TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 21 May 1907, Page 2

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

The Taranaki Hospital and Charitable A„l Hoard jjic-l oji ilondav niorniii". Present: Messrs G. Ti,eh "(chairman], J. 11. Parker, .las. Burgess, .). Drown i). 11. McDonald and ('. Andrews. The Stratford Board wrote decliniuc responsibility in the case of tile patiem A. ,f. Jury admitted from the Strafford district, on the ground that lie was not a resident of that district. CHAIRMAN'S REPOKT. This chairman reported that the Jluii.,e Committee mei at the hospital on liny 10th, Messrs Tiscli Parker and Brown being present. Dr Lealhini, medical superintendent, was also present, and asked the committee to increase the size of the ward pantry. The doctor said it was quite inadequate for the purpose of sterilising instrnienU re quired in the surgical ward, and for the purpose of heating water, etc. lie also recommended an extension of the men's lavatories. The chairman said that less than two years ago the pantry and lavatories were connected with the borough drainage, but at that time no mention was made of the iu'i'd for further accommodation. \"ow the medical stall suddenly found that more accommodation was needed, which meant taring up the drainage connections and replacing them etc., a costly job. The committee decided to ask the architect to confer with Dr Lcatlum and prepare an estimate of the cost to lay before thi! Board. The plan was now before the Hoard, and the estimate was £IOO, [ including marble shelving, which lie ■ considered too expensive. Dr Lcathnm ■ had also suggested the neeessity for providing more sleeping accommodation ' for nurses at Die isolation ward. There . were two wards, one of these being f used by the nurse in charge. Acting on Dr Leatham's suggestion r the House Committee recommended ' the- appointment of Hiss Dixon as pro- . batiouer.

In answer to the chairman, Dr Vaiintine said the Board was responsible for the provision of accommodation for infectious cases. lie added, also, that Dr Leatham was quite right in asking for accommodation for the nurse, for it certainly would be awkward should two patients of the opposite sexes be admitted under present conditions.

In discussing the action of Dr Leatham in deciding to send to Wellington for an additional nurse, the chairman produced figures to show that the nunfber of patients which passed through tiie hospital had been 'diminishing snee 1004. He was surprsrd at the doctor's action, for the Board had always been willing to keep the hospital well staffed, and would do nothing to mar the excellent reputation of the institution.

Tt was decided to invite tenders for the structural improvements requested by tiie medical superintendent, also for the frosting of windows, and painting the operating theatre.

FINANCE. Mr Tisch congratulated the Board •on its financial position. Iteceipts ior the year were £081)0 0s 4d, to which should be added the credit balance of £205 lis lod from the previous year. Expenditure for the year was £O2OI 14s 3d, leaving a credit of £OB4 0s lid at the end of the financial year. This had since increased, and the Board's bank-book showed a credit balance of £I3OO. The principal items of revenue were: Patients' hospital maintenance £1982 Is, local bodies' contributions £l3ll IBs, bequests £3OO, Government subsidies £1033. Mr Tisch mentioned that probably the percentage of maintenance fees collected w&s larger than in connection with any hospital of a similar size in the colony. The principal items of expenditure were, for the hospital: Salaries and wages £1177 19s od, provisions £B2B 5s 4d, laundry £lO5, medicine and apapplianees £520, fuel gas and electric light £372, bedding and uniforms £94 12s, asphalting £lO2, building repairs £l4l 10s 9d; and the total amount Of expenditre was £3BOB Is Id. This amount, charged against the 351 patients brought the daily charge per patient to 0s 2%d per day. The cost of indoor and outdoor charitable aid amounted to £2393 13s 2d.

Dr Valintinc said the £520 for medicine and appliances seemed a large item.

The secretary explained that included in the item were the £125 spent by Dr Leitham when in England, and £IOO expended on the X-rays apparatus.

Mr Brown stated that it was unfair to charge the whole of this to one year's expenditure. The cost of permanent improvements should Jio spread over several years.

11 r Burgess agreed. The chairman was of .similar opinion. In the past, when the Board had been managing affairs with Hie utmost economy they were surprised lo sec l>y (lie report oi the Inspector-General that the mainten.tnce cost wa,- very liigli, as compared with other hospitals, ami this was due almost entirely to the fact that extensive permanent improvements, buildings, etc., had licen charged up to the year in which the expenditure was incurred.

Dr Valintine said that he would note the suggestion, and future Departmental reports would contain rigures showing the amounts spent on permanent improvements.

Accounts were passed for payment: Hospital, £538 18s lOd; charitable aid, £l2B lis Cd.

RESIGNATION OK CHAIRMAN. Mr Tisch tendered his resignation as a member of the Board, and in doing so said he thought it time for the infusion of some new blood. He tendered his thanks to the members and to the secretary for their assistance. Members asked Mr Tisch to withdraw his resignation, but he steadfastly held to his purpose.

Mr Brown moved that the Board accept the resignation with regret, and hope he Would see his way to" withdraw it. Of course, thoy knew they must allow a man to know ami to decide when lie has done enough for the nublie. '

Mr McDonald, speaking as an old member, said he was exceedingly sorry that Mr Tisch had resigned, and'said he could assure the chairman that it was the wish of all the members and of the great body of ratepayers that he should continue to hold office. Mr Parker seconded, and joined in the expressions of regrc.t. The motion was carried. In taking leave of the Board Mr Tisch again thanked the memjicrs and staff for their assistance and for the cordial relations prompted by them. He had, however, decided to give some one else a chance, and devote his time largely in the interests of the Education Board, to which he had recently been elected, lie reminded the members that he had wished to resign at { the December meeting, but he consented to hold the chairmanship till May, on account of the absence of Mr fanm, and for other reasons. Referring to the finances, he was glad to say he left the Board in an excellent position, far better than when he joined it. Mr Brown was nominated as chairman, but declined, holding that the chairman must he a town member. Mr Parker was then elected, and disliked members for the honor conferred.