HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 77, 20 August 1914, Page 6

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Board was ueld yesterday a. New Plymouth, \v!hen there were present: Messrs K C. J. Bellringer (Chairman), E. Maxweli, M. J. iMcßeynolds, J. R. Hill, J. Brown, G. V. Tate, D. H McDonald, G W Browne D. McAllum, and Mrs Dockrill. MEDICAL SUPERINTENOANT'S REPORT. Dr. E. A. Walker, medical supcrintcndant of the Hospital, reported that during the month (H patients had been admitted to\thc hospital, 47 had been discharged arid eight had died. There were row 55 patients remaining in the 'hospital. . Thirty-five operations had been performed. The highest number in the hospital on any one day was 59. OLD PEOPLE'S HOME. Mrs Bayly, matron at the Old People's Home, reported that everything had been working satisfactorily, the supplies had been good and the discipline excellent. There had been two admission, both from Hawera, and three deaths. At present, there were twentyfive males and five females at the Home. HEALTH OFFICER'S REPORT. Inspector Fielder reported that during the period July 7 to July 30, inclusive, he had visited Waitara, lnglewood, Waiongona, Kaimiro, Egmont road, Opunake and Okato. Ten cases of infection diseases had been notified: Chicken pox 6 (New Plynfout'h); scarlet fever 2 (lnglewood); dipiheria 1 (Kaimiro); infantile paralysis I (Waiongona). He, had made seven investigations, twentynine, sanitary inspections and performed six disinfections. A quantity of fruit had been destroyed and further samples of milk had been taken upder the provisions of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act. Mr. C. M. Lepper, acting /icalth inspector, reported that from August Ist to August 10 five cases of chicken-pox had been reported, lnglewood 3, Waitara 1, Fiteroy 1. He had not so far disinfected any of the premises. New Zealand was now gazetted free from smallpox, so he supposed it would not be necessary to take any action. Chickenpox was only declared a notifiable disease as a precautionary disease during small-pox epidemics. Two cases of cerebro spinal fever had been reported from Waitara; one ease proving fatal. This house had been disinfected and the report forwarded to the Health Department, Wellington. It was resolevd to recommend the Department that chicken-pox be removed from the list of notifiable diseases. The chairman stated that it was not proposed, at present, to appoint anyone to the vacancy as health officer. The work would be dome under the supervision of MnC. Lepper, secretary to the Board, whilst disinfection could-be carried out by district nurses. . OPUNAKE DISTRICT NURSE. The chairman notified that Nurse MeNali had bein unable to take up the appointment as district nurse at Opunake and Nurse Kelly therefore had been appointed to the vacancy. ilr Mcßcynolds stated that Nurse Kelly was giving every satisfaction at Opunake, and he read the following resolution which was unanimously carried at a full committee meeting of the Coun'tv Egmont Nursing, Association,viz. "That' the secretary .to the Taranaki | Charitable Aid Board he thanked for his [ trouble and attention for finding nurses for the district." NATIVE NURSE'S REPORT. Nurse Muir, Native health nurse at Opunake, reported that there had been ». great deal of sickness, especially amongst the children, three of whom had died, as had also two elderly men. She had attended 32 cases, nineteen being children under ten years of age. The parents in all eases had tried faithfully to carry out the instruction* given U'lelm. An •epid'ciiifo of gadltro enteritis had prevailed among the younger children in several kiangas for some time. The month had been a very busy one and she had found the present method of travelling by coach very inconvenient. A horse had now been purchased for her and should be a help as on some days she had to walk fourteen miles. BOARDED OUT CHILDREN. In reply to a letter from the Wellington Hospital Board, it was unanimously resolved, on the motion of Ors. Maxwell and Brown, that this Board has throughout found the Education Department system of boarding out of destitute children unsatisfactory and costly and has consistently opposed the Educa.ion • Department getting control of such children from this district. The Taranaki Hospital Board considers that far the best system is for each board to retain control and board out such children within their own district. GENERAL. The resignation of Nurses Lee and Sullivan from the staff of the Hospital were accepted. The action of the chairman in accepting the resignation of Mr F. G. Fielder, Health Inspector, who had been appointed to the Labor Department, was confirmed. The name of Miss Bartlet, of HaweTji v.:ik placed or. the outside probationers' list. Account as follow.-, were passed for pavment: £238 (Hospital); £33 (Cl:nritible Aid).