mr Brenan moved that Mr E. E. Gillman be the architect. —Seconded by Mr Hall and carried. ACCOUNTS. Accounts totalling £1606 Ils 5d were passed for payment. REPORTS. THE HOSPITAL. The resident surgeon, Dr. D. A. Bathgate, reported that 33 males and 37 females had been admitted to the hospital during the month. Two females and 3 male.s had died, and 33 males and 35 females had been discharged. Attendances mi out-patients numbered 234, and 37 operations had been performed. One case of diphtheria and one .suspected case of typhoid were admitted during the month. STAFF HOURS. Tlie resident surgeon reported that the present system, while having many advantages, did not seem to x; able to be carried out satisfactorily. He suggested that a straight eighthour duty’ be adopted again in slightly modified form. The m.atron also reported against the present system. •The chairman moved- that the matron be asked to revert to the eight hour system. Mr Brenan reported that from investigations made the visiting committee strongly supported the change. The motion was carried. DISTRICT HOMES. The superintendent of the District Homes reported that one man anl one woman bad been discharged during the month, leaving 17 men and four women. NATIVE NURSES. The Paeroa district nurse reported li:i<ing attended three Europeans ami 31 natives. Thirteen pas had been visited. RELIEVING OFFICER. The secretary reported on the charitable aid granted during the month. The cases were from Thames, Waikino, Omahu, To Arolia, Tirohia, and Paeroa.

His actions and recommendations were approved of by the board.