TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 127, 22 October 1914, Page 6

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. Tho ordinary mooting of the TaranaJci hospital and Oharitauie Aid Board was held at tho Board's office, N"W Ply moU'llh, voaeerday, when there wure present Messrs I. C. J. Bellringer (chairman), G. W. Browne, E. Maxwoll, M. J. Maoßeynolds, D. J. McAUum, J. R. Hill, D. H. McDonald, G. V. Tate, A. H. Halcomlbe, and Mrs E. Dookrill. HEALTH INSPECTOR'S RETORT. Mr C. M. Lepper, acting healtftv inspector, reported that during the period September 15 to October 21, Wl4, he had viai'.ied Inglewood and Margort-i. Three cases of infectious disease had been notified, viz., tuberculosis 1, chicken pox 1, measles I. die had made three investigations and performed tliTeo disinfcotjiens. OLD PEOPLE'S HOME.

Mrs Bayly, matron 'of the Old People's Homo, reported that during idle la*t month everything ■ had been working satisfactorily, t)h e supplies being very good. /Discipline had bete excellent with the exception of one case, which lhad ibeea dealt with by the chairman. There had been five admissions, viz., three men and two women. There w.ere now in the Home thirty-one males/ and ten females. ■HOSPITAL iREPORT. Dr E. A. Walker, nudical superintendent of the Hospital, reported that during September 57 patient* had been admitted to tho liospital, 52 had ibeen discharged, and three had died. There now remained 59 .patients in the Hospital, and the highest number of patients on any one day was 65. There had 'been 44 'operations during the month.

AKE-AKE AT PUNGAREHU. Mrs. Harrison, head teacher of the' Pungarehu school, wrote, through Mr. , Mcßeynolds, and asked, if arrangements could 'be made for the native nurse to caiil at the school, as for some time past' she had noticed that the native children had 'been suffering from some form of, skin trouble, which was spreading more [ or less to the white children, and there ' appeared some danger of its spreading I further. j 'Mr Mcßeynolds said that the commit-' tee had communicated with the Educa-. tioiv Department on tho matter. I

Mr A. 11. Halcombe considered that it was not a case for disinfection only. The School Comruitteo slhould see to it that a'he children affected should bo kept away from school until thoyi were well. It was stated by the chairman that the disease ake aka was not- a notifiable one.

The question then arose as to whether the periodic inspection. n>f schools did not como within the scope of the native nurse's duties.

Reference 1.0 the native nurse's reports .showed that two cases of "a'ke-ake" were reported at the Pungarehu school last month. Mrs Dock-rill: "It seems that the services of Hie naliive nurse are required." Air E. Maxwell said that, the responsibility evidently did not lie with tho native nurse, but ibetwecn trw school, teacher and the commiU'ce. The fact that ths native nurse had visited the school and found the disease there quite recently showed that she knew of its existence, and the committee should have known that there was a native nurse available. Indeed, that was what the native nurse was appointed for. They were now told that the disease was spreading from th* native to European children. He reiterated that Ilhe services of the native I nurse should ; have Ibccn requisitioned *t' once by the children or the committee. The same might occur with regard to a notifiable disease.

'.:■■.:■ K .jiii;;. r»iii]:-:■ il.d not think the Us. ...■■» ;/. .m-u. Sh rt j.ad reported to ....-.■ sicliooi (...j.iiiuitu-e, who liad in , turn . ;'i-.rri'd .t IU t ii(. Education Board. II li !ii.i. • v.us any tau.t it lay with tlhe Eiiiii:. . n IJoar<;. lio that at the tiliu. ■. ... native iiur.*; had resigned and | Vds a., avaiiiliK. lie uciVndod the action Di he svliool teachei and coaimitj tte. iv the committee had erred it lhad ueui done unwittingly. The chairman suggested that' the School UouMMt,..e s'nould he officially notdifd that ake ake wa B in Ihe swhool and that they nhould lake suip.-v in 't'ho matter. He considered that a copy of the teacher's letter should 'be forwarded iSo the committee. Mr McßojmuldD asked that the. Hoard v »s a health authority should advise the < committee as to what step* to take. , The chairman nUicd that tli>* school ' should bu disinti-ttid and ;ihe parents i urged to keep at home all childavn'who i contract the ditk<it,e.

Mr Halcombe said that in Ureuui and Waihi children contracting the disease were ordered by the cominithee to remain away.

Finally, on the motion of Mr McßeyMjolds, it was resolved that the school teacher be informed 'that Mr Mcßeynolds «nd the district nunse will visit the school. Mr G. W. Browne thought that the Health Department should "io-ve to close down a school in such cases.

On tho of Mr Halcomi'oe, it was resolved to request the Government to make ake ake a notifiable disease.

A further resolution proposed 'by Mr Maxwell, and seconded 'by Mr McDonald, was carried: That 'the teacher be Snformied that, whilst tihe Board db not consider that they have any standing in the master as the disease referred to is not a notifiable disease, e:ill the 'Board is of the opinion that immediately any teachdr, ior member of school committee becomes aware of any such complaint! in the school, steps should immediately be token to prevent amyj affected children attending school. RESIGNATIONS. Nurs« Kidd resigned her position as staff nurse in the New Plymouth Hospital after a period of four years' 'training. The resignation was* accepted with regret. Mir Jas. B. Oarr, secretary of tfhe Mo-kau-Awakino Nursing Association, notified that District Nurae Roberta toad tendered her resignation, to take effect from Nov. 20. The Health Department notified that her successor would foe appointed as soon as available. Nurse Miuir, who had resigned her position as native nurse, wroie declining to continue her duties until her successor was appointed.

| GENERAL. Owing to tihe increased cost of same provisions, caused by tJhe war, the New llymouth members of the* House Committee were appointed to nw>et the BoaTd'3 supply contractors and arrange prices. The Department of Labor wrote asking if the Board had any objection to Mr A. H. Kendall taking up the position of acting-Inspector of Scaffolds for the Taranaki, Egmont and Clifton district*. The Board decided not to entertain the amplication,, as at times there might tie conflict of duties owing to tlhe wide district 10 be covered. The Acting-Inapector-General of 'Hospitals notified that the Government would pay half the cost of any relief i granted 'by Hhe Board to the family of any prisoner of war detained in the Dominion. { Accaun'tS amounting to £877 15s "were passed for payment. jj .i