THAMES HOSPITAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4775, 12 November 1924, Page 4

THAMES HOSPITAL.

MONTHLY BOARD MEETING. The regular meeting of the Thames Hospital Board was held on Monday, the deputy-chairman, Mr W. J. Danby, presiding over the following members : Messrs E. N. Miller, G. Death, H. L. Berniey, W, C. Kennedy, W. J. Hall., D. McKay, P. E. Brenan, W. E. Hale, A. R. Robinson, and the secretary, Mr G. Tonge. A vote of sympathy was extended to the chairman of the board, Mr W. E. Hale, who had been an iffinate of the hospital. PAEROA HOSPITAL MATTERS. The Director-General of Health wrote in reply to the board’s letter to the Mayor of Paeroa, with reference to the proposed reduction of five per cent, to be given to returned soldiers of the Paeroa district, stating that if this or any other benefits were attached to the donation it could not be given a subsidy. The chairman reported having interviewed the Ministers of Health and Internal Affairs and. being informed that favourable consideration would be given to the granting of ‘a subsidy if 5 per cent, discount was given to all patients who paid their accounts within 28 days. He would therefore suggest that thiis be done. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Kennedy, seconded by Mr Hall, that a discount of five per cent, be given on all accounts paid within 28 days. The Director-General of Health forwarded a communication from the Public Works Department objecting to anj’ legislation being introduced at present to enable the closing of portions of Russell, Fraser, and Johnson streets, Paeroa Borough, to be effected. A considerable saving in stopbank construction could be made by using spoil from Fraser and Russell streets. The Mayor of Paeroa forwarded an extract from the Washing-up Bill enacting that the Governor-General may by warrant authorise the district land registrar for the Auckland district to issue to the Thames Hospital Board a certificate of title in respect to sections 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 29, and 30, Block 11., town of Paeroa, and such Land shall thereafter be held in trust as a site for a public hospital. Also, that tlie Governor-General may, with the consent of the Paeroa Borough Council, close those portions of Johnson, Fraser, and Russell streets, and upon the issue of the proclamation the land shall be deemed to be Crown land. Mrs M. Porritt, president of the Hauraki District Comforts Committee, forwarded a cheque for £259 2s 5d contribution towards the Paeroa Hospital. In reply to Mr Hale the secretary stated that application would be made for all subsidies at the same time. Mr Hale reported that he had been

informed that a subsidy of £2lOO was assured on the land. Concerning the other amounts, the position was not so definite. It-was agreed that the application should be made as early as possible. KEKEPEEHi SITE. The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote asking to be informed whether the board had been successful in endeavouring to finance the oalance of the amount required to acquire ths proposed hospital site at Kerepeehi through the Department of Health, The secretary reported having received the donation and collecting the subsidy, and he was instructed to complete the purchase of the section. Mr W. Booth, lion, (secretary of the Hospital Site Fund Committee, wrote acknowledging receipt of bank passbook and also the donation of £146 Is. His committee wished to ascertain when the section was handed over co the board, and also what steps it intended to take in the matter of the Director-General’s offer of a subsidy for a maternity home. The secretary was instructed to reply. INCREASE IN RATES. The clerk of the Hauraki Plains County Council wrote stating that the question of the prospect of the increase of the hospital rate was discussed by his council,, and he was directed to ask the board to i econsider the question of putting further taxation on the ratepayers of the district by way of building further hospitals or taking in the Waihi hospital district. Mr Danby said that the difficult times lately experienced had made the local bodies apprehensive. The board had no intention, at present, of increasing the rate without giving the matter due consideration. It was decided to inform the county council accordingly. BANK OVERDRAFT. The Director-General of Health intimated that the Minister had approved of the board’s overdraft limit being extended to £2ooo' for the financial year. The secretary stated that he had been notified that the amount was now available. BOARD’S SUBSIDY. The secretary, Department of Health, advised that the board's claim for subsidy amounting to £69.5 6s 8d had been offset by the advance made in August last. OLD PEOPLE’S HOME. Applications were received from the Taumarunui and Waihi hospital boards for permission to send two old men and one woman respectively to the Tararu Homes. The fees were guaranteed.—Granted, subject to certain conditions. STAFF MATTERS. Nurse J. Bell wrate resigning her position as nurse and withdrawing her application for maternity training. Mr Danby pointed out that this nurse had passed her examination but

had not served for four years, as required. To accept the resignation would be establishing a precedent and would open the way to losing all the trained nurses as soon as their examinations were passed. A policy matter was involved. It was decided to affirm the principle that the board required all nurses to complete their four years’ training. The letter was referred to the nurses committee. Nurse E. Tukukino wrote applying for leave from December 1 until the date of the commencement of duty in the maternity annex.—Left in the hands of the chairman. Nurse N. A. Coad applied for the first available vacancy as midwife pupil at the maternity annex.—Granted. . Nunse M. Temple, who resigned some months ago but stayed on to oblige the matron, wrote stating that the necessity for her resignation having passed she would like to continue her training. ‘ The secretary reported that the nurse was not. now a member of the staff and her place had been filled. The application was not granted. REPORTS. The resident surgeon, Dr. D. A. Bathgate, reported that 51 mal,es and 36 females, including one diphtheria patient, were admitted during the month, two males and two females died, and 47 males and 40 females were discharged, leaving 55 .patients In the institution. Twenty-seven outpatients had been treated, 151 attendances made, and 48 operations performed. The ventilation of the operating theatre had always proved unsatisfactory and required lectifying. Mr Hale reported that the position was as stated. He had asked a local builder to attend to the matter.—Action confirmed. Mr Death, on behalf of the hospital committee, reported that no complaints had been brought under the committee’s notice. The matron reported at length on staff matters. Nurses F. Barker and A. Twentyman had passed .their hospital examinations and were sitting for the State examination ;n December. The engineer reported that everything in his department had been running smoothly. Only minor repairs had been necessary. The coal consumption for the month was 30 tons. One male inmate of the district homes at Tararw had died during the month, leaving 20 males and 4 females in the institution. Their conduct was reported as very good. The farm, gardens, and grounds were looking well, the production of the cows was good, and the lucerne and mangolds recently planted' were making good progress. Mr W. J. Hall, on be half oi the visiting committee, reported on the committee’s visit and recommended several matters in connection with the staff. The Patetonga’district nurse, Miss L. McNamara, reported having attended 15 different patients and collected £2 7s 6d in fees. The relieving officer reported on the chses of charitable aid granted during the month. The reports were adopted. ACCOUNTS. Accounts totalling £1876 5s were passed for payment. The secretary reported that when these were paid there would be £491 17s 10d of the £2OOO, overdraft left. WAIHI HOSPITAL. The secretary reported that he had been in communication with the Waihi Hospital Board with reference to the proposed amalgamation. Mr Wallnutt had desired that the conference be deferred until the DirectorGeneral of Health could be present. Mr Hale suggested holding the next ordinary meeting of the board on the same date at Paeroa if the date was suitable HOSPITAL CONFERENCE. A lengthy report on the recent hospital boards’ conference in Wellington and on the matters transacted by the delegates while 'away was given by the secretary. Mr Hale urged that the board should join the proposed Hospital Board’s Association, and this was agreed to. INSULIN TREATMENT. In ‘reply to Mr Robinson the secretary stated that he had asked the resident surgeon to inquire into the matter of obtaining supplies of insulin for use in the hospital, but so far no reply had been received.