TARANAKI HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 164, 17 December 1914, Page 3

TARANAKI HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held at the Board's Office, New Plymouth, on Wednesday, when there were present: Messrs F. C. J. Bellringer, (chairman), E. Maxwell, M. J. Macßevnolds, J. R. Hill, A. H. Halcombe, J. Brown, D. McAllum, V. H. McDonald and Mrs Dockrill. MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. Dr. E. A. Walker, medical superintendent of the Hospital, reported that during the month, 52 patients had been admitted to the institution and 48 discharged. There had been seven deaths (four of these were over 05 years of age). There now remained in the hospital 48 patients. The highest numbers in the hospital for one day was 59. There had been 40 operations. OLD PEOPLE'S HOME. Mrs Bayly, matron of the Old People's Home, reported that everything had been, progressing favorably during the past month. Supplies had been very good and discipline excellent. During the month, there had been one death, and one departure. There were now remaining in the Home twenty-four males and eleven females. The chairman rema.-ked that the Home was very full just now, especially the women's end, when there were more inmates than had ever been the case before. HEALTH OFFICER'S REPORT. I Mr C. M. Lepper, acting health inspector, reported that during the period from November 18 to December Hi, six eases of infectious diseases had been notified all being cases of chicken-pox from New Plymouth. He had made five investigations, and had performed, one disinfection. THE OPUNAKE COTTAGE HOSPITAL. The site of the proposed Cottage hospital at Opunake came up foT discussion, A deputation had been appointed to wait on the Education BoaTcl with a view to endeavoring to sedure an education reserve near the centre of the : town. Mr C. A. Wilkinsdn, M.P., had also moved in the matter, and the position was that the Education Board could dispose of the property, one acre, for £450, the Government valuation, and must devote the money for the purchase of other sites for educational purposes. On the motion of Mr Mcßeynolds, it was resolved to abandon that proposal on the score of the cost. Two other sections in the district were discussed, and it was finally decided to secure the section in Domett street. Mr Maxwell considered that the prison site, originally proposed, was an ideal one. He understood that the Police Department was a block to this being obtained. There was, he affirmed, no possible chance of this site being required for a police station, as it was at the outlying corner of the town, and the police station required to be in a central position, as it was at present. The site was only required for grazing purposes, and he thought It preposterous that one Department should be allowed to keep for grazing purposes only a very valuable section, that was wanted badly by the Health Department for a cottage hospital, and who would possibly be forced to occupy a less suitable site. He considered the Board should not : abandon the idea of obtaining at least an acre of this section, and should assist Mr Wilkinson, M.P., as much as possible. In reply to Mr J. Brown, the chairman said that the matter had been referred to the Minnster of Justice, who had referred it to the Commissioner of Police. The latter had stated that he Mould not give up a portion of it until forced to do so. To a further question, the chairman said that they had the power to take the land under the Public Works Act, but this was an expensive process. On the motion of Messrs Wilson and Brown, it was resolved that further endeavors be made to obtain a portion o'f the prison rqserve at Opunake. • It wae decided to ask the other Taranaki members to assist Mr C. A. Wilkinson in liis efforts to this end. NATIVE NURSE FOR OPUNAKE.. In regard to the appointment of a native nurse for the Opunake district, Miss H. Maclean, assistant inspector of hospitals, suggested that Nurse Kelly, the present district nurse,- might include the care of the native in her work. She might, it was suggested, occasionally visit the more distant pas, and the Maoris near Opunake might come to her cottage. In order to facilitate this, Nurse Kelly should, as much as possible, confine her work to visiting nursing, and not remain with an ordinary midwifery or general case as a private nurse. It was never intended thnt a district nurse should do this. She must hold herself free to attend cases on visiting lines, and only in cases of actual need, remain in one patient's house. In that way, her work might have a wider scope. The Department, Miss Maclean added, would .recommend payment to the Board of an additional £SO per annum, £23 of which would he additional payment for the muse, ! and £25 towards the expense of providing a cottage and travelling expenses. The chairman thought it would be. in the interests of the Board and of the people to amalgamate the two positions. He was not convinced that there was enough to keep a nurse wholly and solely engaged in native work. Mr Maeßeynolds agreed to the proposal, but he 'thought Nurse :Kelly already required assistance. A discussion then ensued .as to the scope of a district nurse's work. Mi Halcombe stated that in the Uniti (lis triet it was dillicult to get the service! of a trained nurse, and unless tin nurses were allowed to remain with ; patient (unless needed elsewhere) tin scheme would lose a good deal of it: value. It was finallv decided to forward tin letter to Miss Kelly. Mr Maxwell considered that Nurs> Kelly was doing excellent work, and tli present proposal would he the best pos sible solution. He pointed out that the; must yuard against people coining to re! too liiiK'h on the district nurse. Tli' more assistance they provided, the mor the services of the district nurse wouh he availed of, to the detriment of pri ' vate nursing. It was, he felt sure, th intention of the Department that tli services of district nurses should onl, be available on emergency cases, so as t give people time to look round and ob tain the services of a nurse elsewhere GENERAL. The name of Miss M. Goodwin, o Ilawera, was added to the outside pre balioners list. Mr Jimmy On Lee, of Waitara, for warded a donation of £1 Is to the hos pital funds. Accounts for payment were passci as follows:—Hospital, £23,(j 8s 3d charitable, aid, £IOSJ-2s 3d. ~„