HOSPITAL BOARD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 77, 21 September 1911, Page 7

HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday, when there were present: Messrs F. C. Eellringer (chairman), M. J. Mac.Reynolds, C. O'SuHivan, D. 11. McDonald, <i. W. Browne, J. Brown, J. R. Hill and <J. V. Tate. An apology was received for the absence of. Mr. C'utlield, who recently met with an accident. The chairman referred to the fact that .Mr. \V. Outfield was, a very useful member, and expressthe hope .that he would soon be aMe to attend the Board's meetings again. •An apology was also received from Mr. K. Maxwell. OLD PEOPLE'S HOME, Mrs. . Bayly, matron, reported that at 'the Old People's Home everything had been satisfactory and the discipline good. There had been throe admissions, • two departures and! one death, and there were now in the Home 20 males and 8 females. THE HOSPITAL.

The medical superintendent reported ithat (luring: the month :j"> patients had been .admitted, 30 had been discharged and five difd.. There were now 4,'j patients. in the hospital. During the month 30 operations had been performed. Mr. Wylie, acting medical superintendent, forwarded copies of suggestions made by Miss Brown (matron), which lie strongly recommended, viz.—(l) That, the present nurses' dining-room be converted into a children's ward, giving room for six children and two cots for babies, and that it made to open on to the verandah; (2) to provide a fresh dining-room for the nurses, it is proposed to give tliem Ihe small ward on the • side of the corridor, opposite the theatre, for that purpose, and to block up the present doorway to make, the room open on to the. corridor leading to the kitchen. The room would be quite large enough for the purpose. As it would lie some time before the new hospital would be ready, the superintendent considered the' alterations should be carried out so as to relieve the present congested state of the women's ward, and while the present alterations were going on sin'med a suitable time.

The chairman said that the visiting committee were quite in accord with the proposal, and. the suggested alterations had been put in hand at once, and were now almost completed. The action of the committee was approved.

INSPECTOR'S RKPORT. Mr. A, IT. Kciidiil]. inspect or. reported that during September lie had visited »nd cnqtiiri'd itno scarlet fever outbreaks at Inglexvood and Tariki. typhoid fever at Raliotu and I'.ell Block, aiid disinfection would in each case be carried out, at the propel' lime. lie had disinfected premises in New Plymouth vacated by a phthisis patient, and inspected other premises r<*<|uirin« disinfection at a later date. The Central and Courtenay street schools ami been disinfected, and he found that the West End and Fitzroy schools were regularly disinfected by the custodians. lie had also visited ail the restaurants and auction marts in Xew Plymouth, and found the condition of the restaurants to be satisfactory, with tlie exception of one place, where the sanitary necoiiiniod-.ition was insullicient hut was to be enlarged. The inspector also recommended in all cases of public schools where outbreaks of infectious diseases have recently occurred that, if al all possible it would he advisable to thoroughly disinfect the schools before tlie scholars return, where I such disinfection has not been or is not; already carried out. lie would be very pleased to give any assistance in his power.

A copy of the inspector's report re disinfection of schools will be forwarded to the Education Hoard. HE I'IIESEXTAT l()X.

Dr. T. 11. A. Valintinc, "Inspector-Gen-eral of Hospitals, pointed out that if would be the duty of the returning oflice.r of Ihe county to conduct the election of a representative yr representatives to the Board at the county elections in November. He also asked the Board to give their views on the present apportionment of representation.

The Board had 110 recommendation to make.

I THE NEW HOSPITAL. Mr. 0. W. Rogers, clerk of the Egmont J, County Council, forwarded copy of a I resolution passed at the last meeting of ' the Council, viz.—"That the Council pro- ' tests against the proposed expenditure < as being unneeesary." I Mr. Maeßeynalds stated that it was i rather unfortunate that neither he nor I Mr. Maxwell were present at the county I meeting when the matter was discussed. I He. had seen Mr. M. .T. Brennan, proprietor of the Opuiiake Times, who had been a visitor to the hospital lately. Mr. Brennan had informed him that he was very well satisfied with the conduct of the hospital and considered that the improvements were necessary. I'lU'TI DISTRICT NURSE. The balance-sheet of the District Nurse's Fund showed subscriptions £39, nurse's earning from June 1, 1910, to August 15, 1911, £56 (Is 2d; total, £OS Os 2d. Expenditure: Hospital fees £37 0s (id, other expenses £4 lis 3d, leaving a balance in the bank of £53 8s sd. Nurse O'Callaghan asked if the Board wished a monthly report of the work done. It was resolved that the nurse be requested to forward her report monthly. CENERAL. The Treasury forwarded a cheque for £351 2s, being subsidy on rates. Mrs. Tiseh forwarded a letter expressing thanks to the Board for their expressions of sympathy in her recent bereavement.