HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 327, 20 January 1909, Page 4

HOSPITAL BOARD.

The monthly uieetnig of the Tarannki Hospital a:id Charitable Aid Board was held uu Monday, l'resent: Messrs > llcilriugi-r (in the chair), M'Donaid, OXulliiau, Browne, Hill, Andrews, and Harvey. J.NSI'ELTOIUJKXJiISAIAi REPORT. !r. Valentine, Injector-General of 110-pitajs, attended and reported that he had [mid Iris imiul visit to the lios-] pital, and fmmd everything in excellent order, nitli regard to the Old Peoples in.aie, \ w was particularly pleased witn ii. and al.-o with what was ii'ing done in iii. garden. The latter was rery well kip,, and as far as he eould see would supply both institutions with vegetables, with the exception of potatoes, all the year round. Dr. Valintinc said he was very glad to see the Board had supported so cordially his scheme with regard to district nurses. He was very anxious to see the Taranaki Board give the, scheme the kick-off and make the first appointment. He believed, and said it advisedly, that I'ruti would be a good district in which to try the experiment, and they must of course look upon it in the light of an experiment at first, and if her services were taken advantage of by the settlers and they backed her up in every way ami contributed j by donations towards her salary, and relieved the Board of as much financial responsibility as possible then they could decide whether or not they could go hi for the larger scheme ol having district nurses etablished in other parts of the district. There was no need for him on this occasion to go into the question of the duties of district nurses, but briefly settlers could take advantage of her services for maternity work, general nursing, attending cases of accident from the place of the accident to the hospital. The Board could also make use of her services as a sort of poor-law inspector to report to the Board about any persons applying from her distritt for charitable aid relief. If the Board did establish a scheme for district nursing lie would like to see the settler- at a ny rate pay half the salary until the Board found out where- they were. He would like to meet the settlers and tell them that the whole success of the scheme depended on the amount of support they extended to it. It was decided on Dr. Yalhtine's suggestion that Mr. o¥ulliran should make arrangements for the InspectorGeneral to meet the settlers on Pcbruarv 25, sports <lav at I'ruti. MEDICAL - REPORT. Dr. Leatham, Medical Superintendent, reported that the number of patients admitted to the Hospital during the month of December was 34; 33 had been discharged, the number remaining in the Hospital at the end of the month lwing 33. There had been three deaths. Thirteen operations had been performed.

OLD PEOPLE'S HOME. The Matron of tnc Old People's Home (Mrs. Farrar) reported tliat during the period from December 2 to January 18 there had been one inmate admitted and three departures. There had been three deaths. The general health of the inmates was fair and discipline good except in the ease of two inmates who had been dealt with by the chairman. The number of inmates in tlie Home at present was 3U, 25 males and 5 females. THE AMBULANCE. Mr. G. H. M'Gahey wrote that the invbulanee was urgently needed on December 20 to take a serious ease to lh> Hospital, and he was surprised to b'nd he had to go to the racecourse for it, wliere he supposed it had been left after the races. He pointed out that there were several defects about the ambulance requiring immediate attntion. Tlie Chairman said he was having the ambulance properly repaired.— Action confirmed. MISCELLAKEOI'S. Mr. James Burgess' wrote expressing his appreciation of the kind resolution of the Board relating to his services during the time that lie held office. He assured the Board that the regrets were mutual, and the courteous manner in which the chairman and members (although quite properly differing at times) always conducted the business would leave pleasant memories of the time he was one of them. Miss Kate Bertram wrote asking if she would lie allowed to come to the Hospital and finish her training as a nurse. She had previously been in the Hospital, but left three years ago on account of her mother's ill-health.— The Board-agreed to allow Miss Bertram to return to the Hospital when an opportunity presented itself. A vote of thanks was accorded the Stratford Board for its contribution of Christmas cheer to the Old People's Home. Accounts amounting to t341 His 2d were passed for payment (Hospital C-2G4 5s fld, charitable aid £77 Ms Sd.)