HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1916, Page 7

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING-, The monthly meeting of the above Board was held at the Board's ollice yesterday morning. Present:—.Mrs. Dockrill, Messrs. F. C. J. Bellringer (chairman), A. E. Svkos, X. K. Mcltevnolds, J. R. Hill, G. V. Tate, E. Maxwell, D. McAllum, A. 11. Halcombe, D. H. McDonald. An apology was received for the absence of Mr. J. Brown. INSPECTOR'S REPOiry. During the past month there has been an appreciable and satisfactory diminution in the number of cases of infectious diseases notified, there being ten cases as compared with 20 for the previous month, tho whole of the cases being diphtheria, with a distribution as follows: One at Omata in tlie Taranaki County; live in New Plymouth; two at Waitara; one at Piko; and one at Uruti. I have carried out thorough disinfection at twelve premises during the month, and have visited in the course of my duties Opunake, Uruti, Rahotu, Piko, Inglewood, Okato, Okoke, Omata, Ureniti. Motunui, Kent Road, and Waitara, and have made inspection of many food and other premises in the district. In connection with my duties as an officer under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act I have sampled the weight of seventy loaves of bread in New Plymouth and have found the weight generally to be satisfactory and in no ease to be under the weight as represented. I have also collected and forwarded to the Dominion Analysist in Wellington several samples of milk. One prosecution is pending for a breach of this Act. MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT'S ■> REPORT. Dr. E. A. Walker reported for the month of August as follows: —Patients admitted 104, discharged 84, died seven, remaining 04; daily average S!).f>. Causes of death: Arterio-sclerosis, aged B0; cardiac paralysis, aged 7; intus-suseep-tion, aged 1; tubercular peritonitis aged 2; carcinoma resti aged 00; fibroid heart; recurrent intus-suseeption. Operations 50. The record number of admissions and the record daily average account for a very busy month in all departments. The annoM has been fully occupied, and botli isolation block and Tariki are in constant use. Colonel Hope-Lewis visited the soldiers under treatment in the institution.

MATROX'S REPORT* miss K. Browne reported:—fiistei >mpbell and Nurse L-mglands liavc returned from leave and resumed duties, iistor Waite is on leave (Nurse Synions IHling lier place) and Nurse Daplyn is m leave. I recommend that Sister Parkinson, who is resigning, be relieved on October 3 and her annual leave cominence on tliat date, also tlnit Nurse Syinoiis, who has resigned, be granted two weeks' pay in lieu of holidays. Miss Warwick (the cook) has resigned. Nurse Nicoll is still away and I recommend two or three weeks' more sick leave. OLD PEOPLE'S HOME. The Matron reported:—Everything lias been progressing very favorably during the month. The supplies have been very good, and the conduct of the inmates has been good with the exception of one case which was dealt with by the chairman. The cook is away on leave. Admission one, departure one. Remaining, 33 males and five, females; OPUNAKE DISTRICT NURS& Miss Elliot reported:—Tim past month has been a very busy one, there being a total of seven cases, viz., two emergency maternity, two of slight illness, and three serious cases. One patient was taken to New Plymouth hospital. DISPENSER AND HOUSE STEWARD. Mr. 0. P. Bastings reported:—The aerated steriliser has arrived and been installed. The shingle for the track loading from the drive is being spread. The apparatus has been attached to the doors to prevent banging and is working satisfactorily. It was again necessary to supplement the milk supply during the month. An inventory of the material in the old hospital has been made. On the motion of Mcssss. McAllum and Maxwell the reports were adopted as road. On the motion of the Chairman and Mr. Hill, a motion of sympathy with Mr. ■(. Brown, a member of the Board, in his accident, was carried. it was vesolvod that A )r. Valintine be asked to come to New Plymouth as soon as possible, and th.it the chairman call a special meeting at that date. It was resolved iluit the Matron's recommendations as to the holidays ot Nurses Parkinson and Symons be granted, and that the Board place on record its appreciation of Nurse Parkinson's services. The resignations of the nurses named in the report were received with regret. The holidays question was referred to the House Committee to report at next meeting. The tender of the Red Post Furnishing Company for the supply of lounge verandah chairs at 15s (id was accepted. A number of eases of charitable relief were dealt with. Accounts amounting to '.C1335 17 ,0d were passed and the Hoard roso.