THAMES HOSPITAL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5387, 13 February 1929, Page 3

THAMES HOSPITAL

MONTHLY BOARD MEETING.

ROUTINE BUSINESS. The monthly meeting of the Thames Hospital Board was, held pin Monday, Mr W. E. Hale presiding over Messrs. C. W. Parfitt, E. L. Walton, P. E. Brenan. A. R. Robinson, W. J- Hall, W. C. Kennedy, J. W. Danby, J. Lange, C. W. s. Flett, and the secretary (Mr George Tonge) LAND FOR ROAD. The town clerk,* Thames advised that the Borough Council proposed widening the cutting near 1 the District Homes at Tat ar u, and this would necessitate moving back the board’s fejnee. The chairman said that the fence encroached on the toad for about 16ft. LODGE MEMBERS’ FEES. The district secretary, M.U. 1.0.0. F., advised that the society was now working under a new agreement, the outcome of a conference between the representatives of hospital boar Is and friendly societies, which me|t in Wellington. The difference between the present agreement and the old one was that the society now acknowledges a liability for, chronic and incurable cases. The board) was asked whether it was willing to accept the new form of agreement, Or whether it preferred to work under the presept system whereby the society did not accept liability for chippie an incurable cases. A copy of the new of agreement Was enclosed. The new agreement added considerably to the liability of the society. In reply to Mr Lange, the chairman said that this did not. refer to the Thames lodges, but only to) members of the Auckland conference The new agreement provided for the payment at the rate of 4s 6d per day, with a limit of 30 weeks. It was agreed’ to accept this. DONATION OF £5O. The N.Z. Insurance Company, Limited, executors and trustees of the; will, of the late Thomas Granger, of Epsom, advised that the deceased had bequeathed, free of all estate and succession duty, the sum of £5O to the Thames Hospital Board, to be; applied towards the general purposes of. the hospital. The chairman mentioned that the late Mr Granger was once a resident of Thames. PATIENTS AT WAIHI.

The Waihi Hospital Board advised having admitted five patients from the Thames board’s district as urgent c,ases. in reference to a previous qase it was now admitted that the case was not an urgent one.

Mr Danby asked whether the position was not that the patients frtom the Thames board’s, district wejre admitted to Waihi if urgent attention was needed in which case the Thames board guaranteed payment, if the Waihj board admitted cases which were not urgent, and which c,ould very well travel to the Thames hospital, the Waihi board had to accept liability for collecting the fees. The Waihi Board charged its owp. patients 9s a day, but Thames district patients were charged $ day. In the opinion of Mr Kennedy the arrangement should be alteged. Board B accepted 50 per cent, of fees from friendly societies in view of the guarantee of payment, hut while the; Thames Board guaranteed the payment of fees for urgent castes the Waihi Board charged it 12s a day against 9s a day charged its own patients. No finality was reached beyond a decision not to pay for a certain case that was not considered urgent* A PENSIONER’S TOBACCO. A Thames grocer advised that for, three years, he had been supplying tobacco® and matches, etc., to an old a pensioner who was a patient ip the hospital. As the Hospital Board was collecting all the pension, and passing any of it on to the pensioner the grocer asked that the board pay his accbiunt. The secretary reported that this grocer had acted as agent for. this pensioner for many years. The board did not give rebate of pension to any pensioners haying changed it policy some years agp. Mr Kennedy was of opinion that} the groc,er should be paid. A member pointed out that patients were not supposed to smoke in the hospital. The chairman moved that the groper be informed that it was the policy of the board to take all thq pension as ( payment for his care. Mr Danby was of. opinion that this was too drastic, and s pine alteration should be made in certain cases. The secretary reported that there were four pensioners in the hospital at present, and* in the case of pensioners who were in mates; for a short time he had not impounded their pensionsas otherwise they would have no money whatever when they were discharged. Members expressed the view tihat s.ome latitude should be allowed * n sue cases. Smoking in the hospital, was supposed ,tp be prohibited, butt the by-law was not rigidly enforced - The motion was carriql. Mr Kennedy moved that the secretary supply pensioners, with tobac.co on demand, provided the Medical Super intendant did not consider it was inavisable in certain cases. This motion was carried, Mr Danby dissenting. He contended that it was Wrong to take; all the pensioners’ pension. WAIKINO OLD BOYS. Messrs Danby and Kennedy were appointed to represent the board at the annual reunion of. the Whikino Old Boys’ Association on March 1PATETON&A NURSE 1 - The hon. secretary, Patetonga Medical Association, Mr E. F. Wilkins, forwarded a cheque for £25, being thq subscription for the services of the district nurse. BENEVOLENCE. The Hauraki Ladies’ Benevolent Society applied for and was granted £l° for charitable aid ip Thames*

HOSPITAL REPORT. The resident surgeon, Dr. W. Sowejpby, reported that December and January had been quiet months in the hblspital. jj Seventy-two operations had been performed, 150 attendances had: been given 20 out-patients, and there' had been four deaths. The number of patients in the hospital on January--31 was 76. MATRON’S REPORT. The matron, Miss K. M. Ahsehne, rej-. ported- at length, on staff matters. The live purses who sat for the State examination had been successful. There had been 18 births in the annexe during the, two months. Some new mattresses were required. The secretary mentioned that some of the mattresses had been in use; for 22 years. The secretary was authorised to obtain quotations for new mattresses. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer, Mr F., McLoughlin, reported that the coal consumption during January was 35 tons and during December 39 tons. The annual inspection of plant had shown everything to be in good; order. THE HOMES. The superintendent of. the District Homes, Tararp, Mrs M. APPteby, reported that three men had beep, admitted in December and one in January, and one had been discharged in January, leaving 18 men and ore woman in the institute. The conduct of all had been good. The farm was doing well, being ample pasture, plenty of milk, and more vegetables than could be used. The production of eggs 'had decreased consaderably. PATETONGA NURSE. Mrs M. Costello, district nurse a.t Patetonga, reported' -that, no patients had required attention dur.ing January. The fejes collected totalled 7s 6d, and there was £2 14s outstanding, HOSPITAL BOARDS’ CONFERENCE. The chairman and the secretary were deputed to attend the annual conference of hospital boards at Palmerston North on March 12.