HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 41, 17 January 1938, Page 8

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

MEETING OF BOARD. REPORTS ON INSTITUTIONS. The monthly meeting of the Palmerston North Hospital Board was held to-day. Those present were Mr J. A. Nash (chairman), Mrs M. Aitchison, Messrs J. Hodgens, M.P., V. E. Smith, T. Green, G. A. Monk, D. Collis, J. Boyce, W. Howell, A. E. Mansford, G P. Catley, M. E. Perreau, E. J. Ryder and M. A. Moody. The following report was submitted by the managing-secretary (Mr A. J. Phillipps):—“The work of reconditioning the bathrooms on the first floor of the Nurses’ Home building has been completed. The job appears to be a very satisfactory one. Parquetry floors, Wilson block: We are still waiting to hear from the contractor regarding a proposal that the work on the ground floor should be carried out on a different method. The contractor was interviewed here before Christmas and promised to send further details. Shannon nurse’s cottage: The architect has completed arrangements with Mr Booker for the carrying out of this work on the lines agreed to at the last meeting of the board. Mr Booker is commencing work this week. Otaki Sanatorium additions; Progress .on this job during the last month has been slow. The contractor has still to complete some finishings. General; Most of our own workmen have had annual holidays over the Christmas period. One carpenter is at presept engaged on the new milking 6heds. at Awapuni. One painter is working at Otaki and two painters are working on interior renovations at the X-ray department. The work of fitting up accommodation .in the basement under the administration block for the housing of bicycles is being carried on.” The medical superintendent (iVIr J. H. North) reported that at November 30 there were 205 patients in the hospital a.nd 229 were admitted in December. The patients discharged in December numbered 251, and ten died. There were 170 in hospital at the endof the month and the daily average number of occupied beds was 170. No cases of infectious diseases Ivad been admitted in December, and there were two cases of infantile paralysis still in hospital. There had been 23 admissions to the maternity home with 23 births. The attendances at the antenatal clinic had totalled 81. At the end of the month there were nine mothers and eight babies in the home. Five patients in the Otaki Sanatorium were progressing satisfactorily. CORRESPONDENCE. The Health Department wrote in respect of the additions to the laundry block, asking if the board had considered a consequent reduction in the width of the existing roadway. —The managing-secretary is to report on the matter. The State Advances Corporation, writing in respect of an application for loan moneys, advised that consideration was to be given the most urgent cases, but it could not make any progress until the sanction of the Local Government Loans Board had been obtained. It would also be helpful if tlie board could indicate, when submitting an application for a loan, the amount that would be required in the next 12 months, also whether any urgent necessary work was held up for lack of finance and, further, details of action taken with a view to obtaining funds from other sources —The managing-secretarv said lie was endeavouring to keep the application “fresh.” and the matter was left in his hands. Replying to a letter from the pathologist at the Palmerston North Hospital (Dr. T. H. Pullar) the Hawke’s Bav Hospital Board expressed the opinion that the inoculation of guinea pigs and rabbits was within the agreement for pathological services. The managing-secretary (Mr< A. J. Phillipps) reported that the Hawke’s Bav Board had been advised that such services "were outside the agreement. —Left in the hands of the managingsecretary. Because of pressure of work, the Department of Health stated in another letter, it had not been possible to review the sketches of the proposed additions to the Nurses’ Home. A review would he made at the earliest possible time. —The letter was received. Sister E. T. Smith of the Awapuni Home, tendered her resignation, to become effective at the end of this month— lt was reported that Sister Smith’s successor had been appointed. It was also reported that Sister Smith had formerly been district nurse at Feilding, and it was her intention to enter private nursing. The Department of Health advised that the Minister of Health Hoii. L Eraser) had approved of an overdraft limit of £21.000 for the Palmerston North Board—Received.