TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1917, Page 6

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING. The Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard met yesterday, when there were present: Messrs A. E. Svkcs (depu-ty-chairman) in the chair, Kev. It. B. Gosnell, Messrs J. Andrews, F. J. Hill, G. Capper, J. Young, A. H. Ilalconibe. An apology for absence was received from the chairman, Mr. W. Fraser. MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT, The medical superintendent reported (or the month of November as follows: Patients admitted, S9; discharged. S3; deaths, 8; number remaining in the hospital, 81; number of operations, Gl. The work l:ad been steady throughout the period, the highest number for one day being So and the lowest 78. A large proportion of very heavy cases and a further operation record kept the staff busily engaged in all departments. Seven soldier? were treated as in-patients and 2" as out-patients. Five cases of diphtheria were, at the time of mailing the report, still under treatment. The official visit of the Inspector-General of Hospitals was paid to the institution on N'ovcr.iber 29. Nurses Langlands and Le Tine passed the final hospital examinations with credit. MATRON'S REPORT. The matron reported that Sister Muir and Nurse Milroy were on holiday leave and that Nurse Drew was on sick leave. Nurses Waller, Leech, and Berry had re- 1 turned to duty. Nurses Hall and Berryhad passed the junior examination in anatomy and physiology, and Nurses tficoll, Jamison, Hodge, Paget, Milroy, Austin, Corkill, M. Lansley and Hall had passed the technical school cooking examination. HOUSE STEWARD'S REPORT. The dispenser and house steward reported that repairs to the arch at the main entrance had been completed. Repairs bad been effected to screens, and picture mouldings erected in the main building. The gardener had made considerable improvements in the grounds. The extra man put on had been cutting hwns, cleaning brasses, etc. The outside porter would be leaving shortly, and another man had been appointed temporarily. An application for an increase in salary had been made by the hoilcr-at-tendant, and the house steward recommended ait increase when the radiator boilers are started again. OLD PEOPLE'S HOME. The matron of the Old People's Home reported that during the month everything had gone on satisfactorily. There had "been one admission, four discharges, and one death, and there were remaining in the home 43 inmates. FARM COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The farm committee reported recommending the reduction of the farm stock in order to relieve the pasture, and that in purchasing in the future it would be profitable to go in for grade cows, and the committee suggested Jcrsey-Short-liorn or Jersey Holstein rather than pure Jersey. The farm generally required to be broken up and regrassed and manured. The committee also recommended the acquisition of an adjoining piece of land as the same horses and implements were quite capable of working a larger area and thereby increasing the output.

FARM MANAGER'S REPORT. The farm manager reported the disposal of a number of the cows on the farm, and that he had a good cow under on offer for purchase. At present the milk supply was being maintained on 13 eovvs. To save the oat crops from the caterpillar they had been harvested, and the manager said he was afraid he would have to turn the cows into the crops intended for ensilage. Several pigs had been disposed of, and the stock therefore »as considerably reduced. HEALTH INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The health inspector reported that during the past month seven cases of infectious diseases had been reported—one ease of infeintile paralysis at Tikorangi, two of diphtheria at Okato and Korito; and three cases of diphtheria and one of 1 tuberculosis at New Plymouth. All matters were promptly investigated and precautions taken to prevent the spread of diseases. The inspector also reported separately on the state of the septic tanks at the Old People's Home which he said was unsatisfactory, and he suggested the construction of filter beds. DISTRICT NURSES' REPORT. The district nurse at Opunake reported that during the month she had treated 10 cases (13 Europeans and three Maoris) and had made a total of 77 visits. THE MEDICAL STAFF. Dr. E. A. Walker, medical superintendent, Dr. E. F.'Fookes, assistant surgeon, and Dr. H. B. Leatham, radiologist, wrote agreeing with the Board's suggestion that their resignations should bo withdrawn. The writers expressed appreciation of the kindly sentiments expressed by the Board towards the institution and themselves, and trusted that the hospital would ejnoy a further period of prosperity and usefulness. The chairman voiced "the feelings of the members of the Board when he said' the. letter would lie received with a great deal of satisfaction by all. He was sure that in New Plymouth the Board was receiving services from its m<*lical staff which could not be surpassed in any district in the Dominion. He moved that the secretary be instructed to forward a suitable reply to the medical officers. The motion was seconded by Mr. Halcombe and carried unanimously. APPOINTMENT OF MATRON. Dr. E. A. Walker wrote in reply to a letter from the Board intimating the desire of the Board to appoint Miß3 B. A. Campbell as Matron of the New Plymouyi Hospital, and stated that such an> appointment would have his most cordial approval and also that of the whole medical profession of Taranaki. Dr. Walker stated that Miss Campbell had filled the position of assistant matron with efficiency and credit. During Miss Brown's annual holidays Miss Campbell had from time to time had solo control, and her tenure of office had been marked by sound management, careful control of details, and by smooth working. She was in full charge during the six months occupation of the old building, and during that time her ability had been taxed to the utmost by the deficiency of the building and the constant state of overtaxing. The results obtained during that period'were a further hiffh tribute to her ability and suitability for the appointment. Dr. Walker stated that in spite of the Departmental feeling against the ifljSdng of major appointments during the war, he felt that the present was the most advk» ,

able time for a permanent appointment at the New Plymouth ilospfcol, especially after the recent period of unsettiement. He further stated that if applications for the position were invited the claims of Miss Campbell could not fail to receive the strongest endorsement from those conversant with her attainments. A letter was received from the Minister of Internal Affiairs approving the appointment of Miss Campbell as matron of the hospital. CORRESPONDENCE. Tltc acting-secretary of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote stating that his Board intended in future to comply strictly with clause 72 of the Hospital'and Charitable Institutions Act, with regard to maintenance fees duo by patients either going from or going to hospital districts outside its qwn jurisdiction. It was pointed out by the chairman that an endeavor was being made,to bring the practices of till boards in this matter into conformity with each other. A letter was received notifying the approval of the Minister of Internal Affairs of the appointment of Mr. E. 1\ Holden as secretary and treasurer of the Board. Catherine JI. Anderson tendered her resignation as staff nurse.—-Accepted with regret. Ethel N. Hilditch wrote acknowledging her appointment to the hospital nursing 'staff. Mary McKindry, Wadestown, Wellington, applied to have her name placed on the probationers' list. A letter addressed to the matron was received from lima Musker, expressing very keen appreciation of the kindness of the matron and the nurses to her sister during the period in which she was an inmate of the hospital James A. Hawker, on behalf of the ratepayers of Veale's Estate, wrote asking permission for the laying of a water pipe through thoTJonrll's field from the connection on the Old People's Home farm property.—The matter was left in the hands of a sub-committee to investigate and report upon. Accounts amounting to £864 83 2d were passed for payment.