TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1917, Page 2

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY .MEETING, Thei monthly meeting' of t!ie Taranaki losprtal and Charitable Aid Board was lie-Id yesterday when thevo were present: Mr. P. C. J. Bellringer (retiring chairman) Mrs. Dockrill, Messrs E, R. Q. Gilniour, C. M. Leppor, W. t r. Macßeynolds U McAllum, G. V. Tate, E H. McDonald pnd J. 11. Hill. The chairman apologised for the absence of Mr. E. Maxwell, who had another meeting'to a'ttond. Mi". Bellringer opened the proceedings, veading the final notifications of the election of Mrs. Dockrill, Messrs D. H. MaeDonald, E. R. C. Gilmour and C. M. Lepper. He congratulated the new numbers 'and expressed confidence that their services on the Board would be attended With benefit to the institutions they controlled.

The new members replied and expresshigh appreciation of the past work of Mr. Bellringer and the ganoral regret ihat lip had deemed it necessary to retire from a position lie had filled so long, so usefully and so creditably.

ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN. Mr. Mac.Donald said as an old member of the Board he wihscd to propose that Mr. Lepper be elected chairman of the J Board for the ensuing year. He. was of opinion that the chairman should be a Jowii resident, because a country member no matter how good he might otherwise be,.could not always be at hand when wanted. He. for one would oppose the election of a country member as chairman.

Mr. McAllum seconded ihe mo'ion, expressing the opinion that the Board could make no better choice. Mr. Lepper had hitherto taken a great interest in Die affairs of the Board, 'and no doubt that interest would be increased by his occupation of the chair.

There being no other nomination, Mr. Lepper was declared duly elected; and took the chair amid the felicitations of his predecessor and other members.

ELECTION OF HOUSE COMMITTER. After a brief discussion as to whether the house committee should consist of the town members of the Board only or should include two country members, it was decided on the, motion of the chairman to confine the membership of tie committee to the towr. members and the following were therefore elected:— Mrs, Dockrill, Messrs C. M,. Lepper, D. McAllum, and J. R. Hill. Mr. Bellringcr remained in attendance by request and answered questions regarding various matters connected with tie past business of the Board and the present position. Mr. Bellringer was then thanked and retired. MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. Dr. E. A. Walker, medical superintendent, reported that during April 84 patients had been admitted, 8!) discharged; tlirpp died, and 82 remained in the hospital. The highest number on one day Imd been 100 and the daily average 87.0, With a high daily average and the nursing staff depleted tlirougn necessary leave, the month had been a heavy one in all departments. An increase in the cases of diphtheria had overcrowded the scant accommodation and soma difficulty had been experienced in dealing with the position. Any further increase or the addition of other classes of infectious disease would find them unable to meet the position unless immediate further provision is made. During the month nine soldiers had been treated as inpatients and five as out-patients. The report was adopted, and the question of providing additional accommodation held over for consideration.

MATRON'S REPORT. The matron (Miss E. Browne) reported that Nurse CorTcill had returned and resumed duty, whilo Nurse Greatbach is away on annual leave. Owing to the serious illness of her mother Kurse Berry, with the permission of the chairman, had been given special leave, but had since returned to duty. Nursft Austin was still away on leave and Nurse Pqget, who had been off ill all the month had now sufficiently recovered to leave her home. The report was adopted. OLD PEOPLE'S HOME. The matron of the Old People's Home reported that everything had been going on satisfactorily and the discipline excellent. There had been two admissions and one death during the month, those remaining in the Home comprising 31 males and five females. The report was adopted. HOUSE STEWARD'S REPORT. The house steward and dispenser (Mr. C. F. B. Spence), in his report, detailed the work done at the hospital during the month and asked for authority to procure some easy chairs.—Adopted. DISTRICT NURSE'S REPORT.

District Nurse Elliot, Opunake, recommended that a relieving nurse be appointed during her absence on annual leave, and enclosed copy of a resolution passed by the Association in support of her application. As there was no doctor in Opunake at present there was an increasing demand for the services of the District Nurse. The report was adopted and additional leave granted. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. Mr. A. 11. Kendall, health inspector, reported that 18 cases of infectious disease had been notified in the district, being 14 cases Of diphtheria, one ease of scarlet fever, and three cases of tuberculosis. Ten cases of diphtheria were in the New Plymouth Borough, three at Mangorei in the Taranaki County, and one. at Pmiiho, and the cases of tuberculosis one at To Kiri, one at Waitara, and one in the Clifton County. The only case of scarlet fever occurred in New Plymouth. In addition to disinfection, which was thoroughly carried out in all cases of diphtheria, one school and one Chinaman's shop had been disinfected during the period. The cause of origin of diphtheria, which was occurring nearly all over the Dominion, had, he regretted to say, not yet been traced with any satisfactory degree of certainty. Al! cases of infectious disease had been attended to with as little delay as possible, and all precautions in every case taken, notices being sent to all schools concerned, and patients in all cases of diphtheria moved to hospital. In connection \fith food supplies the samples of milk which had been taken and were referred to in his former report were found on analysis to comply with the regulations. He had made inspection of fruit, bakers, butchers and other food shops during the month in various parts of the district, -The resort was adepts'll-

NURSES' HOME. Mr. McAUum moved, in pursuance of notice given, that the erection of a Nurses' Home be deferred till affer the war. He did go on the ground that ithe oost would be £12,000 and an expenditure so great would not be justified' in the present financial position, when all the resources of the dißtrict and the country should be carefully hhsbanded. He knew what hardship -wag, but his er-, perience paled into insignificance when compared with the hardships and sufferings our nurses and our soldiers had, suffered and were suffering at the front, and he would rather see the ,£12,0u: cent to them than spend it on a Uuraek' Home. He believed that if tha hospital nurses themselves were asked they would nay, "Give the money to those' at the front." The time was not opportune for such an expenditure, and the only way to meet it. if incurred, would be by increasing the rate to 3s, which, in the present time of high and increasing prices, would be a very heavy burden on the ratepayers. Mr. Tate seconded the motion, and agreed with Mr. McAllum that the time was most inopportune for undertaking such heavy expenditure. Another important question was what subsidy, if any, the Board would get from the Government. He thought with Mr. McAllum that a conference with the medical and nursing staff might iead to some means being devised of remedying any existing inconveniences. Mr. MacDonahl pointed out that the meeting was not fully attended, and therefore moved that further consideration of Mr. McAHuni's motion be deferred till next meeting. The amendment was cairied. Mr. McAllum said he would have no objection whatever to the postponinent. GENEKAI), Two applications for appointment of probationers were ordered to be placed on the list. Some correspondence relative to hospital and relief cases was dealt with and accounts amounting to £1244 18s 4d were pasßed for payment.