MONTHLY MEETING

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 271, 11 July 1932, Page 7

MONTHLY MEETING

RECENT INCREASES IN HOSPITAL CHARGES • QUESTIONEEi STATISTICS WANTED The usual monthly meeting of the Opotiki Hospital Board was held in the Council Chambers on Friday. There were present Messrs F. Short (chairman), Powell, H. R. Hogg, J. H. Reid, G. S. Moody, Joblin. Mr. Short w'as unanimously electted chairman for the ensuing year. A letter was reeeived from the Audit Dep'artment advising that the balance sheet for the year ending March 31, 1931 had been certified correct. The clerk advised that there were numeroUs letters dealing with the question of non-payment of hospital accounts. These were taken as read. Increased Charges In reply to a question by Mr. Po-

well coneernmg the raismg of charges to 12/- per day, Mr. Merry advised that, when in Wellington, as delegate of the board at the Hospital Boards' Conference, he had diseussed the matter with the Ministjer of Health and Director General of Health, but was advised that the Opotiki and B.O.P. boards were the only two who were charging less than 12/per day, and that unless their charges were raised to this figure, the Department of Health woUld have to reduee the subsidy to the board. The matron had been advised, on( Mfi. Merry's return, and the higher rates had been charged as from July 1. Mr. Merry then read his report as delegate to the conference. On the motion of the chairman a vote of thanks was accorded Mr Merry for the able way in which he had carried out his duties as delegate and for refidering a very full report of the proceedings. The matron reported that Nurse Fitzsimmons had ceased duty on June 12, and that the vacancy had been filled by Sister Armstrong who had commenced duty on the 12th'. The Medical Superintendent's report showed that there had been 25 admissions and 22 discharges during the month, leaving 12 patients remaining. A Diversion Mr. Hogg asked for a return showing the average number of patients, riUrses and household staff over the last 12 months with a view to comparison with other hospitals. It was suggested that this could be obtained from the statistics published. Mr Hogg thought not and a discUssion followed until Mr. Powell created a diversion by looking up and remarking that he had authorised the purchase of two small pigs to replace those which had been fattened and killed. There was a momentary pause while the members endeavoured to grasp what this had to do with the subject under discussion. This Was broken by Mr. Hogg remarking "We appear to have passed from the sublime to the ridiculous or vice versa." General appreciation was followed by a discussion on pigs. The clerk reported that the Hospital Sunshine League had very kindly supplied the blankets and towels required for the nurses' quarters. The board expressed its appreciation and the secretary was instructed to write thanking the League. Dr. Budd advised that the R.S.A. had approached him with a view to its members being found employment on off days by work in or at the hospital grounds. Accounts totalling £353 15s ld were passed for payment.