Hospital Board.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 219, 20 September 1904, Page 2

Hospital Board.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the 'J aramtki llospitul and Charitable Aid Jloard whs held u t the board room yesterday morning. There \vero present : Messrs J{. Cock (cha«imun), J, B. JJine, D, H, McDonald, Andrews, J, Brown, J. Mackay, 11. N. Liardet and W, J. Gray.

—Subsidy.— The Treasury repurtwl that the sum oi £214 lis .'id, subsidy due, had been placed at thu board's credit. —0 owtri bu ti ons.—

Payments 0 1 contributions were made u s follows Stratford Iloroiith Council £7 Ids Hd, Clifton County Council £B3 (is (id, Eginont County Council £33 12s. —Okl People's Home.—

The secretary of tho Jlaweru Hospital Hoand notified that they were sending an old man for admission to the Old People's) Home.

Ilw 1 lawei'a Board wrote agreeing to pay lis per week per iiead for tho keep ot local inmates in the Home.

Tho Chairman stated that previously donations and Government subsidy hod not been credited to the cost of Hawera inmates, and lie believed tihc amount offered would cover tho actual Cost. He moved that the olTer bo accepted. Mr McDonald advocated adherence to the present arrangement. Mr Hrown supported this view. On it being pointed out that if the In h r u to were charged ithe Hawera people would be taken away, the Chairman remarked that they could keep the greater number a t a cheaper ratio than a smaller number. Mr Mack ay compared itjio cost of keep of the Hawera and New Plymouth liospital patients, the former tan.* Ms HJd per head, less 12s fijd Patients' fees, uJwl New Plymouth 7s Id per head, less 4s (id fees. He said if the proportion was maintained the Hawera Hoard Could not very well I maintain their old people. Mr McDonald moved anid Mr Brown seconded, r liiat the old arrangement be adhered to.

The Chairman having withdrawn his motion, Mr McDonald's was carried.

—Probationers' List.— Alias Phcalnn was placed on the probationers.' list.

—Outstanding Foes.— Tho b<>n«i went into details of sovcral outstanding accounUs for fees, amounts of several of which were remittal. —Bank Interest.—

Tho manager at tho Bamk of New South Wales' notified ihe bound that after this month the rale of interest on the overdraft would be 5J per cent." —"Passers On."— On tho motion of Messrs Mackay and Andrews the board decided to fall in with the suggestion 0 f the North Canterbury Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard with regard to I the exchange of lists of that class of vagrant known a a "passers on." ' —Consumptive Annexe.—

Tho Chairman reported that Dr. Valintine, assistant health offlcer.had visited the hospital grounds in company with other Government medical men, t 0 decide on the site of the proposed consumptive annex®. The Sits lelocted was at the old fpuntain.

Mr Gray emphasised th« Importance of caieful consideration of tho whole question, as tho innovation would fleet the whole system of hospital management. He thought another si to should 'be welecteid.

The Chairman said tho question of expense precluded another site, and that suggested wafl decided upon on account of its convenience.

Pending the receipt 0 f plana the subject was deferred. —Medical Report.—

The acting medical superintendent (Dr. Wyllie) reported that during the month of August 28 patients were admitted ; HO were discharged ; 2 patients died, leaving on Ist September 31 patients in hospital. Eleven operations were |K>rfoi*mod, anaesthetics being administered in two other cases for the purposes of examinatiom.

—Old Poople's Home.— Thocuwtodian of the Old People's Homo (Mr A. E. Farrar) in kin monthly report, stated there had been (our males admitted, one male leaving. Tho general health and discipline were good. Dr. MacGregor, Inspector of Hospitals, paid a visit to the institution on the 7th. He desiirod that all inmates bo brought, to the flitting room, when he privately inquired if they hud any complaints to make concerning their food and comforts. Everyone was satisfied, with no complaints. Dr. MacQrogor expressed himself very pleased with everything. As a" the rooms 'on Ihe mala side were occupied 'he asked permission to place new arrivals on the female side. He also asked instructors re the oats in the iwiddock. ;

Mr Gray made a suggestion as to the utilisation of labour of those men applying for relief. Ho said that, t Jlawera the local board had mailt arrangements with tho Borough Council to break stones with relief labour, applicants to be placed at work thereon. He moved that a fc'imilar practice be adopted here; This, seconded ,by Mr ilrown, wag Carried. —Outsido Patients.— The sub-committeo appointed to deal with the question of charges for outside patients recommendad that the present churg>e of 4s per d-iem bo adhciMi to in the case 0 ' patir ents from contributing: bodies, and 4s (id for outsido patients. When a third consulting physician is required such patients to defray cost of attendance. Also that no outside pati* nt lie admitted without previous payment of one month's fees, a refund to be made if the sitay bo less. The Chairman said the committee h.d rectivod communications from Auckland, Wanganui, iiunodin, Wellington ttpd Xupier, and with tho exception of one institution, whero the foes wero 30s, tihey were much on tho average. Ho thought tho nott co9t would be gi-eater tJiia year, as contributions collected would not be 6 iual to thoso of the present year. Mr Uaidet moved the ndoption of tie report, seconded by Mr Gray. Mr Andrews thought the actual cost should bo charged to outside patients, tho Chairman maintaining that 7s was too high as compared with the fees paid by patients from their own distinct. Ultimately amendment was tabled by Messrs Ui'oWn and Andrews to the effect that outsido patients be charged fls. This was defeated by 5 to 3, the report being adopted. —Finance.—

The treasurer reported flßancs showing a credit balance of £23 2s Hd. —Accounts.— Accounts amounting to £422 5s Bd wero pa.sM.xl fop payment. At this fila/ge tho iloa'd udjourned lor lunch, after which the hospital was visited, Mr CulT attending. —Morgue.—

Ois. Niton, llt'noklngi and Wood Wailed on the boa«l as a deputation from tho llorough Council in referonco to the erection of a morgue.

Tho chairman said that the architect., Mr Messenger, estimated the cost H t £2OO, of which tho Council proponed to contribute half.

Mr Wood pointed out, according to a li'gal opinion obtained Rome two years ago. tihat it was not legal f o r the council to spend money on tho morgue unless the local body luta control of it.

The secretary said that this difficulty had been overcome in regard to tho present building by proclaiming it a public morgue. Mr Wilson advocated the insertion of a clause in the bill now before Parliament authorising the expenditure of borough funds. Mr Cliff suggested that the house committee and tho council's deputation discuss the matter and report to the Hospital Board. Mr Andrews moved and Mr llrown seconded a resolution to that effect, which Was carried.