WANGANUI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3468, 23 April 1920, Page 4

WAN GANUI HOSPITAL BOARD.

bTITTI.\"G' IN E.~\lH:\l:’]~l.

TAIHAPE L{USPI’I‘AL REQUIRAE.

MENTS

A sitting Tffthe \\’:mgul)ui Ho.~:,pit;ll and Charitable Aid Board was held in Taihape on Wednesday afternoon. Present: Mr E. Fletcher (Chairman), 31115 Coxuyns, and Messrs Simpson, Brown, Rfichie, and Aldl'idge_ Ml‘ Mr Kerby (secretary),/. Dr. Hnt:soll (Superintcndant of the Wangganni Hospital), and . Inspector Swindells were also present. Previous to the meeting. ':ncmbox's of the Boaljd, under the conduct of the Matron, Miss Webb. and Mr Aldridge, made .3 thorough inspection of the Hospital and annexes, and particularly the scarlet fever buildings,

(which, by the way, hafve never had occasion to be used since crceiion). Va:-iou»s matters needing attention were pointed out to the members, aml investigated.

The Board, after lunch, held their meeting, Mr Fletcher stating that the present session was a continuation of the meeting held ‘the day previously at Wanganui. which adjourned to Tnihape to talk matters over in connection with the Taihnpe Hospital, and to inves'fi'gr'ate matters which required attention at the instution. He would ask Mr Aldridge to express his opinion. ‘ . Mr Aldridée said there was no need for him to dwell upon’ the requirements of the hospital buildings; they had been pointed out to members in the best possible manner that day, and the next best thing was to have the matters attended to at once. The, district served by the local hospitrsl was a. most important one, and one that was daily growing in magnitude, carrying with its increased and closcly se‘ttled area additional responsibilities for hospital equipment. Largo estates were being cut up, and only the other day 30,000 acres were subdivided for closer settlement. Portion‘ of the Hawke’-s Bay County had. been taken over by the 'Ran,<_ritikei County, and there would be closer settlement in"-the To Kapua district.. In addition to these areas the Erewhon estate was being‘ subdivided and settled. All these districts looked to Taihapc for its hospital accommodation,_ and he mentioned these circumstances to impressupoii the members of the Board the necessity of having the ‘Taihapc Hospital properly equipped. _The original idea oflestablislv ing”a public hospital in Taihape was a right one, which had been more than justifield by events; there was no question the -site was one of the best. Members would realise from their inspeetion that the institution was" cramped" for room and its every available‘ accommodaion taxed to flu: utmost, ana that there was need for public expenditure ‘to remedy this. It must not be considered a t;«n.‘9om_y—-hospital.’-and the present ac‘comrnod=ition Was, totally inadequate. l;’:L----tien‘ts were admitted into the local hospital from Marten on one side to Raurimu on the other. True, W'allg:l- - was the main hospital for serious cases. but to send patients down there might mean their death sentence. They should have every pracstieul.' sympathy and assistance here_ Mr Fletcher recognised the expansion of the district, and enquired it? the area taken over by the Rangitikei County Council had been embodievl" in the Hospital area? _ Mr Aldridge said it 11-ad‘ not been done yet; it would eventually. Mr Fletcher pointed out the dimculties, saying until the InspectorGeneral approved of any extension, nothing could be done. The Hospital Board had ‘received no official intim:~.tion of the HaWke’s Bay ¢’»ountl'\' 001*: ins: into the hospital ‘area. ‘Mr Aldridge Said the Rangitikei County Council was establishing an ofiice in Taihape.

A member remarked that a new county ‘appeared to be about duo.

I\lr.Flc,;tbller said Mr Aldridge had made out a good case, and 1; was quite right to make the position clear.

At the invitation of the Chairmzm the Matron pointed out What was rcquircrl in the hospital, reviewing in. detail the result of the joint investigation by the members and herself that day, particularly -stressing. =the comfort the provision of a couple of lounges would be~to patients." on leaving their beds, to which "ihey had been confined, probably for Weeks.

She also asked for an incroasc in salary, saying she felt quite justified in doing so on account o‘f the mani£ol2l duties 3. matron in a small hospital was compelled ‘to perform-—du_ ties which were performéd. by two or three numes in‘ larger hospitals... such as Preparation and attendance in operation theatre and massage. She had very often ‘to work sixteen. hours a day in case of shortage. in .»

the staff. She was quite ‘Willing to do 'this. as she had thé intorest nf the

hospital at heart, and could not be happy herself unless the patients were Ilappy as well.‘ ~

The members of the Board were unanimous that *the \‘ra'riou.<:v works-

outlined by the Matron were neces3ary,‘and shoulcl be done. .11).: Comyns moved’ that the requirements us outlined by 'the Matron be granted, and that Uthe 80-ard’s architect be instrucfed *to carry out the necessary" works. ‘

Mr Aldridge seconded the motion. saying it was no use carrying a resolution unlesé it is carried into eifect. Mr.Fleteher, referring to not carrying into efifeét resolutions that were passed, said all works over £l5O ' had been submitted" to Wellington, and any delay was not the afault of the Board, but of thhe Department. Apparently Government oflicials were much overworked. On Mr Aldridge ‘rested the onus of delay thro{lgh' not jogging them on these matteljs in the past.

Mr Aldridge remarked that if he had érred on that_seore in the past it I would not occur again in the future.

A member remarked -that it was not in Mr Al(ll'idge’s time, but in his

predecessor ’s. o The motion was carried, and it wrs also decided to procure two lomges. The question of increasing the Mutron’:s salary was discussed at some length, the amount received (£l2O per annum) being considered al‘tog3t'uor inadequate,

It was decided that as a I'evisio.:l of the wages of the- whole of the staffs in the hospital dictrict was to be made immediately, the amount of flie in—crease should be held over, and when granted the increase to the Matron was to be made retrospective. It was felt that under"’the circumstances to single any one individual for an increase would be invidious. Messrs Rit.chl'e”and' Aldridge were appointed a visiting committee, for the month.

The general committee. to consist of Messrs Bl'ow\n, Gibbs, Simpson and Aldridge.

The Secretary (Mr Kerby) read the following statémen‘t of the Taihape Hospital ‘for the month ,of March:— The number in the Hospital at the end of ‘February was 21, number admited during March 21, number discharged 25, number remaining in the Hospi'“tal‘l7. If V _