HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 171, 18 January 1912, Page 7

HOSPITAL BOARD.

! MONTHLY MEETING. j The usual monthly meeting of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard was held yesterday. There were present: Messrs F. C. Bellringer (chairman), G. \V. Browne, E. Maxwell, M. J -Mm Reynolds, D. McAllum, J. Brown D H. McDonald, J. R. Hill, G. V. Tate and A. H. Halcombe. OLD PEOPLE'S HOME. The matron reported that everything had been satisfactory during the past month The discipline had been good. I here had been two admissions and no departures. There were at the present time in the Home 11 women and 24 men. EIGHT-HOUR SYSTEM. The following report was read from Dr. Walker, medical superintendent, re the eight-hour system for hospital nurses:—The eight-hour system has been followed in New- Plymouth for fifteen years and only stress of work with shortage of nurses, through illness or otherwise, has led to the temporary adoption of a twelve-hour routine. The following conclusions, the results of a full consideration of. the question with the matron and Mr. Wylie, are based upon local experience and that'of larger systems elsewhere: (1) They of opinion that the carrying out (of treatment ordered by the medical staff ,is simplified when entrusted to two groyjJs tof nurses in place of three, and thejffteater uniformity is thus ensured. sTliis must be in the best interest of the patient. It is certainly likely that when a nurse IS away from control of a patient tw- ve hours, in place of sixteen, she will r ? quickly resume full understanding of course of disease and better contin;; yj in treatment and observation to 'be obtained ; (2) a period of 12 hours' duty is I more conducive to efficiency.of training and j the development of the essential nursing qualities: patience, gentleness, tact, observation, attention to detail, thoughtfulness as to comfort of patients', trustworthiness, and sense of responsibility; (3) adequate experience in all branches cannot be attained in three years of the eight hours' system. They think that an extra year in hospital after passing the State examination is most desirable.. (4) With the eight hours system, nurses attend operations m their time off duty. (3) The health of nurses is most satisfactory and maintains a high average. (6) As indicated above, the increased sense of responsibility that accompanies the 12 hours' system must have a definite and favor-able-influence on good discipline and the development of esprit de corps in a training school. (7) So far the 12 hours' system has not been extended to the sisters and change nurses here, but the probable advantage of such a change would indicate the desirability of a trial of it With sisters and change nurses, the eight hours' system divides ward responsibilities too much. The longer the period of duty would ensure greater accuray and uniformity in detail, besides increasing interest in the results of treatment from closer and more continuous observation. It was decided to ask the doctor to attend next meeting. MEDICAL REPORT.

Dr. Walker reported that the number of patients admitted to the hospital during the month was 33; number discharged, "21; number died, 2; remaining in the* institution, 35. There were 20 operations performed.

If arses Elliot and Sinclair having passed the State examinatons, he recommended that they be placed on the staff as fvon .Jimmy 1, 1912, wi,th the usual increase in salary. INSPECTOR'S REPORT.

Mr. A. H. Kendall reported that he had visited Okato, Puniho, Rahotu, lnglewopd, Opunake and/Waitara. Three cases of phthisis and three cases of scarletina had been notified in the district, and he had reported same to the Public Health Department. Two premises had been disinfected, one of the public schools in Inglewood had been disinfected, and he recommended the same for the other school. He had reported on a Chinese laundry in New Plymouth.. He had inspected butchers', bakers' and other places where food is prepared' or sold in all places visited, and also the dairy farms from which milk had been supplied to patients suffering from scarletina. The earthwork at the hospital site and the road at the Old People's Home had. progressed well since the weather improved. A DILAPIDATED BUILDING.

Mr. A. H. Kendall, inspector, reported on the building occupied by Gan Fun as a laundry for the'-past ten years, and which is probably 50 years old. The roof had been covered with shingles, slate and corrugated iron. The building was dilapidated. There was no truth in the report that he had been over the premises With the borough engineer prior to a permit being-issued; It would have been advisable for ,a new building to have, been erected in keeping with the progress of the town, The present owner had spent.£3so on"alterations. The visible defects since the alterations were in the rear portion of the building, and should not be allowed. The building was now divided into two good shops. The shop on the east was occupied by a Miss Burgess as a fruit and lollie shop, and had two back rooms behind. One room had one door connecting with the adjoining shop, which ' door was kept locked. When the doors were closed .there was no ventilation, the lighting -was inefficient, and the room contained one double and single bed. He was given to understand that Miss Burgess occuI pied the room for sleeping in. The room behind, or third room, was used as a kitchen, and one \yndow and a portion of the room was partitioned off into a separate room for ripening bananas. The adjoining shop was occupied by Miss Lithgow as a stationery shop. One room in the back portion was badly ventilated. He would recommend that all windows in the back rooms be made to open properly, either hinged or hung, and that each of the back rooms have an approved ventilating skylight fixed, and free ventilation established under the floor of all rooms.—Approved. GENERAL. Mr. H. Chcsson, acting-District Health Officer, wrote pointing out that the Waitara Borough Council should submit its sewerage scheme to the Department of Public Health for approval. Dr. Valintine wrote asking if the proposed apportionment of members submitted would meet with the approval of the Board, namely, Clifton County 1, Taranaki County and St. Aubvn Town District 4, Now Plymouth Borough awl Fitzroy district 3, Inglewood and Waitara boroughs 1, Egmont County 2. Approved. Mr. E. O'Sullivan, a late member of the Board, wrote to thank the members for the resolution of appreciation of his services during the six years he was a member. The amount donated to the hospital funds during Christmas amounted to £4.5, including the Government subsidy. —The Board passed a vote of thanks to all those who contributed towards the fund. A Chinaman, named Don Ghee, forwarded a donation (per Messrs. Noswortliy Bros., Waitara) of £3 3s towards the hospital funds. It was decided that it was inadvisable for Mr. Kendall to conduct an examination in plumbing. The plans for alterations to the hospital were discussed, and it was decided

to instruct the architect to proceed with the work subject to minor alterations. Accounts were passed for payment as follows:—Hospital, £(500 2s 9d; Charitable Aid, £162 17s 6d.