STRATFORD HOSPITAL BOARD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 75, 7 July 1910, Page 2

STRATFORD HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting ol the Stratford Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held in the Municipal Chambers, Stratford, yesterday. There were present: Messrs. -G. A. Marchant (chairman), S. Ward, A. V. .Meredith, Porritt, Kennedy, Cameron, Maxwell and Marfell. VISITING COMMITTEE. The Visiting committee (Messrs Ward, Porritt and Cameron) reported visiting the hospital and grounds, where they found everything in good order. On two occasions the gardener reported that cattle found their way into the grounds and did considerable damage to vegetables, etc. The committee recommended that this portion be fenced in. Owing to the bad weather the committee could not confer with Mr. Robinson, and suggested that the matter of the improvement of the grounds stand over till next meeting. The report was adopted. MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. Dr. Paget, medical superintendent, reported that during the month there had been ten admissions, eleven had been dis-i charged, and thirteen were now in the hospital. He also stated that Nurse Lyall had left and the nursing staff was! thereby reduced to the matron, onel qualified nurse, one two-year and one; first-year probationer. The wock had: been heavy, throwing considerable strain on the staff. Provision would have to be made for a relieving nurse by August, when Nurse Bennett's holiday was due. He also recommended that Nurse Blake be given a holiday. —The report was adopted and' the question of appointing a relieving nurse was left in the chairman's hands. MATRON'S REPORT. The matron's report was to the effect that everything .was satisfactory. FINANCIAL POSITION. The secretary announced that during the three months receipts had amounted to £745 16s 4d, made up of patients' fees, £>92 19s sd, local bodies contributions, £ll7 16s sd, voluntary contri--Expenditure for the same term was: hospital, £424 6s Bd, charitable aid board, £66 lis. I The secretary also stated tliat patients' fees were not coming in very satisfactory. There were several cases -.which should be made to pay. Hundreds if not thousands of pounds were outstanding. The secretary was given power to sue for the recovery of certain maintenance accounts. The chairman also intimated that the Board would have to take an afternoon and go through the list of debtors. , j ' GENERAL. ' | The offer of Mr. Alfred Bayly to donate a cot for the hospital was accepted with thanks. I In connection with an application by a benevolent lady in New Plymouth for the admission of a Stratford woman into the Old Woman's Home , at New Plymouth, the Board went into committee, and on resuming reported that the Board did not consider the case a suit-j able one for admission to the Home., | The Taranaki Hospital Board notified the admission .of . Mr. Geo.' Burgivam,' footballer, of-Toko, to the-New Plymouth Hospital. Mr. Geo. Officer wsys granted a fortnight's holiday. ' The appointment of Mr. Robertson as wardsman at the hospital was confirmed. The tender of Messrs. Irvine and Henry >was accepted for the erection of a shed, porch and cupboard at the hospital, subject to a slight modification. I THE SATURDAY COLLECTION. j A letter was received from Mr. C. D. Sole,' secretary Oddfellows' Lodge, slat- 1 ing that the total amount collected at the recent Hospital Saturday collection and realised at the ball was £ll7 9s lid. This amount would be donated to' the Hospital, and no conditions woiild be attached as to hpw it was to bej expended. It was resolved that the thanks of the Board be conveyed to Mr. Sole, the Oddfellows' Lodge, the ladies, and all who assisted. . The Board reopened 1 the question of the expenditure of the money, wnieh had been threshed out at last meel'ng, when it was decided ,that no steps be taken until Dr. Valintine, Inspector General, had been consulted. Mr. Kennedy moved that, the chairman and the medical superintendent hold a conference and instruct 4 the Board's architect to draw out plans of an isolation ward, such plans to be sub-j mitted to Dr. Valintine for his criticism. i On being informed that the amount available from the two years' donations, with the Government subsidy, would be about £SOO, Mr. Kennedy continued that they need not be anxious if they exceeded .that amount slightly, as the public would subscribe • the balance. Mr. Meredith seconded the motion. Mr. Maxwell asked if the Board had agreed as to the necessity of an isolation ward.

Mr. Ward thought it would be better I to get,the Inspector-General's advice on| the question. Dr. Valintine might possibly suggest something more important. He moved, as an amendment, that the] matter be held over until after the Board had conferred with Dr. Valintine. Mr. Cameron seconded. The chairman thought it might be better to harmonise the motions, and write to Ur. Valintine and ask him if he would forward any plans of isolation' wards.

Mr. Porritt thought it would be un-j safe to go to the expense of getting outj plans until Dr. Valintine had inspected the site. j

Mr. Marfell would like, the Board to decide if they, were going to erect an isolation ward. ! Mr. Kennedy said there were some oases now in the hospital which should be in an isolation ward. Mr. Maxwell said that £SOO was a serious sum to spend without consideration.

(The chairman asked if the Board could use the isolation ward as a maternity ward, if necessary. They might possibly find Dr. Valintine in favor of a maternitv ward. An isolation ward was necessary, as at present infectious cases had to be accommodated in tents, mid. in wet weather particularly, the discomfort both to patients and nurses was great. .The 'functions of a mother were'now recognised by the State much more, than formerly. The question wasj shortly fjoinsr to force itself as to whe- 1 ther such cases would not be within the scow of hospital boards, as the more unforeseen incidents iu one s life. The** need not therefore be surprised if thev ( Twd Inrsrelv to fa»e tV responsibility ] themselves as to how the money was! be spent; • / . :

Mr. Cameron said he could not understand the attitude of members. Last meeting it was decided that nothing could be done until Dr. Valintine had been consulted. Now they were going to the contrary. They were going to put up the isolation ward, and ask Dr. Valintine's opinion afterwards, it was absurd. Mr. Kennedy: '"You forget that the Board entered into correspondence with Dr. Valintine. A month has now passed, and we can't get an interview." The chairman said he would advise further communication before anything was done. Botli the motion and the amendment were withdrawn. Mr. Kennedy moved that the secretary write to Dr. Valintine and ascertain the earliest date it would be convenient for him to meet the Board in connection with' the expenditure of this money. This was seconded by Mr. Ward, and carried. RAILWAY MEN. Mr. S. Ward thought that now Parliament was sitting it would be a good idtea to ask the members of the district (Messrs. Hiue and Dive) to bring forward tlve question t of the Public Works' employees contributing something to the Hospital. There was a community of six or seven hundred people, who paid no rates, yet, if they got ill, used the hospital; and it was time some scheme was introduced whereby local , authorities could be reimbursed. The matter was discussed in committee, and on resuming the Board'-reported that it ! had been decided that the chairman I should deputationise the Premier on the ' subject when at the Counties' Conference in Wellington shortly. i. ' =