MORE ROOM NEEDED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3299, 11 August 1943, Page 5

MORE ROOM NEEDED

HOSPITAL TOO CROWDED QUESTION OF RE-BUILDING MONTHLY MEETING OF BOARD The monthly meeting of the Thames Hospital Board took place at the Board’s- Office, Baillie street, Thames, on Tuesday, Mr P. E. Brenan presiding. There were also present Messrs J. W. Danby, S. H. Brown, J. J. Shallue, J. G. Cornes, A. H. ’Sutton, A. G. Davis, C. W. Kennedy, C. W. Winder, C. W. Parfitt and Mr A. L. Neighbour, secretary to the board. Leave of absence was granted to Lieut. M. A. Brook and Mr W. Madgwick. Vote of Condolence B'efore the business commenced the chairman referred to the sad loss suffered by Dr. and Mrs Gifford in the loss of their ba£y under tragic circumstances. He moved that a letter of sympathy be forwarded to Dr. and Mrs Gifford. The motion was carried in silence. Industrial Dispute The Hospital Boards’ Association forwarded the Federated Hotel and Restaurant Workers’ Union intended demands which provided for, among other things, an increase in the rates of pay. The Southland Hospital Board forwarded its reply to the Hospital Boards’ Association in which it registered an emphatic protest and in the opinion of a special committee set up to go into the matter the proposed demands should be restricted in their entirely. On the motion of the chairman the matter was left in the hands of the association. The resident surgeon, Dr. Gifford, reported that at the end of the month there were at the Thames Hospital, 67 males and 47 females-. Second House Surgeon The resident surgeon suggested that the board should seriously consider the matter of the appointment of a second house surgeon. As further accommodation was to be provided for the nursing staff an extra room could be made available for this purpose. The chairman stated it was a matter of providing extra accommodation. The board had already agreed to do no further structural alterations this year. The increase in the work of the hospital was no doubt the result of having an efficient medical superintendent and the Social Security Act. Lack of Room Mr Danby said he had had practical demonstrations of the work of the massage department. Even if the present alterations were put through it would not provide sufficient room above the kitchen as the house surgeon’s quarters. The matron pointed out that the attention to the massage department would leave the ■ nurses- without any change room. The medical superintendent also recommended the appointment of an assistant masseuse for Miss Snodgrass. Mr -Shallue pointed out that when the board made its decision it was understood it was of a temporary nature. New Hospital Needed Mr Danby reminded the board that there was now not sufficient accommodation for the massage department, another house surgeon or the staff and the number of occupied beds at the institution was now 114. It was about 75 a few years ago.

Mr Brown thought the time had arrived when the board should consider the building of a new hospital. Mr Shallue thought it was not wise for the board to go on with the alterations for temporary accommodation if the board had any intention of building a new hospital. After further discussion it was decided that the medical superintendent’s report and the matron’s report except that portion dealing with the extra sitting room at the Mercury Bay Hospital, be adopted. The medical superintendent of the Waihi Hospital reported that there were 19 males and 21 females at the institution. Paeroa Hospital Matron W. Moore, of the Paeroa Hospital, reported that it had been a moderately busy month, the minimum number of occupied beds per day was ) two and the maximum five, an average ■ <>;’ three 1 The medical officer at Coromandel ' stated that the hospital had been fairly busy during* the month. He drew attention to the primitive washing and •sanitary arrangements in the men’s | and women’s wards. The number of ' patients was 19. The matron of the Thames Hospital, I Miss L. M. Corsbie, in her report to I the board requested better accommodation for student nurses. j *The cottage is not a fit place for

anyone. The nurses have to come out in ail weathers for baths and washw to the Nurses’ Home. The cottage » damp, draughty and overrun with rats from the creek,” stated the matron.