THAMES HOSPITAL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5089, 16 February 1927, Page 4

THAMES HOSPITAL

MONTHLY BOARD MEETING. ROUTINE BUSINESS. The first meeting t,his year Of the Thames Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held at Thames on Monday, the chairman (Mr W. E. Hale) presiding over the following : Messrs J. W. Danby, J. Rowe, A. R. Robinson, C. W. Parfitt, C. W. Kennedy, J. Lange, and the secretary’ (Mr G. Tonge). HOSPITAL AMALGAMATION. The Minister of Health wrote in answer to the board’s inquiry ,as to whether he would consider the advisability of summoning and presiding at a conference of the Waihi and Thames hospital boards with a view to considering the question of hospital dis* trict adjustment or such other equitable means as would affdT’d relief to the Waihi Borough Council without prejudicing the financial position of any other hospital board. The Minister pointed out that as the matter was one for consideration with the hospitals division of the Department of Health he deemed it inadvisable tiiat he should act, as suggested. It was desirable that the Thames board, in conjunction with the Waihi board or any other board affected —the Tauranga board, for instance —should approach the Director-General o’f Health and seek the good offices of the department in holding a conference. He would be glad to approve of either fne Director-General or the deputy-Direc-tor-General of Health being available for such a conference. The chairman said he did not think it was necessary for the board to take any action. PROGRESS PAYMENT. The technical inspector, Department o'f Health, wrote authorising a progress payment, for £1403 to the contractor on the erection of the isolation and laundry blocks. NEW BUILDINGS. Reporting on the progress, of the erection of the new steam laundry and isolation block the director-Gen-eral of Health wrote :— “The isolation block is practically completed, while the laundry is now being roofed in. The progress has been slow, owing principally to th®, extremely wet weather. The whole of the work is of excellent quality, the contractor having given tne board a firlsit-class job so far as it has gone. With the completion of the laundry the installation of the machinery will be commenced, and the work completed at, an early date.” INFLUENZA PRECAUTIONS. The district health office wrote with reference to the influenza epidemic in Europe, and advised that the department was taking all precautions. Hospital boards were advised to have a suitable building kept in view which could be taken at a moment’s notice, should any such unforeseen necessity arise. It was also recommended that the skeleton local committees should be re-formed i'f necessary. Mr Robinson said it was gratifying to learn that the Health Department was alive to the exigencies that were likely to occur. Mr Danby said that there whs nothing like being prepared. The secretary stated that, he had notified contributory local bodies on the lines of the department’s instructions. DONATION TO FUNDS. The Lodge Corinthian 1655 E.C. forwarded a cheque for £5 as a donation to the board’s funds.—Received with thanks. BENEVOLENT FUND. The Hauraki Ladies’ Benevolent Fund 'forwarded accounts and requested the uusal donation of £lO, which was granted. OUTSTANDING ACCOUNTS. Several letters were received from ex-patients advising their inability to pay their accounts in full, but offering to arrange to pay by instalments. The letters, were referred to the chairman and secretary, with power to act. ANNUAL LEAVE RULES. In response to the. board’s inquiry the Whangarei, Wairarapa, Sojrth Canterbury, Ashburton, and Hawera hospital boards forwarded rules and by-laws pertaining toi the conditions obtaining with 'reference to the annual leave granted to medical, nursing, and clerical staff in their respective institutions. The matter was referred to the nurses’ committee to bring down a report. HOSPITAL DRAINAGE.

The Director-General forwarded three sets of plans and specifications

of the drainage of the hospital and nurses’ home necessary to' connect up with the town sewer. In a subsequent letter the Health Department inquired if the changiover to the new system had taken place. It was decided to call tenders for the work. In answer to 1 Mr Robinson the chairman said that tenders would be advertised in the N.Z. Herald, Thames Star, and Hauraki Plains Gazette. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £2166 19s 3d were passed for payment.