TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1917, Page 2

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Tarairtiki Hospital nail Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday. Present: Mr. .1. R. Hill (chairman) Mrs K Duekrill, Messrs E. Gilmour, E. Maxwell, F. J. Macßeynolds, L>. MeAlluin, A. H. Halcombe, U. V. Tate, and D. H. Mac Donald. I MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT'S i REPORT. The medical superintendent of the lios- ' pital reported that during the month 37 patients hud been admitted, 71 had been discharged and five had died. The ages ~at death had been 80, 78, 69 and 23 [ years, and a child at two months. There phad been a steady increase of work dur'ing the month, and with staff shortages,, through illness, all had been busy. On the surgical side one of their heaviest months had to be noted. A recrudescence of diphtheria and a sudden outbreak of ■scarlatina have overcrowded the isolation. Wock and "Tariki," six cases of diphtheria having to be accommodated in the main building. Two more nurses had contracted illness while mjrsing infectious diseases, one scarlatina and the other erysipelas. The stall had responded loyally to tiie strain. The Rev. F. G. Harvie had conducted divine services in the hospital during the last three Sundays with the full appreciation, of stall and patients. . The report was adopted, ACTING MATRON'S REPORT. The acting-matron, Sister B. A. Campibell, reported that several nurses ha<» been absent on sick leave and some had returned to duty. Nurses Failey and Sidding had passed the examination in anatomy and physiology. The report was adopted.

HOUSE STEWARD'S REPORT. The house steward reported on the Work done at the hospital and pointed cut that the floors and ceilings of the corridors required attention. It was decided to carry out his suggestions as to the necessary repairs.

HEALTH INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The health inspector, Mr. A. 11. Kendall, reported that during the month 25 cases of infectious disease occurred in the district. There were eight cases of diphtheria located at follows:—-Egnmnt Village 1, near Waitara 1, fuuilio 1, Wafea 1, Okato 1, New Plymouth 3. One case of enteric fever was notified in New Plymouth, and live cases of tuberculosis, in addition to eleven cases of scarlet fever, seven of the cases of scarlet fever being among the children attending one uchool, and special preventive measures were at once taken and the school given ii thorough cleaning and overhaul by the caretakers on the instruction of the school committee, as advised, in order to minimise and prevent the spread of the disease as far as possible. During the month the matter of food supply had frequent attention whenever possible. One information lor watered milk was dismissed during the month, in spite of the very excellent prosecution of the case by the police. The report was adopted.

DISTRICT NURSE'S REPORT. The district nurse at Opunake reported that she had attended and given advice in 18 cases of sickness during the inonth, 14 Europeans and four Maoris. The report was adopted.

SEPTIC TANK. The health inspector recommended that to prevent any possibility of tlio effluent from the septic tank at the Old People's Home gaining access into the alleged swamp, the best way would be to make use of the effluent in irrigating the lower land below its outfall in such a manner that the land would be enriched and at no time become a nuisance. Mr. Noble, the farm manager, as a practical man knew exactly how to do this, and he (Mr. Kendall) would always bo glad to assist him in any way possible.

It was decided to instruct the manager to carry out the work suggested by Mr. Kendall. THE SOLDIERS' ROOM.

A letter was received from Mr. A, B. Gibson, secretary of the Red Cross Society, expressing regret that any illteeling had been caused by the society 'furnishing thp soldiers' room, stating that they had done so on being informed by the medical superintendent that the liouse committee's approval had been obtained. The letter added that the society would remove the furniture if so desired. Dr. Walker wrote that in view of the discussion on this subject, and the disapproval of his action expressed by two members of the Board, he thought that •it was only fair to himself to state that on the evening of May 24 he had gone Into the matter with the chairman (Mr. l.epper) and had told him the Red Cross Society desired to furnish the room if llie Board would permit. Mr. Lepper informed him that the House Committee met on the following day, and after that meeting he (Dr. Walker) received from tiie secretary the authority of the house .committee. Mr. Gilmour said there had been no ill-feeling in tho matter at all. The position was that although the liouae committee had been led to understand that someone intended to furnish the room nothing at all had been said about tho Red Cross Society doing it. Had the committee known it there would have been no objection whatever, in fact, tiremanner in which the room had been furnished met with their entire approval. As he had said, the committee had not known that it was the Red Cross Society that was going to furnish the room, and ho had simply wished to know the authority they had for doing so. Mrs. Dockrill agreed with Mr. Gilmour's remarks, and said she certainly had no ill-feeling in the matter at all. Mr. Maxwell said apparently a misunderstanding had arisen. The Red Cross Society had been granted permission to furnish the room, subject to the approval of the house committee, but the (irst thing the Board knew was that the room was furnished. Mrs. Dockrill said the misunderstanding hud arisen solely on account of M». Lepper's ill-health at the time. Mr. Maxwell said the letter of the secretary asking the society on what authority they had furnished the room had been written because the Board had previously 110 official knowledge that the room had been furnished, permission having been granted subject to the | bouse committee's approval. On the motion of Mr. Gilmour, it was resolved that the furniture be allowed to remain, and that the secretary of the Red Cross .Society be informed that the Hoard bad had no ill-feeling, but appreciated the action of the society in the matte..-. INFECTIOUS DISEASE. Dr. Valintine, Inspector-General of Hospitals, forwariieil the consent of the

Minister of Hospitals to tlia proposed alterations and additions to a wing of the oiii hospital so tliat It might bo used for the treatment of cases of infectious disease. The chairman said this consent had keen necessary, as the lowest tender for carrying out the work exceeded tho limit of £250 which boards were allowed to tpend without mjuiisterial consent. GENERAL. On the motion of Mr. Macßeynolds, it was decided to accept an offer from 11. Derby and Co. as to driving the ambulance when required. The borough electrical engineer reported on the cause of the defects to the hospital telephone system, and recommended that as a permanent remedy the wires should be taken out of the present conduits and placed in wooden casing.— Engineer to be thanked and work carried out. The matron of the Old People's Home reported that everything had progressed favorably during the month, and the. discipline had been excellent. There had been three admissions and one departure, leaving 38 males and six females f n the institution. An application from Mis? G. M, Johnston, of Uruti, to have her name placed.' on the probationers' roll was granted. Mr. Gilmour moved, in accordance with notice given, that the purses and probationers at the hospital be granted three weeks' holiday annually, instead of a fortnight, as at present, subject to the approval of the medical superintendent. —Seconded by Mr, Mcßeynolds and carried. The chairman said the next business'was the motion of which Mr. Maxwell had given notice, namely, "That the resolution passed granting leave of ab» sence to the secretary be rescinded, with the view to calling for the services of a permanent secretary, as it is highly improbable that a temporary secretary wil} be in the interests of the board." As Mr. Maxwell was not present, ho having left the meeting a short time previously, the motion would lapse, and the board would carry out the decision of last meeting to deal with applications, of which there were six, for the position of temporary secretary and treasurer. The applications and accompanying testimonials were then read, and it was decided to appoint Mr. E. Holden to the position. Accounts amounting to £1039 13s Sd were passed for payment.