HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 8, 3 September 1912, Page 5

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

MONTHLY 0 MEETING. The monthly meeting of tin* Stratlol,d Hospital and Charitable Aid ]{ ™>-d was held this morning , v ], on l),er < "ere present: The chairman (Mr MarlVll), aiM] Messrs .1. OhrisloH'el, •'■ MeAllrster, .). Smith, W. Rogers a a.I S. Ward. ' Mental Defectives, Dr. VaJint-ine, Chief Health Off}- «*, wrote acknowledging a fatter lro ™ * llfl Board, with regard to the jjccowitj for providing an institution io; ' tno tsompulscry detention ° ! morally and mentally defective gi"ls and women, slating that this was now receiving the consideration of the Department. " h e Sick at Whanga. A letter was received from the same. source relative to tlao Jack o/ proper medical assistance at Whangamomona. The letter was marked confidential, but a discussion ensued thereon in open meeting. The chairman said that ho h.od spoken with Mr Joseph McCluggage, who had played a. prominent part in fciio attempt to procure medical assistance for the Whangamomona settlers, and that gentleman was of opinion that a nurse should be secured as soon as possible. fn reply to Mr Ward, the chairman said that a nurse could bo obtained for £3 a week. Mr Ward moved, "That if the (settlers in the Whangamomona district will contribute £25, the Board will appoint for one a ear a nurse for that district, tl'ie matter of arrangements to he governed by a committee appointed hytho Whangamomona settlors ; this motion to be granted conditional on the grant of £7O being received from the Government."

Mr Smith seconded pro forma. Ho was in favour of getting a guarantee from the settlers, and first seeing how much they Mere prepared to help them selves.

Mr Ward : "It would be money saved for the Hoard to spend even £SO a year for a nurse. There are cases coining from WJiangamomona, serious eases, where a trained nurse early in the scene would hare saved human life and much expense." Eventually, the motion was amended, providing that the sum of £25 be increased to £4O. The motion was then carried, and copies are to bo sent to tlhe Whangamomona County Council and to Mr Joseph McCluggnge (chairman of the Whangamomona eommitee formed for the purpose of obtaining medical aid for the .settlers*) Reciprocity Between Boards. The secretary of the Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote informing the Board ; that his Board had resolved "that the principle of

a reoiprottiEagreement being entered into with other Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards bo approved, and that tho Boards enter into an agreement not to charge each other on aeseotwsffc ■ of'^ndt^Trtr^ii'iMp'i't'Ml —nrrtlTTTTs from each others' districtsu, except in cases of patients sent there by the Boards themselves, but each Board will render any other Board all assistance. in endeavouring to ■collect, accounts from relatives, if possible.'' Ho asked approval of this proposal. Mr J. McAllister moved tilrat the Ho->rd heartily endorce the resolution, believing it to bo in tho best interests of Hospital Boards generally. Carried. Remit For The Conference. Mr E. Parn'ngton, secretary of the Hawora Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, wrote with reference to the doubt that existed with regard to the responsibility for the burial of a destitute person who had not died of any infectious disease, and was not a charitable aid case. His Board did not agree witlhi the opinion that under clause 5 of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Amendment Act, 1910, the Hospital Board became the "Local Authority," and was therefore responsible for the fees. Tho Hawora Board wished to obtain an opinion from any of several prominent legal practitioners.

Mr Ward moved "that in the opinion of this Board the matter affects every (hospital board in the Dominion and should he discussed at the next hospital conference with the view to taking combined action, and that the Hawera Board be notified to this effect." Mr McAllister seconded and tin; motion was carried. Reports. Dr. Steven, medical superintendent, reported that during the month of August seventeen patients were admitted, sixteen discharged, and one died, <so that seventeen remained at the end of'the month. Eight operations were performed under general anaesthetics. Tire accommodation for male patients had been severely taxed all the month. Probationer Smith handed in her resignation on August 14th, and Sister McLean on August 31st. Sister McLean was willing to remain for a few weeks, though her annual holiday leave was now due.

The Matron, in her report, suggested that the Board grant an extra certificated nurse to bo added to the staff. They had still a relieving nurse in place of Nurse Brake, who was still tumble to resume her duties.

Nurse Smith was granted a further leave of absence, and the resignation of Miss Smith, probationer, was ac-

cepted. The Sanitary Inspector reported satisfactorily on several matters in the Stratford Borough. Samples of fresh milk were purchased from tlhiree milk vendors in Stratford and forwarded for analysis to Dr. Maolaurin. Dominion Analyst. Wellington. All the samples bad been found to comply with the standard in force under tlie Food and Dsugß Act, 1908.