HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1916, Page 8

HOSPITAL BOARD.

' MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Tarana-ki Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard wan held at New Plymouth yesterday, when there were present: Messrs F. C. J. Bellringer (chairman), E. .Maxwell, M. J. Maeßevnolds, D. J. McAlluni, J. R, Hill, J. Brown, A. IT. lfalcombe, (!. V. Tate, D. H. McDonald and Mrs. Dockritt. An apology was received from Mr. A. E. Sykes. HOSPITAL REPORT. Dr. E. A. Walker (medical superintendent) reported that 87 patients had been admitted during the month; 64 had been discharged and one Jiad died. There now remained in the hospital H2 patients. There had been 3!) operations. The highest number of patients on one day was !>7. A. nurse who had suffered with a severe attack of enteric fever had recovered and was now on sick leave. Another nurse was laid aside with diphtheria. The house steward and dispenser had taken over his duties, OLD PEOPLE'S HOME. Mrs. Annie Bayly, matron at the Old People's Home, reported that everything had been progressing very favorably. The supplies 'had been very good and the discipline excellent. There had been one admission, two departures and one death, .and there now remained in the home 31 males and four females INSPECTOR'S REPORT. Mr. A. IT. Kendall, Health Inspector, reported that during the past month 23 cases of infectious disease were notified in the district, as compared with 32 cases for the previous month. The distribution of cases was as follows: New Plymouth, one case of scarlet fever and 17 eases of diphtheria (the last case notified being on July 12); Waitara, four cases of diphtheria, three of which had lately been resident in New (Plymouth; Egmont county, one case of scarlet fever, at Opunake. Seventeen disinfections of house premises and four of schools in New Plymouth were carried out, and prompt investigation and disinfection was carried out in every case of infectious disease, with the exception of the case of scarlet fever at Opunake—which the outbreak of diphtheria in -New Plymouth quite prevented my visiting. The thorough disinfection of these premises was, however, very kindly carried out by Nurse Elliot sn /iv behalf. In connection with the diphtheria at New Plymouth, I collected and forwarded to the Government Bacteriologist at Wellington 53 swabs of throat cultures for examination. I have visited Inglewood and Waitara on several occasions. I have also collected itnd forwarded to the Dominion Analyst at Wellington twelve samples of milk from New Plymouth and two from Inglewood, and also weighed bread and reported on the same to the District Health Officer. The milk was in every case found to comply with the regulations under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1903, INFECTIOUS DISEASES. In connection with the suggested n-f of the old hospital for infectious cases Dr. Walker, medical superintendent, re ported that he did not consider the build ing suitable for the convenient and economical treatment of disease. It was out-of-date, its general arrangement inconvenient, and expenditure would be necessary even to make it meet t'he emergency. At the same time, the present arrangements were so inadequate that the Board had no alternative but to use the building until a suitable in- : fectious diseases hospital could be erected.—-A copy of the letter is to be sent to Dr. Valintine. WATER SUPPLY. The Borough Council formally gave notice to the Board to procure, at its own cost, an approved water meter at both the new and old hospital buildings and other buildings in connection therewith. 11l a covering 'etter they pointed out that since the erection of the new hospital, the consumption of water had materially increased, and that it would be more satisfactory if the supply was gauged by meter, as was done in the case of most of the larger consumers of the borough. The charge fixed under the by-laws for supplies to non-rateable property was 2s per 1000 gallons, but the Council was willing to consider any reasonable proposition made by the Board, The matter was left in the hands ol the chairman to arrange. NURSES' REGISTRATION ACT. The gazetted amendments to the regu lations under the Nurses' Registration Act, which provide that the proposed termination of the training of a pupil nurse shall, witli the cause thereof, be notified to the Registrar of Nurses, whose consent shall be required, was discussed. The chairman said that if the regulation was brought into force, it would mean good-bye to all discipline. If the Board was not fit to deal with all such cases, in conjunction with the medical superintendent, it was not lit to be a Board. He pointed out that it was possible for regulations to be adopted by Order-in-C'ouncil without boards being consulted in the matter. On the motion of Messrs McAllnm and Brown, it was resolved to enter a strong protest against the regulation, as it was considered to be subversive of good discipline. It was also considered that all hospital boards should be consulted before any alteration was gazetted. GENERAL It was resolved to agree to the Borough Council's terms for the upkeep of the graves in the Old People's Home plot. The resolution from the Egmont County Council protesting against any further expenditure in connection with tlie New Plymouth Hospital was received. The House Committee's recommedation that the fireman's wages be inr creased from £3 to £3 Gs per week, and that lie be granted three days off in order to sit for his examination, was adopted.