HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 247, 18 April 1912, Page 6

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The annual meeting of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held at the Board's office yesterday, when there were present: Messrs F. C. Bellringer (chairman), W. Outfield, E. Maxwell, M. J. Macßeynolds, J. R. Hill, J. (Brown, A. If. Ualcombe, D, 11. McDonald, D. McAllum, G. V. Tate, and, G. W. Browne. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. Mr. Kendall, haalth inspector, reported that during the past month five cases of scarlet fever had oecured in New Plymouth, and one ease of typhoid fever. One ease of hydatids from an outside district had been notified and treated in New Plymouth. There had been one death from tuberculosis. One ease of fever was notified at Te Kiri, and one case oi tuberculosis from Okato had been treated in the hospital. One case of diphtheria occurred at Waitara. (Four cases of scarlet fever, one of typhoid and one of diphtheria were being treated at- the patio nts' own -houses, as some of these patients were not able to obtain admission at the hospital owing to the want of accorr-'.illation. The outbreak of scarlet ft" r in New Plymouth was peculiar, as there was no apparent connection between any of the cases, which had in most instances nothing in common. The parties were tinknown to each other, and the milk supply was almost as various as the cases. All possible disinfection and enquiry had ' bi?en carried out and made. I The report was adopted. NURSES' HOURS. Dr. E. A. Walker, medical superintendent, reported that, as anticipated in his report on the eight-hours system, he had to recommend certain changes in the hours of duty of the nursing staff of the hospital. ifTe had to advise hours for sisters as per a schedule forwarded: He added that it was the expressed wish of the sisters that such a mode of control should :be adopted. He also felt j that the hours suggested would make for increased efficiency, and the patients' highest good. In the meantime, it would seem wise to adopt the schedule for a term of six months, with a view to a further report as ,to its results. He I advised that the hours of* duty for all ] nurses on the morning section should be j from 0 a.m. to 3 p.m., in place of 6 a.m. jto 2 p.m. as at present. This does | not really mean more than eight hours / of duty, as breakfast, lunch and dinner | were taken during that period. At present it was rarely possible for nurses to complete ward details by 2 p.m., and the extra hour would state 'the position consistently, and enaWe duties to be carefully completed, without the hurry that is often associated with a busy period. The schedule showed that day sisters would be on duty for eleven hours. Both would be on from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., one from i 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and the other from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., each sister taking afternoon and evening duty on alternate days. Term of duty, four months out of six. Holidays, one day or two halfdays per month. Night 'sister, 10 hours on duty, from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.; term of duty, two months out of six months; holidays, two days at conclusion of duty. Each sister would be present on duty in the theatre at the operations coming from her own ward during her hours of duty. • The superintendent's recommendations J were agreed to. j RATE. • The chairman moved in accordance with notice of motion, that the rate for the ensuing year be lOd in the £IOO. j He clearly outlined the necessity for an j increased rate, pointing out that'through I extraordinary expenditure there was I now an overdraft of > posed increased rate would produce£494. Mr. (McAllum seconded the resolution. Mr. G. W. Browne asked if the extraordinary expenditure would be recurring this year. He considered an increase to M would Ibe sufficient, and he moved in this direction.

Mr. M. J. Macßeynolds seconded the amendment. He considered that they would shortly be asking ratepayers to provide funds for the new hospital. He suggested that they should take advantage of the Minister's offer and Tjorrow the money. Discussion then ensued as to how much money had (been paid out of the ordinary account that could 'be repaid out of a loan account. It was ascertained that the purchase of the new site, removal of the Old People's Home, and earthwork at the hospital site had amounted to £3532, but of this amount all that could come out of the hospital loan would be the cost of preparing the site. Mr. Maxwell said that the Egmont County Council considered that capital exp< nditure should be paid out of loan, and that the JBoard should have anticipated the expenditure bv raising a loan. Personally, Mr. Maxwell thought that it would not have (been good 'business to have raised the big loan" some two vears before it was required to meet small"payments. They could not have estimated the amount of the loan required to a nicety until the tender was received. The amendment was lost, Messrs G. W. (Browne, Macßeynolds, J. R. Hill, and J. ißrown voting in its favor, and Messrs 'W. CuWicld, R. Maxwell, D. McAllum. G. V. Tate. .A. H. Halcombe, D. H. McDonald and the chairman against it. The 10d rate was then carried. Mr. G. i\V. [Browne then stated that he would give notice to move that no further expenditure on account of the new hospital should be paid out of the general account. GENERAL. An application by Messrs Sanderson and Griffiths to connect a residence with the Hoard's water main to the Old People's Home was refused, as the Board ha<[ not acceded to other requests. Nurse Kennedy forwarded a report on the cases attended during the month. _ Miss Lilian Mary Crol!, of South Wellington, was placed on the outside probationers' list. Messrs G. W. Browne. W. Outfield, J. .Brown. D. IT. M'c.Doiuila/D. McAllum and the chairman were appointed a house committee. It was resolved to apply to the Police Department for permission to place the ambulance shed (which was a moveable 'building), in the Police reserve at Opunake, and the matter was left in the hands of Mr. Macßeynolds to arrange.