HOSPITAL AND HOMES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5276, 18 May 1928, Page 1

HOSPITAL AND HOMES.

WORK AT THAMES INSTITUTIONS* REPORTS FOR MONTH OF APRIL. At the meeting of, the Thames Hospital) and Charitable Aid Board on Monday last reports of progress during April at the hospital, and at the district homes, Tararu, were submitted :—

The medical superintendent, Dr. AV. Sowerby. reported that 33 males and 3!) females had been admitted: during the month, a,nd 38 males and 35 females were discharged, leaving 3b maizes and 28 females.- remaining at date. A total of 38 operations had been performed. In the out-paticnis department three out-patients had ie " .ceived treatment, involving 11 attendances. Two males and three females had died during the month. In his. remarks the superintendent stated that April had bee.n a very ■heavy month in all departments, particularly with reference to the nursing staff, but the opening of the in” ' fectious: diseases block would relieve the work of the. wards to a great extent. MATRON’S REBORT. Reporting in detail on staff and domestic matters, the matron, Misj; K. M. Ansenne, stated that the. isolation ward had bee.n furnished sufficiently to can’y on with, at present. Six in-’ fectious cases had been admitted on May 1. l bn April 5 Nurses; Hughes and Burke had sat at Auckland for their thirdryear hospital examination, a,n|d both had passed. In the maternity annexe seven patients had been admitted- There had been seven births. > On behalf ’of the hospital committee Mr C. W. Kennedy reported tha.t there were, now three patients in the isolation ward. The laundry \vas still, giving trouble,, and was causing considerable damage to the clothing, and it would be necessary to ha.ve some improve.ment effected 1 at once. On the motion of the chairman it was resolved that the hospital committee go into the question of improving the washing machinery forthwith. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer, Mil A. M. Sommerville, reported that everything in his department had been working satisfactorily. The coal consumption for the month was 30 tons. DISTRICT HOMES. The-superintendent of the District Homes, Tararu, reported that there were 15 male and 1 female inmateis in the institution at date. In a. detailed report it was stated that the gijass on the farm Svas very short, and most of the, paddocks required top-dressing. Thevinil ( k supply had fallen Nfiff, but with more, cows coming into profit matters, would be righted. Reporting on behalf of the homes committee Mr C. W. Parfitt said that the farm was looking in fair condition. It wa.s suggested that a hot-w-rtcr -pipe should be laid from the boiler room to the lavatory near; the men’s main ward. Some fine; metal or sand was required for some of the paths, and it ’was considered that application might be made to the Harbour. Board for permission l to take a quantity of sand for the purpose. It was advisable to purciiase about six new mattresses and re-case mtiny of those already in use. Some of Ute paddocks certainly required top-press-ing, and the question of, purchasing basic slag would, have to be considered in the near future. Mr A. R. Robinson thought that the ma.nager; should be authorised to dispose of the old fowls and; replace them with young stock, so that the egg production might be increased. It was resolved to adopt the report, and that the recommendations be referred tot he secretary and manager to be given effect to. The secretary was instructed to obtain, an estimate for; installing the hot-water, pipe, and also to ascertain the cost of altering the lavatory. PATETONGA NURSE. The Patetonga district nurse, Miss A. Kerrison, reported having attended eleven patients during part of April only. No fees had been collected. Mr J. W. Danby said he. thought it would be more satisfactory if the district nurse made an endeayoiur to collect the fees before leaving the homes of her patients, instead of the secretary trying to collect them from the office.

The secretary said that the nurse liad been given a supply of account 'foijms and had been asked' to do her best to collect the fe.es. However,, Mis s Kerrison had since resigned, but the same instructions would apply tQ the iiew nurse.