THAMES HOSPITAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4865, 14 August 1925, Page 3

THAMES HOSPITAL.

MONTHLY BOARD MEETING. The regular meeting of the Thames ■ Hospital Board was held at Thames on Monday last, Mr W. B. Hale presiding over the following: Messrs, Danby, Hall, Death, Robinson, Brenan, Kennedy, Lange, Rowe, and the ■secretaryy (Mr G. Tonge). CONDOLENCE. On the motion of the chairman a vote of condolence and sympathy with the relatives of the late Mr W. McCullough was carried in sil&nce, members standing. LOAN MONEYS. - The Public Trustee asked if the board was ready to proceed with the £lo,oo’o loan already granted. The chairman stated that an offer had since bene received from the Bank of New Zealand. This was to lend £7OOO on overdraft in ten debentures of £7OO each, to be repaid in 10 year,® at 6% per cent. The secretary pointed out that security would have to be found by way of levies and subsidies to repay the amount in that time. Mr Danby favourably regarded the offer, which, he isaid, would allow the ■board to use the money as it was needed, paying interest accordingly. If the Pulbic Trustee’s offer was accepted the whole of the money would have to be lifted on a specified date. He thought the offer from the bank would work but satisfactorily to the board and ratepayers. It was decided to accept the offer and inform tlie Public Trustee that the £lO,OOO loan would not now be required. SANITATION. Teh town clerk, Thames, advised that sanitary drainage fiiom Cochrane Street to Hape Creek had been completed and was ready for house connections. He asked that application be made by the. board for the necessary service. Mr Dauby's view was that until some definite date as to when the work could be done was received from the Borough Council it would be as well to defer the installation. This met with general endorsement, and on the motion of the chairmap it was decided to make formal application for the service. AMBULANCE. Messrs McDonnell and McMillan asked to be relieved of their charge on the ambulance. There was no immediate hurry, and they offered to carry on until other arrangements could be made; Mr Hall suggested that the charges might be overhauled. Dr Danby desired information as to who had authority to order the ambulance. Apparently there had •been cases of the ambulance being used by people who were well able to charter and pay for a private car,. The board was not always paid for the use of the ambulance, and some stricter system of supervision should be exercised as to who should have its use. There were cases of patients demanding the ambulance when they only remained in the hospital for two or three days. The chairman agreed that the position Was unsatisfactory. The usual practice was to phone or send out the vehicle at the order of a medi'eal man. Doctors often placed their own cars at the disposal of patients. Mr Danby insisted that the board should not be called on to foot the bill when people were well • able to afford other means of transit. The chairman and secretary were eventually deputed to adjust matters. THANKS. A letter of thanks. was received from a family warmly expressive of gratitude to Dr. A. G. Gray (medical superintendaht at the time), and Dns. Small and Ritchie, and the hospital nursing staff for the care and attention bestowed on a child patient. Appreciation was also expressed of the action of Mr E. Brow*nlee in submitting to a transfusion of .blood, which, the letter said, had contributed in a large measure to the boy’s rally in health at a very critical stage in his condition. He was now showing gradual improvement. ■FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £1137 8s lid were passed for payment. A motion by the chairman to the effect that the Waihi Hospital Board be asked to render accounts monthly in time for the board’s meeting (on the second Monday in every month) was carried without discussion. REPORTS. The medical superintendent reported that during the month there had been 9 deaths and 50 operations. Of the 75 beds in the hospital 36 were in good order, but the remainder required replacement. The purchaise of 12 new beds was recommended for the present. The engineer reported that 50 tons BcWt of coal had been consumed during the month; The superintendent of the Tararu District Homes advised of two- deaths during the month.