HOSPITAL BOARD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 220, 17 August 1937, Page 9

HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. ■ The monthly meeting of the Palmerston North Hospital Board was held yesterday, Mr J'. A. Nash presiding. Also present were Mrs M. Aitchison, Messrs G. A. Monk, D. Collis, J. Hodgens, M.P., J, Boyce, L. T. McLean, V. E. Smith, M. A. Moody, W. Howell, M. E. Perreau, G. P. Catley, F. J. Ryder, and T. Green. Leave of absence was granted to Mr A. E. Mansford. The Department of Health wrote expressing regret at the death of the matron, Miss J. M. McGliie. “She had carried out her duties faithfully,” said the Director-General, Dr Watt, “and was held in high esteem as a most satisfactory and competent nurse.”— Received.

The director of the Technical School (Mr G. G. Haneox) wrote informing the board that all candidates were successful in the nurses’ class examination.—Received.

The Manawatu Ruguy Union wrote asking for a statement of all moneys paid to the board and of all unrecovered fees for injured footballers over the past five years.—Referred to the man-aging-secretary to interview the union officials. The Palmerston North branch of the British Medical Association wroto thanking the board for the use of the board room for meetings, and enclosing a donation of £5 for the binding of journals of value to the Hospital.—The association was accorded a vote of thanks. Mr A. T. Bailey (Glen Oroua) wrote expressing thanks for the devotion to duty of the doctors, sisters, and nurses during the illness of his daughter.— Received. The Department of Health advised that the'committee of inquiry into maternity services in New Zealand would sit in Palmerston North on September 7. It would also sit in Otaki, Levin and Foxton on the same day.— It was decided to give every co-opera-tion.

Miss L. G. Connelly wrote expressing appreciation of the treatment she received while in hospital.—Received. The Department of Health forwarded approval for the erection of an elevenbed block at the Otaki Sanatorium at an estimated cost of £1520. —Received. SECRETARY’S REPORT. The managing-secretary (Mr A. J. Pliillipps) reported as follows: Building work.—Some minor interior alterations at the southern ward have been carried out during the month. The principal work on which the carpenters have been engaged is the reconstruction necessitated by a rather serious roof fire which occurred at the Awapuiii Home on July 31. This has been separately reported on to the social welfare committee. The painters have carried on with renovation work at the southern ward, and the new linoleums have been laid in the southern ward. Engineering, etc. —The work of installing additional hand basins in various wards, and dish sterilisers, has now been commenced, a start having been made at the annexe building, where two further hand basins and sterilisers are being installed. Remodelling of the kitchen arrangements at the annexe will be commenced this month; £2OO was provided on this year’s estimates for improvements to the annexe.

Vegetable room. —The work on the vegetable preparation room has been completed and the result appears to be eminently satisfactory. New buildings. —Shannon cottage: The plans and specifications for tlie Shannon District Nurse’s cottage have not yet been returned from the Health Department. These wore sent forward shortly after the last board meeting. Laundry: The laundry plans and specifications are now almost completed ready for submission to the department. Nurses’ home: The architect has done a considerable amount of work on the nurses’ home job. I would now ask authority to insert the necessary advertisement giving notice that the board will consider the loan proposal in connection with tlie nurses’ home building at ths next meeting. Morgue wild post-mortem facilities: As regards the morgue and post-mortem block, a plan has been prepared for this building and submitted to the special meeting between Hospital Board and City Council representatives, and the question of a contribution by the City Council towards this work is under consideration by the council. I would ask authority to advertise the proposal to borrow for this work at the same time as the proposal to borrow for the nurses’ home. Loan matters: As regards loan matters generally, if the foregoing matters regarding the nurses’ home and the morgue are agreed to, I propose at the September meeting to submit a com prehensive statement regarding loans, loan commitments and probable loan commitments covering the whole building scheme. By then we should have available a fairly correct estimate ol the proposed four-storey block in addition to the works previously mentioned. In such statement details could be set out to show just what will be the effect on rates over the next 20-year period if we borrow the proposed amount on a 20-year term. HOSPITAL STATISTICS.

The medical superintendent, Dr. J. H. North, reported on the number of patients in the Hospital as follows: — Patients remaining in hospital, June 30, 198; patients admitted during July, 247;. patients discharged during July, 233; patients died during July, 13; patients remaining in hospital July 31, 199; daily number of occupied beds, 188.3. Infectious diseases admitted during July, 1937: Diphtheria, 2; remaining in hospital July 31, diphtheria, 2; infantile paralysis, 12. Maternity Home: Admissions during month, 24; births during month, 23; attended ante-natal clinic, 72; remaining in home, 11 mothers and 12 babies. The medical superintendent of the Otaki sanatorium reported on the progress of seven cases from 'this district in the sanatorium. All are progressing satisfactorily. Dr. Chisholm reported. op the one case in Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer, who is improving. Reports from Dr. Anderson, medical superintendent of Pukeroa Sanatorium, are not yet to hand.

It was decided to place on record appreciation of the services of the man-aging-secretary in negotiating on behalf of hospitals for an agreement with the Local Bodies Officers Industrial Union of Workers, and lie was appointed an assessor for hospital boards if such is required. The managing-secretary was appointed to represent the board at the meeting to be held this evening in connection with the Centennial Exhibition.

Accounts amounting to £BOBB 7s lOd were passed for payment. The medical superintendent (Dr. J. H. North) stated that during the past few months increasing difficulty had been experienced in the theatre in keeping pace with high pressure sterilising. The present steriliser had been in use for many years and was of small capacity—far too small for tbe present size of the Hospital. Sterilising was carried out for all tbe wards as well

as for the theatre by the theatre nursing staff. At present, nurses had to work long hours over sterilising to keep pace with the demands of the Hospital. It was decided to communicate with the Health Department with a view to obtaining the bigger steriliser. Dr. North also reported that the steam pressure available at the theatre was not altogether satisfactory. In his opinion the Hospital required a separate steam feed to the theatre and maternity homo so that the pressure of steam available would not vary so much with the general load of the Hospital. When the load was at its maximum, he added, often insufficient steam pressure was available for the theatre. That greatly prolonged the time for sterilisation, and when a new steriliser was installed stops should be taken to improve the steam pressure available. It was decided to ask the Health Department to secure the services of a consulting engineer to report on the matter. CHILDREN’S WARD. In a special report the managingsecretary stated: — “The Medical Superintendent, architect, and I interviewed the DirectorGeneral of Health (Dr Watt) and the Inspector of Hospitals (Dr Shore) in connection with building additions and alterations to the children’s ward. The following facts were pointed out to the departmental officials: — “(1) That the attention of the board had been drawn to th inadequacy and general unsuitability of the accommodation provided for children and that the board was anxious to improve this position as soon as possible, and was faced with some difficulty in deciding what scheme of alteration should be carried out.

“(2) That, after Dr Shore’s recent visit and conference with the board's officers m Palmerston North, the department had advised that it was considered essential to provide new sink room and sanitary arrangements at this block as well as other considerable improvements. “(3) That schcnies had been prepared; (a) to .enaiiTc a sub-division of the ward to be carried out and general facilities improved an an estimated cost of £1100; (b) that a scheme had been prepared to cost approximately £3OOO whereby a section of the ward would be taken for side rooms and the present sanitary block remodelled for bathroom accommodation and a sixbed addition made in wood on tlie north side of the existing block; (e) that a draft scheme had been prepared for a remodelled children’s block, the existing ward to be converted into corridor and side rooms leading to the new block. The cost of this latter scheme would be in the vicinity of £20,000. “Plans showing the lay outs of these various schemes were discussed and Dr Watt’s final advice was that he thought that we should recommend to the board to endeavour to proceed as soon as possible with the scheme (b), that is, the scheme which will cost approximately £OOO. He said that lie recognised the urgency of this matter and the necessity for improved conditions. He appreciated the fact that part of the proposed expenditure would not be in permanent materials, but he also recognised that the board had to face substantial additions to the laundry, nurses’ home and the proposed new four-storey block before the board could contemplate a new children’s hospital.

“It is, therefore, recommended that this expenditure be approved as part of the loan programme to be considered at the next meeting. In conclusion, I would like on behalf of the board’s officers to express our appreciation of tlie understanding and helpful manner in which we were met by the DirectorGeneral of Health and his assistant in this matter.”

The acting-matron (Miss Y. Bright), reported that the health of the staff was good. Staff Nurse M. Lees, who at the end of August would complete her training, had resigned. Nurse Davis had resigned owing to her approaching marriage. Nurses Anderson, de Latour, Empson, Hodges, Jeff and Titshall had passed their cooking examinations. Donations of cards and magazines from the Palmerston North Hospital Women’s Auxiliary were acknowledged.