TIMARU HOSPITAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2482, 4 March 1881, Page 2

TIMARU HOSPITAL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Commissioners was held at the Borough Council office to day. Present —Messrs T. W. Mali (in the Chair), H. Belfield, and F. Archer. CORRESPONDENCE. Two letters were read and received from the Hon Colonial Secretary requesting the Commissioners to furnish the Audit Department with a return of the Hospital patients; also, with a copy of all existing contracts for supplies and services for the Hospital. Resolved acceded to. From the Government, intimating that a voucher for the sum of £2O Bs, expenses incurred by the Commissioners for ventilation, had been passed for payment. From the secretary of the Sheridan Dramatic Club, stating that the entertainment given in aid of the Hospital was a failure, entailing a loss of £9 15s 6d. Resolved—“ That the thanks of the Commissioners be accorded to the Dramatic Club, and, while appreciating their efforts, they regret that the result was not more successful.” INCREASE OF PATIENTS. The Secretary reported that at the end of February there were 36 patients under treatment, but that the number had now increased to 40. - DONATION. The Secretary reported the receipt of a cheque, as a donation, for £2 2s from Mr Filmer. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment: —Edminson and Kidwell, £8 9s 9d ; Bennett, £9 4s 4d; Taylor and Bowie, £l4 6s 2d ; Do, £8 4s 2d ; A. Eitchie, £4lßs 3d; Smith, £8 18s 9d; Miles, Archer and Co., £l7 4s 4d ; Borough Council, £2 10s 5d ; Gas Company, £4 2s 2d ; Tichbon, £3 15s ; E. Harris, £6 6s ; Symes, £3 ; J. Bruce, £5 17s lid ; “ Otago Daily Times,” 9s ; “ Herald,” £2 9s ; “ Lyttelton Times,” £2 Is 8d ; H. Johns, 16s ; Temperton, £1 3s ; Lambert, £9 9s : Mary Ann Jones, £lO 8s ; Priest and Holdgate, £1 6s ; C. Patterson, £7 Bs, DEFAULTING PATIENTS. The Secretary alluded to the necessity of taking some steps to enforce payment for hospital treatment from persons who were able to contribute but neglected to do so. He mentioned in illustration the case of a boy. son of a tailor at Sandietown, who suffered from spinal disease, and had to undergo treatment at the hospital periodically, but on whose account no payment had yet been made, although £l7 was due for maintenance. Some discussion ensued as to the best means to be adopted with defaulters, and it was decided to take steps to compel payment. A DIFFICULT CASE. Correspondence was read from E. Baird, of the Christchurch Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, forwarding copy of a letter received from Mr Alex. Lean, Deputy Inspector of Lunatic Asylums, re patient committed from the Timaru Hospital to the Sunnyside Asylum, and intimating that the Christchurch Charitable Aid Board would sanction his admission into the Christfbnrpb Hospital, provided the Timaru authorities arranged- to pay for his maintenance ; if not, the patient would be forwarded back to Timaru at the Hospital Commissioners’ expense. Mr Lean’s letter stated: —“ The case is represented to me and I have seen the patient and believe it to be a surgical case rather than one in lunacy, and I believe the patient would be more effectively attended to in an hospital than in a lunatic asylum. Were the case not of a serious character which renders removal to a long distance hazardous, the course of procedure would be that to which clause 74, Lunatic Act, 1868, applies, and the patient could be, I suppose, forwarded to the hospital whence lie came. My present object is to ask you whether on discharge of the patient he will be received at the Christchurch Hospital.” Dr Chilton, resident surgeon, under date February 19, wrote:— Be-

Lunatic. This man was committed to Sunnyside on Drs Hammond and Macintyre’s certificate. It is a totally unsuitable case for the Timaru Hospital, as the patient is or was suffering from religious melancholia, and requires special watching and attention which cannot with the present nursing staff be provided at the hospital. A separate room and a separate nurse would in my opinion be absolutely necessary, and we have no conveniences whatever for the treatment of lunatics.

It was stated that nothing further had been heard concerning the case in question.

The meeting then terminated.