HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1916, Page 6

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

- TffE MONTHLY MEETING. .The Taranaki Hospital and Charitable I Aid Board met yesterday morning. Present: Messrs V. C. J. Bcllringer (chair-1 man), 15. Maxwell, D. McAl'lum, J. B. Hill, M. J. Maeßeynolds, D. H. McDonald, and Mrs. Dockrill. Apologies were received for the absence of Messrs A. E. S.vlces, A. H. Halcombe, J. Brown, and (}. V. Tate. The Medical Superintendent (Dr. Walker) reported that during the month DO patients were admitted to the hospital, !>7 had been discharged, 5 had died, and there remained in the institution 70 patients. The highest number for anv one day was 89.

The Matron of the Old People's Home (Mrs. Bayly) reported that during the past month everything had been progressing very favorably. The supplies had been good and the discipline excellent. There had been four admissions and one death, 32 males and 5 females remaining in the Home—a total of 37.

The Inspector-General of Hospitals wrote asking the Board to select a nurse to send to Wellington to receive special training in the treatment of infantile paralysis from Nurse Bevilaqua, of Adelaide.—Dr. Walker reported- that owing to the pressure of work in the hospital being so great, and the proportion of seniors so small, it was not possible at present to detail a nurse for special instruction.

Miss McLean, Assistant Inspector of Hospitals, wrote stating that she understood the Board still required a nurse for the Mokau district. It appeared that the nurse at Uruti, owing to the improvement of the roads and the means of getting to New Plymouth, was not so much required as in the past. Miss McLean therefore asked the Board whether it would consider transferring Nurse Holdsworth to Mokau, where she seemed to be more needed, or at all events allowing the people in Mokau to have part of her services.—The chairmart said ho had replied that, providing both Uruti and Mokau people can come to an amicable arrangement between themselves, the Board would offer no objection. Dr. Valintine notified that he had received a communication from the Director of Dental Services inquiring as to what arrangements could be made for a temporary'military dental hospital in connection with the New Plymouth Hospital, in the event of it being found necesasry to make such arrangements.— Dr. Walker stated that he was unable to suggest what arrangements should be made regarding a military dental hospital without a knowledge'of what the Director of Dental Services actually required. As the Board was aware, they had no dental department and no equipment in the New Plymouth Hospital. If the present outside arrangements were insufficient he would suggest the acquiring of a house in New Plymouth for temporary use.

In reference to a circular regarding precautions against tuberculosis, Br. Walker stated that the course of lectures to senior nurses included instruction on this subject. With regard'to the old hospital building and its proposed conversion to a home for incurables, Dr. Walker reported that he considered it advisable that the question should be reopened with the boards interested, for these reasons: (1) He did not consider such a home necessary at the present time. During the past twelve mouths they had not had one case that could be advantageously transferred to such an institution. ,The so-called incurable eases fell' into several categories. One class, the aged, suffering from the ailments of a wornout system, passed to the Old People's Home, and required very little medical attention or nursing. A second class, incurable surgical cases, needed careful nursing and a septic dressing. These demanded the best that could be done for them to alleviate suffering and prevent secondary troubles. The small residue of medical eases of chronic type coujd be dealt with at their own homes and at the Old (People's Homo, while any period in which more urgent symptoms arose could be spent irt the general hospitals. (2) The old hospital building was unsuitable, and would not only require considerable expenditure to make it convenient and sanitary, but tJie relative expense of running it would be in inve-se ratio to the number of

inmates. He thought that later, when the need arose, the Board should consider the advisability of erecting an old people's hospital at Westown. This

could 'be suitably stalled and equipped to deal with acute cases from tlic Home and duly recommended chronic civ incurable cases drafted from the district hospitals. Vie did not think that present circumstances demanded such a building. The Board had also' to remember that the old hospital site was absolutely essential for hospital extension. The plans of extension in the Board's hands showed an encroachment on the ground occupied by the old building. They inspector reported that during the month he had visited Inglewood, Raliotu, Waitarn, Omata, Durham Road, Tariki, Okato, and other places.