THAMES HOSPITAL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5050, 10 November 1926, Page 4

THAMES HOSPITAL.

MONTHLY BOARD MEETING. ROUTINE BUSINESS. The monthly meeting of the Thames Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held on Monday, the chairman (Mr W. E. Hale) presiding over the 'following: Messrs J. W. Danby, W. J. Hall, J. Lange', A. R. Robinson, P. E. Brenan, C. W. Kennedy, E. L. Walton, C. W. Parfitt, J. Rowe, and the secretary (Mr G. Tenge). HOSPITAL DISPENSING.

Arising out of the recent fatality at the Timaru Hospital, where a. patient lost his life as the result of having a wrong drug administered by the hospital staff, the Department of Public Health forwarded a circular le.tter relative to the dispensing oif drugs in public hospitals. The instructions stated, inter alia, that in every hospital the responsibility for dispensing remained with the medicaj superintendent. Where the size of the hospital did not warrant a full-time dispenser it was the duty of the medical superintendent either to do the dispensing himself or to .arrange for the matron, ff such be competent in his opinion, to undertake the work. If the matron delegated the, work of dispensing she must do ’sO'entirely at her own risk and responsibility. PATETONGA DISTRICT NURSE. The Patetonga district nurse (Mrs L. McNamara) reported that that she ha,d attended twelve patients. Fees received totalled £3 ss. A request was made for three weeks’ annual leave during December.

The, report wa.s approved, and leave was granted provided there werle no urgent cases requiring assistance. The Patetonga Medical Association forwarded £25, being the half-yearly subscription due towards the cost of the Patetohga nurse. The letter was received, the chairman remarking that Patetonga evidently had money as well as water in its district. The payment was very satisfactory. ISOLATION BLOCK.

The technical inspector, Public Health Department, writing in connection with the erection of the isolation block and ste'ajm laundry at Thames, advised that progress payments, totalling £2231 4s 5d had been made, leaving a balance of £2976 15s 7d. The total cost of the building was £5208, laundry machinery £1357 Ils 6d, heating isolation block £333 2s, making a; grand total, of £6898 13s 6d.

The chairman remarked that the

position was satisfactory, and was nearly £lOO below the amount the board had set itsel’f out to pay.

SERVICES APPRECIATED.

Mr W- H. Taylor, Paeroa, wrote' expressing thanks and appreciation for the services extended to him while an in-patient at the institution and congratulating the board on the efficiency of its staff.

The chairman said that it was a pleasure to receive a pat on the back now and again.

BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

The Hauraki Ladies’ Benevolent Society forwarded accounts for October, and requested that the sum o»f £lO be granted.—Agreed to. TRAINING OF NURSES.

The, N.Z. Trained Nurses’ Association wrote advising that at a recent conference of the council it was decided to ask hospital boards to consider the question of extending the probationary period for nurses in training to not less than six months. The association stated that matrons, had found that three months’ training did not give sufficient time for a pupil nurse to prove herself, and it was felt that the extension o'f the period would be advantageous to the interetss of the hospital and to the pupil herself.

The chairman said that it was not desirable to make a hard and fast rule. On the recommendation of the matron the board would extend the probationary period of any nurse if necessary.

The letter was referred to ,the matron.