OPOTIKI HOSPITAL BOARD

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 154, 6 March 1939, Page 4

OPOTIKI HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING MATERNITY - HOM E FOR MAORIS The monthly meeting of the Opotiki Hospital Board was held on Friday afternoon in the Opotiki County Chambers. Present: Messrs. S. Maxwell (chairman), G. S. Moody, J. McDonnell, BL,J. Baigent, Clias. H. Fleming, Cl. vD'. Brown, G. J. Neilson, J. T. (secretary) and Dr. H. J. Mail (medical superintendent). The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed and outward correspondence was read and! approved. Inward. Correspondence. From',the X.Z. Registered Nurses’ Association re payment of relieving staff nurses and recomniending that £3 3s be paid weekly.—Mr. Merry stated that if the Opotiki board did not pay £4 4s per week tbonurses cpnld not be procured. Members agreed with flic secretary's views and the letter was “received”.

The Kaipara Hospital Board wrote re reeiproeat+ljii in connection with the payment of fees for patients from other districts.—The chairman stated that a remit had been carried at the recent Hospital Boards’ Conference to the effect that a,, uniform charge between hoards should operate over the Don)inion. Possession of:House.—Mr. W. Hislop wrote re possession of the nurse’s home at- Te Kali a and stated that the owners, living in a tent, wanted possession of a house.—The matter was left in the hands of the secretary. The- Cook Hospital Board wrote re the admission of an Opotiki resident to the Old Peoples’ Home at Gisborne. —The secretary explained! the position _ to the board and stated that the patient was still iu Opotiki.—lt was decided to leave the matter in the hands of

the secretary. The Department of Health wrote stating that the Board’s application for an advance would receive consideration. The Opotiki County Returned Soldiers’ Association forwarded a cheque and a list of new members to come, into the scheme between the association and the board.—The board decided to* lenew the. scheme for a further period. Claims*.—A number of claims from

other hospital boards was received and dealt with. Dr. Padgett of the Department of Health wrote in connection with the suggested maternity home for Maoris in the Opotiki Board’s district and asked what the board intended to do about building an annexe at the hospital. The) cost of the suggested building would lie £2509. Referring to the amount collected from Maoris for hospital treatment at

present, the chairman said it only amoimted to 7dj per day per patient. .Mr. McDonnell said that the Maori women, would not go to a maternity home for confinement and the suggested home would he of no use. The Maori women' would continue to stay at home as at present. Other members supported this view and the opinion was expressed that provision of such a heme would only add more expenditure to the already heavy burden carried by the Mur open ms in the Opotiki County. The chairman, Mr. Maxwell, said that the Maori population in the'Opotiki County outnumbered the Europeans bv several hundred. Appreciation.—The hoard decided to vote £5 os toi the acting-matron for her additional duties. Conference Report.—Mr. Maxwell reported on his recent visit to the Hospital Boards’ Conference and said that ('illy two matters mainly affected the board, these being the Native problem and the; care of infantile paralysis cases. Several matters were explained by the chairman and on the motion of Mr. Baigent, it was decided to place on record appreciation of the chair- . man’s services at the conference. By-laws.—Mr. Baigent asked if the new by-laws could be finishedl. bv tire present secretary.—Air. Merry said be hoped to have the by-laws completed at an early date. - •

Accounts amounting .to £1278 11s lid were passed for payment. The greater part of the accounts concerned claims from other hospital hoards, Acting-Matron’s Report.—Miss P. H. Edwards, acting-matron, reported as follows: Hospital’ lias not been busy during'the month of February. Miss McLean commenced her annual leave on the 14th. inst. Nurse Ferguson lias joined the permanent staff,

commencing duty on Superintendent’s Report.-~-Dr. K. J. Tai 1. medical superin ten dc u t;> tepe rt e d as follows: Adniitted-(30i» liisCharged^ .'.AVJ..- ' : • '37. tal J)eaths 11. Oper