NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 239, 18 March 1915, Page 3

NEW PLYMOUTH HOSPITAL.

MEETING OF TIIE BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Taraimk Hospital anil Charitable Aid Board vra', field yesterday. I're-ent: Messrs F. C., d Bcllringrr (chairman), (!. \V. Browne 11. .Maxwell, I). H. M'Donald, A. H. Halcoiiibe, G. V. Tate, J. Brown, D .M'AlUim, and J. 1!. Ili;:.

HOSPITAL PATIENTS. The medical superintendent (Dr. E, A. Walker) reported that during the month -l. 1 ) patients had been admitted, 51 discharged, and two hail died, there remaining in the hospital 54 patients. I lie highest number 011 any one day was LECTUUES TO NURSING STAFF. Dr. Wilker also wrote with further reference to his letter to the board's last September meeting, and stated that he hail to suggest the need for special p:ivision for lectures to the nursing staff, as required by the Government regulation. Owing to the great increase in all branches of work in the hospital, it, had become impossible for this work to be carried out as formerly by the present staff. There was no lack (if opportunity for obtaining the mout thorough knowledge of the practical sides of nursing, but it was also necessary that .systematic instruction by lectures in accordance with the department's syllabus lie given. He had therefore to ask the board to empower him to arrange for the appointment of lecturers not 011 the hospital executive at a remuneration to be subsequently arranged. It was resolved to authorise T)r Walker fo make the necessary arrangements.

OTJ) PEOPLE'S HOME. Till' assistant in charge of tlio Old People's Home (Mr. S. Adams) reported that. during the past month discipline, lad Teen excellent and supplies satisfaerory. 1 here had been four admissions, four departures, and three deaths,, there remaining in tlie institution 2(i males md seven females. HEALTH INSPECTOR. The acting health Inspector (Mr. C. U". T.opncr) reported that during tlie "cried from Feliruarv 17 to March 17 ■here had been 15 op.ses of infections lipase notified,:—Chickenpox 8, diplihcria 5, scarlet fever 2. Mr. Kendall »'d made four investigations and four lisinfectinns, and lie had made eight, in•"estifpitions and eight disinfections. Mr. Tapper also reported as follows; '.As diphtheria seemed to he on the iu•rcase in the AVaitara district, the chairnan considered the Health Department ■hould be wired to asking them to scud m expert ofTicer to report on tlie matt'Y. Iliis was done, and tfie deparlment redied offering to send an inspector if tlie ward paid expenses. I answered,' 'lf roil consider necessary send inspector: lepnrtment pay expenses.' Dr. Finch ivired. 'lnspector Middleton will arriv? nail train. March 3.' I met him and ar--anged to go to Tikorangi to a Native's muse oiT the Otoroa Tioad, about four miles from the Tikorangi school, and irranged that Mr. Kendall should also jo. AVe left Xew Plymouth on March t, ind first visited the Tikorangi school, where Air. Middleton left instructions what was to be done, and then went to Tarata's house, but found nothing that would had one to suppose that the disease had started there. AA r e called at I'elfav's anj wv the children—the swab which had been taken from the girl had been returned from AA'cllington marked Xot, diphtheria'—and the bov was running aboiit. and. as far as I could tell, was all,- right. Tile house and grounds were well kept, and situated in a healthy position. The inspector left instructions that tlie room used by (he children must, be disinfected in twelve iluvs. and this lias been done. AVe next visited tlie AA'aitara. school. Owing to the school being closed on account of tiie prevalence of diphtheria, the key was obtained from the master, and the'school was inspected. The school, allowing for tile time it had been closed, as the dint, might, have accumulated, was not. well kept as a school, especially of that size, which has 257 children on the roll and a daily average of 274, should !>?. I understand the children clean it. [ o, of course, on cannot expect them to keep things in order as n man or woman who is paid to do the work. The secretary assured me the committee were trying to get someone to undertake the work, but. so far no one would take the position, C.'to per annum being the amount ollered, not, in my opinion, sufficient. As the committee only receive £OB -Is canitafion they have not much to come and go on. T visited Waitara on March II! and inspected the school. The inspector's recommendations had been complied with, except, one or two minor matters v. hich Air. Anns promised to attend to that dav. The schonl was to be opened on Monday, March 15. Hllo. Whilst, in Waitara, it was pointed out to me. Hjthough the public school had been closed and the committee made to fum ignte. the cunvenl school, although closed, had received no instructions re fumigation. T therefore culled on the Kev. Mother «md explained the neccssitv to her—she at once agreed to have the school properly washed nut with .Teyes' Fluid and (Uninfected before opening/' The Chairman said tlie arrangements made by the School Committee Mere evidently not in accordance with the measthai, should properly lie adopted. Tise committee, as tlio controlling authority. should take better care to safeguard tin* interests of the children attending the school and should provide better facilities to keep the school as it should he kept. He thought that the nifthed <tf having the school cleaned out by the senior pupils was very unsatisfactory indeed, and did not comply with the regulations of the Kdueation 33nard. 'Hie health of the children had to be looked after, and he thought the health inspector was (juite right in bringing down his report. On the motion of Mr. Maxwell, it was resolved that a copy of the report he forwarded to the Kducatioii Hoard with the hope that the matter will be remedied as soon as possible. Mr. llaleombe said the Waitara. Committee get ju-'t as much cavitation in proportion as any other school, and thus should be well able to look after the r-'h'M-! in a proper manner, Tf they v.'e ; v not able to do so the committee sh< uld write and say so # The Chairman said the (pie-lion nf ■ •apitath.n had nothing to do witii the Hospital Shard; it wa* their duty to see that the health of the children was prof i rly loohi d after. Ife had much pleasure in supporting tlie motion, and he ho| e ( | the Kdnfntiou lioard would «'ive the !i i: 11 l ■ r due considers! ion. The ns'hi'h.n was carried without (!;■ -''Hi. Cl-.NKIJAL. names ( .f ] i - -1 - - Violent Stanton. 'Wh Dodges Olh.ia Peers, and Kil-e--n (• i".'tt!;y wn-e added to the list of ; ' '•..■ i !m:i! i> at the ho-mitn], (own '-h'j'k alvi forwarded, the foh l-e"!!:" resolution pas.-ed by t!te works coiopiiM'-": "That the application of th." Ib'-pital .Hoard thai, tlie Council should t•'•* and >and the road from tlie main to the hospital at the cost of the b a !'il be a-v-ded when the "U'/v,\vW able (o alien.l t> the im-.t i.-r without i d laying ether work." ! A- ■ one' amounting to C:;:; 7 Md • 1 a id i(; r payment (hospital I'.t viiun'iible iuil J,*o2 11a 5(1),