HOSPITAL BOARD.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 10 October 1919, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. 1 The monthly meeting of tho Palmerston North Hospital Board was held at Palmerston North yesterday,. when there was a fair attendance of members, Sir J. G. Wilson presiding. The District Health Officer wrote asking that tho Board havo a supply of drugs, etc., in readiness in ease of a recrudescence of influenza. Resolved to tako stops to secure a supply forthwith. The Public Health Department, re-’ plying to a letter from the Board, in which they made representations re the cases of ‘i sleeping sickness” that had occurred in the district, stated that an investigation had been made, showing that in three months three cases arose in tho Palmerston North hospital district, one being in tho town, one several miles from town, and one at Levin. Taking tho Dominion generally tho disease showed no tendency to increase, but rather the reverse, as fewer cases had been reported in August and September than in July. Tho disease was one, apparently, which was a remote sequel of influenza epidemics. It was reported in Italy after the 1890 outbreak. The writer added that he had known of sporadic cases in New Zealand in the last 25 years, and there was no cause for alarm about the disease, which showed no infeetivity.

The Shannon Borough Council wrote, in reference to tho Board’s suggestion that medical officers be appointed in charge of sanitary matters in various districts. They thought £SO per annum was too much for them to pay for this supervision, and suggested that smaller boroughs combine to pay for a sanitary officer. —Received.

Messrs Holben and Kirk submitted a scheme for heating the Old People’s Home at Awapuni, and estimated the cost- to be £7so.—Mrs Gill moved that the work be done, but this failed to find a seconder, and no action was taken.

The Public Health Department wrote suggesting that the inspector’s (Mr O’Brien) salary bo increased by £3O per annum. Resolved to make enquiries re the Department's intentions regarding duties of inspectors and future appointments, before agreeing to tho request for increase, A mass of other correspondence was dealt with. St. Helens Home. A letter was read from the ActingChief Health Officer, in reply to tho Board’s request that a St. Helens Hospital be established in Palmerston North, to the effect that it was the duty of hospital boards to provide for the needs of their districts with regard to maternity eases. Tho Chairman (Sir James Wilson) said it was not a duty for hospital boards defined by the Act. There was a >St. Helens Hosptal in Gisborne, although it was a smaller place than Palmerston.

Mr Hornblow said that at present the relieving officer arranged for eases in ( Which assistance was required and , nurses were provided in the homes. Mrs Gill made a strong plea for j securing a small place to make a start : with. She emphasised the point that j there were hundreds of cases in which j women could be made more happy In i regard to bringing children into the j world than they were at the present j time. At present they always had to consider the question of price, the nurse’s fee and the doctor’s fee. The women felt that they should have consideration in this matter, but when women had to struggle along and their husbands only had a working man’s wages, she (the speaker) did not wonder that they wanted to get out of their responsibities. Dr. Whitaker agreed with Mrs Gill that something should be done for maternity eases, saying she had made out a good ease. All the members agreed that they wanted a St. Helens home. He considered that by nest March they could provide five or six beds for eases at tho hospital, and the soldiers'’ ward at the hospital could be used without a large capital expense. After considerable discussion it was resolved to again urge on the Governjnent the need, for the establishment of a St. Helens home in Palmerston North, pointing out that several suitable properties might be secured for that purpose; also that the matter be referred 1 to the Palmerston North Borough ' : Council for endorsement and support.