TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1917, Page 2

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY. MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Tarana';i Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held at New Plymouth yesterday, when there were present: Mr, F. C. J. Bellringer (chairman), 'Sirs Dockrill, Messrs A. E. Svkcs, E. Maxwell, M. J. Mc'Revnolds,!)'. McAllum.J. R. Hill, .T. Brown, G. V. Tate and D. H. McDonald. MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. Dr. A. E. Walker (medical snperin tendent at the hospital) reported that during the mouth of March- 104 patients hod been admitted, !)2 had been discharged, 3 died and HI) now remained in the hospital. The highest number in the hospital on any one day was 102, the daily average being*Sl.7. The stall' had been fully engaged during the- month, and tha Accommodation in both male wards 'had been overtaxed. Two records had to be noted—lo4 admissions, and'the number of patients accommodated on the night of March 30, viz,, 102. The diphtheria epidemic still dragged on, though- the cases were not- many. .-■•■■ The chairman drew attention to the i fact that the'medical superintendent'? port showed that within twelve moutlys of its erection the hospital had been called on to accommodate 102 patient?, or two more than the maximum number that the hospital had been built to ac- ■ commodate. I Mr. J. R. Hill said a feature for con-' '' gratulation was the low number of deaths reported. ' , ■-, - OLD PEOPLE'S HOME. '. I Samuel Adams, warder in charge of the Old People's. Home, reported that the working of the institution, bad progressed very smoothly. Discipline-had been excellent, with'the exception of one ease, which had been dealt with by the chairman. There had been one. admission during the month, and one departure. Re- ! m'aining in the home, 30 inmates (32 males and 4 females).

INSPECTOR'S REPORT. I Mr. A. H. Kendall, health inspector, reported: Since his former report eleven cases of infectious disease had been notified in tho district, namely, one case of scarlet fever, .0 eases of diphthcri."., and one case of enteric fever. All the more recent cases of diphtheria occurred dur!mr the school holidays, and in a portion ' of"the district that had hitherto been almost immune from this disease. The ease of scarlet fever' was traceable to contact with other cases, whilst the case of. enteric fever, though not far distant from the locality from which the two cases came recently, was not traceable, to any contact with either of them. In connection with the schools, he was of opinion that it would do no harm to re mind all school committees of the necessity of seeing that all rain 'water tanks at school were regularly cleaned out in accordance with the regulations Df the Education Board. THE AVATER SUPPLY Notification was received from the Porou"h Council stating that it had been resolved to charge the Hospital Boi.rd Is per thousand gallons for water used at the, hospital and Old People's Home. The chairman thought that, failing niran«ements with the Borough Council, the'board could go into the-question of other supply. ■ ; A resolution to that effect was earned, and it was also decided to endeavor to make an improved arrangement wita the Borough Council. In connection with a departmental circular if was resolved that tl\e board could not see its wav to alter the present charge for treatment At lh« hospua,._ Tho chairman's action ill eifgagmi; Nurses Daplvn and Jackson as., temporary nurses 'during the month was endorsed. ■ ■ Nurse. Hoskin was granted further leave of absence, in accordance with medical certificate.

POSITION OF CONTRIBUTING LOCAL BODIES. A letter was received from the Tarn- -. naki County Council regretting that the | Board could not see it? way clear to furnish the information asked for. At one time the Board always furnished the Council with a schedule showing per- I sons in receipt of charitable aid. The chairman stated that at the last meeting of the Board the Council had asked for details of estimated ea/pital expenditure, hospital maintenance and upkeep, Old People?' Home maintenance and upkeep, details of estimated incomel. a list showing amounts of hospital fees outstanding, and hy whom owing, for the'year 1916, and also outstanding 'for the previous years, and a, list showing names and addresses and amounts of. persons at present in receipt of charitable aid. - ■■:. The Chairman added that the Board had decided that it was advisable to' make public the names of those weening charitable aid. If the local bodies required the information they could obtain it through their.'represent'itives. If one local body was entitled to the information then all were. ; , Mr. Maxwell pointed out'that tlie local bodies lyiw- had • no direct represen- | tation on the Board, whose members j wire elected hy i.he ratepayers in comi- ! ties. It sometimes happened that mem- | hers of the local bodies were elected to ' the. Board. The Chairman pointed out that the re-

sporisibility of local bodies was often exaggerated. They were merely the machinery used for collecting the hospital rate. There, were too many difficulties ■ntt.u.-hk>d to t-h'e Hoard collecting its. own rate money owing to the difference of frrr.uhire of the various local bodies ever which the district, extended, fie jointed out that the Board was very careful in regard to its charitable aid administration, and if this information were supplied it would show that it was a mere bagatelle and did not account for the. inn-eased rate. Mr. Maxwell recognised that there was a feeling among local bodijs that they were not being treated fairly. Outside the question of justice, he thought it might he policy on the part of the Board to satisfy any reasonable enquiries. The Board was-,there to do its best. He was of opinion that they did (heir best in the joint interests of those they h:id to care for, and of tho ratepayers. Ij; might, however, not be a waste of time to try and convince tho ratepayers' that .they did so. .If.'they refused it might, foster the.feeling that the Board was .inclined to ride roughshod over the local bodies. Personally lie would like to see an amicable feeling existing between those who contributed and those who expended the rate. It might!., therefore, bo good.poiiey to.re-open. the. question and .supply the,' information.. .'..... Mr. Meßeynolds thought tl'.c-y might adopt the middle cojirse and supply each local body with particulars as, v to the charitable aid eases .from iU own district. The Egrnont County Council had I none at present. . The Board waa very i economical with its charitable- aid.assistance. : -• J 'Mr. Maxwell suggested that tlio chairmen of the contributing local bodies might be invited to visit the office and obtain whatever- particulars they desir(d. Members agreed that this would per-haps-overcome the difficulty. Mr: Meßeynolds pointed out that tho Government subsidy was probably inI tended to pay charitable aid grants and ! loiless they were careful tho Government might withdraw this.