TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1916, Page 3

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs C. .1. Bcllringer (chairman), A. E. Skycs, E. Maxwell, M. .T. Macßeynolds, J. R. Hill, D. H. McDonald and Mrs. Doekrill. MEDICAL REPORT. Dr. E. A. Walker reported:—During tile past month the work has been lighter, more especially in the women's ward. The State examinations for Taranaki nurses was held in this hospital, Miss Baker and Dr. D. Blackley being the examiners. Drs. Leatham and Wade conducted the examinations of tile junior nurses foi hospital certificates and State preliminaries. Eight nurses succeeded in passing and three failed. Two nurses were absent on leave and have to be examined. The number of patients admitted to the hospital in November was 85; discharged G9; died five; remaining SB.

Sister B. A. Campbell, acting matron, reported: Nurses Milroy and Walker have resumed duty after their annual holiday leave. Sister Coutts and Nurse Leech are taking their statuory holiday and Nurse Jemison is off duty on sickleave. Sister fiill was granted three i days' special leave. The health of the staff generally is good and work proceeds smoothly. Miss E. Browne, matron, recommended Miss Berry for the vacancy caused through Nurse Frasei resigning.—The committee approved. Dr. Walker also submitted a report with reference to the beds supplied to the new hospital, which were deemed unsatisfactory. The indent goods from England had been openr-d up and the shipment was a "badly damaged one. Moreover, quite apart from the question of damage in transit, the quality oi the articles was not up to standard. Some of the details were so damaged as to be useless. Dr. Walker emphasised the need for a protecting rail at the small verandah adjoining the children's ward.

The medical staff was glad to note that the Borough Council was taking stops to have Dawson Street, from Powderham Street to Bulteel Street, put in good repair. For years this portion of the road to the hospital from town had been so rough and rutty tlmt unnecessary suffering had been caused to patients on the journey to the hospital. Frequently they wore told! ihat the hardest part of a long journey to an accident case had been Associated with the unavoidable jolting in Dawson street. Even the most careful driving of those conversant with the street failed to prevent suffering, particularly in

fracture cases. As the. main entrance to the institution would be from Barrett street, whereto hospital traffic was now diverted, it would be a prudent step to have Standish Hill and Barrett street treated in a permanent and efficient manner. That portion of the medical superintendent's letter with reference to the beds will be referred to the board's solicitor for an opinion. With reference to the indent goods from England, the matter was referred to Mr. Sykes. It was reported that the question or providing protection for the children's verandah was being attended to. The chairman said there should certainly be a decent entrance to the hospital, and this discomfort would nil have been overcome bad the Borough Council given an entrance from Morlcy street. He expressed the hope thnt the council would be able, early in the New Year to carry out something on the lines suggested by Dr. Walker. It was decided to send a copy of Dr Walker's letter to (he Borougli Council, asking for its favorable consideration

OLD PEOPLE'S HOME. Mrs. A. Bayly, matron at the. Old People's Home, reported: —During the. past month everything lias been progressing very favorably in the above institution. The supplies were very good and the discipline excellent. The departures from the home were two; deaths two; remaining, males 20, female? four; total, S3. INSPECTOR'S REPORT.

The inspector (\lr. A. H. Kcndiill) reported:— During the past month fifteen oases of infectious disease were notified in the district, comprising nine eases of diphtheria in New Plymouth and one in Waitara. Also one ease of scarlet fever in the Taranaki County at Omats, and two in New Plymouth. There were two cases of tuberculosis, one being at Panhaka and the other at Waitara. I have promptly visited and disinfected all premises requiring such disinfection, and have carried out thorough disinfection after the decease of a patient, irom tuberculosis of long standing and previously notified, and am keeping other eases of this diseace under observation as to movements of patients, etc. Reports on all cases have been forwarded to the district health officer. In consequence of complaints received during the month as to alleged overcrowding, I visited the premises at present occupied as a day school at Vogeltown, and found that the sanitary system in vogue, there was very antiquated and unsuitable for a town school. The building itself appears to be very crowded, and, on investigation, I gathered later th«t an unfortunate deal in the matter of an extended site for a State school for tie locality liad in a great measure

prevented the erection of a suitable school in thisi part of the town owing to unsuitable land having been obtained for the, purpose. As thin; are about forty-six scholars attending the, school it is thought that this should be, a sufficient number to warrant the erection of a proper school. As an officer under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, I have during the month paid special attention to food shops in the district, and also taken several samples of milk for analysis, bread for weight, and made several weighings of butter in different parts of the district, and have reported thereon to the Public Health Department in Wellington. It is satisfactory to be able to report that in all cases of milk and butter and bread sampled the provisions of the Act were found to be complied with, and I beg to record that I was 011 all occasions very piueli indebted to the police officers for assistance given. The report was adopted.

MASSAGE TREATMENT. Dr. Walker, medical superintendent, reported that he had gone fully into the question of providing massage treatment for the hospital, and recommended the appointment of Miss Testar, New Plymouth, and Sir. I', de, la Haye as masseuse and masseur respectively. The reaomuiead'4iou will be given effect to. THE CANCER MENACE. Dr. Walker wrote acknowledging receipt of the board's letter enclosing circular from the Public Health Department referring to the prevalence of cancer in the Dominion and inviting the board's co-operation in fighting the menace. Dr. Walker assured the board of the hearty co-operation of the medical staff jvith the department in the matter, whilst it was to be regretted that owing to the exigencies of the time and shortage of medical men a comprehensive campaign could not lie undertaken meantime. The staff would seek to impress in the strongest manner possible the necessity for skilled advice and early treatment before the disease had passed from its local phase to secondary and constitutional invasion. Too often, probablv from dread of surgical procedures, unskilled and unqualified advice was sought, and later, when the progress of the disease forces the sufferer to a, surgeon, the time has passed for curative treatment. GENERAL.

Mr. 0, P. Bastings, dispenser and house steward, furnished his monthly report dealing with matters which had occupied his attention during the period under review. Subject to certain conditions, it was decided to acquire a site for a new muxes' home. The question of plans for the building: was deferred. A letter was received from the Inspector Cieneral of Hospitals suggesting that appointments lie made for nurses to receive sanitorium training for tubercolo—The Board will keep the matter in view. Dr. Valentine advised that three indoor hospital cases were arriving by the Jtaheno for New Plymouth. The following; applied to be placed on the, probationers' list:—Misses A. E. Schmidt. Otalci: A. R Henderson, Inglewood; Jr. Chundell, Whangarei; B. H. Cartwright. Lepperton; and Ml Smith, Egmont Village. Accounts amounting to '£2014 8s 3d were passed for payment. It was resolved to close the office for the usual Christinas and New Year holidays.