HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1918, Page 2

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the TaranaUi Hospital and Charitable aid Board was held yesterday. Mr. W. Fraser (chairman) presided, and thero were present: Messrs A. E. Sykes, G. Capper, .1. Young, F. ,7. Hill, and J. Andrews. An apology was received for the absence of the Rev. ■R. B. Gosnell. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT: The medical superintendent (Dr. E. A. Walker) reported that December, as usual, proved a comparatively quiet month. There was an increase in' the number of cases of diphtheria, but the type was not serious. Fifteen soldier? had been treated as in-patients and 29 as out-patients. The number, of admissions for the month were 85, discharges 87, deaths eight, remaining in hospital 71,. highest number for one day 87, daily average 78.0, number of operations 50. MATRON'S REPORT The Matron (Miss B; A. Campbell) reported that Nurse Nicoll went on holiday leave "on December 20, Sister Coutts on December 28, and Nurse Hamblyn on January 1. Nurse Den was still on sick leave. The following returned to duty from holiday leave: Sister Muir on December 10, Nurse Milroy on December 31, and Nurse Nicoll on January 9. Great difficulty was being exDerienced in getting domestic help. HOUSE STEWARD'S REPORT. The House Steward (Mr. C. F, B. Perrin) reported on various matters that had engaged his attention during the month. The new beds and. cots for the new isolation \yard had arrived and the telephone had been installed. The verandahs round the new building were leaking, and it was impossible to keep patients on the verandahs in wet weather. Complaints had been made by patients of the noisy floors in Ward 2, .stating that they had been unable .to sleep on account of the noise OLD PEOPLE'S HOME "JJie matron reported that during the month everything had progressed satisfactorily. There had beeri three admissions, one discharge, and one death; number remaining in the home was 45 (females six, males 39). MANAGER'S REP'ORT. . ■ The manager reported a. satisfactory month's, work.. He said he could greatly increase the return from the pigs if he had better accommodation for. handling the food, and asked that the:,two tanks decided npon.be built at the same time as the pits! Sixteen cows were at present Tn milk, and giving, satisfactory returns. ■ HEALTH INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The inspector (Mr. A....H. Kendall.).. reported that, during 1917 ther.e had been notified 203 cases of infectious diseases;, as compared with 252 cases in.the pre-; vious year; Of these, cases,. 4o were of scarlet fever, the 1916 figures being 24; the diphtheria cases' were 117- and 192, the cases of enteric fever 14 and 8, tuberculosis 29 and 8, infantile paralysis one and 19. There was one case each of puerperal septicaemia < and erysipleas. During the year 50 samples of milk were taken and forwarded to Wellington for analysis, with the result that 45 cases were found to be in compliance wltb regulation; warnings were issued in three cases of dirty milk, one supplier was convicted and ■ fined, and one case was dismissed, but an appeal was pending against the decision of the magistrate. Samples of bread and butter had been taken, and weights in all cases had been found correct Tho condition of the various food shops in the district was much improved. CORRESPONDENCE. The Inspector-General' of Hospitals (Dr. T. H. A. Valintine) wroft'that steps were being taken to put in order the appointment of Mr. R. Morgan as representative of the combined, boroughs of Waitara and Inglewood on the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.-—Re-ceived. Later telegrams relating to tho matter -had pass°d, and the Minister had replied that Waitara had been asked to submit a nominee and that the Taranaki County representative would be appointed in a few days. An application for appointment to tlie | probationary staff of the hospital was received from Miss L. B. Kenderdine, and the application was granted. ■ Miss B. A. Campbell wrote acknowledging her appointment as matron of the hospital. The medical superintendent wrote approving of the proposal to close the Daw- } son street entrance to the hospital, pro-: viding due regard was given to the necessity of a worthy entrance from Barrett street. Suitable arrangements would have to be made with the proper authorities for access to the morgue. A letter was read from the matron of the Old People's Home calling attention to several matters requiring to be done, and also suggesting that a more suitable name should be provided for the home as there had been there dilring the eight years she had been matron a number of chronic and mcntally'defective cases.—The matter was referred to the House Committee. The Town Clerk of New Plvmouth wrote intimating that the Borough Council had agreed to pay half the estimated cost of painting the morgue. J. E. Nixon and Co.. engineers, wrote that as requested they had inspected and made minor repairs to the range at the Old People's Home. It wa* reported that the range had been used to its limit and would soon require renewing.—The matter was referred to the House Committee. TENDERS, Tenders for furnishing the temporary Nurses' Home were received, and referred to the House Committee. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £905 2s lid, and paymnts for £356 12s lid were passed for payment.