HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1918, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETINGS. The monthly meeting of tlic i'araiuiki Hospital and Charitable Aid iVard was hold at the Hoard's room yesterday. The chairman (Mr. M. Eraser) presided, and there were also present Messrs A. E. Sykes, <j. Capper;"®. W. J. Mi'Nclll, R. Morgan, L l '. J. Hill, Clias. Andrews, J. Andrews, and J. Young- An apology for absence was received from Mr. Ilalcombe- ' SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. The medical superintendent (Dr. E. A. Walker), reported a record number of admissions and operations for the month had kept the staff well occupied in all departments. On six occasions the main building had accommodated il>o patients or over, which was its normal full complement. Twenty-one soldiers had been received as in-patients and thfere w 're 28 out-patients. The figures for the month were: Admissions 123, discharges 101, deaths four, patients remaining in hospital 88, highest number for one day 103, daily average 92.6, number of operations 68MATRON'S REPORT. The matron (Miss B. A. Campbell) reported that Sister Patchett le'ft on holiday leave on January 25, and Nurse Hamblyn returned to duty on January •23. Nurse Dew returned from sick leave on the same date. Nurse Lansley was still at home on leave. Sister Coutts left for active service on February 4. Sister Hilditch took up her duties on January 12. HOUSE STEWARD'S REPORT. The dispenser and house steward (Mr. C. l'\ B. Perrin) reported on various matters that had engaged his attention in connection with the buildings and "rounds during the month, including repairs to tlie verandahs, fitting up of the old laundry as a storeroom. In speaking to the report the chairman said there had evidently been spme indifferent work in the .building of the new hospital and the amount wliich now had to be spent, to effect repairs came at a time when the Board's finances were under heavy pressure. The verandahs were very leaky and it appeared c<ia» the fall to carry away water was only about 3 inches in 10 feet. Complaints had also bock receivwl as to the noise made when people walked on the floor§ of the wards. The House Committee had sent up the Board's architects and efforts bad been made to stop the cracking noise when walking on the ward floors, but <=o far a great deal of improvement liitl not liaen made. The matter of the internal telephone system was a serious one and i.t was estimated to cost nearly :C 1 00 to put in order. It appeared that the system worked all right in dry weather, but that the damp wcatW afWted if and put it out of order, the wiring evidently being not properly insulated. There was al-'o the further matter of,a defective tank at, the Old People's Home which would cost a considerable sum to repair, and all these matters cnmc at a lime when the Board's finances were under severe pressure. The matters were referred to( the House Committee. HEALTH INSPECTOR'S REPORT, The 'Health Inspector (Mr. A- 11. Kendall) reported the notification of 21 cases of infectious diseases during the month, including three eases of diphtheria. one of enteric fever and one of phthisis in' the Taranaki County, one ease of scarlet fever. diphtheria, and one of phthisis in the itoraugh of New Plymouth, and four eases of enteric tever in the Colmty of Clifton. The scarlet fever and enteric fever cases were all traceable to outside sources far removed from the Taranaki Hospital District. Immediate investigations and precautions were taken in all cases and reports forwarded to Wellington, Several samples of milk had been taken and forwarded to the Dominion Analyst for examination, and in every case tlic milk was found to comply with the requirements of the resulations. One case & appeal against, the Magistrate's decision in a previous milk ease prosecution was dismissed. OLD PEOPLE'S HOME. The matron of the Old People's Homo (Mrs. Ai. Bayly) reported that evervthing had gone along satisfactorily during tlie month.' There were in thi* home 14 inmates (38 males and sis: females). FARM MANAGER'S REPORT. The farm manager (Mr. W. C. Noble) reported everything was working smoothly a£ the farm- The cows were all in the best of condition, and for the week ending January 20. Hi cows had produced 0707 lbs of milk. The pigs , were all advancing rapidly under the new arrangements for cooking tin. food. All the crops were coming on well. The manager reported very valuable sirvice rendered by one of, the inlnat.es of the Old People's Home who after doing nil his ordinary work had assisted in" tho stacking of ensilage. HOUSE COMMITTEE'S KEPORT. The House Committee reported recommending: That the Board's architects be instructed to report on tlie cause of the noise made when the floors of tlie wards are walked upon; to have n hand basin installed in the dispensary at the Old People's Home; to carry 'out improvements so that storm-water .will not lodge in the back yard; to report upon the question of a now • cookino range in the kitchen of the Old People's Home; that it is undesirable to allow any water connection to be made from the board's mains; that the name of the Old People's Home be changed to "Ran- ! giatea Home " j CORRESPONDENCE. Tho following correspondence was dealt with:— Notification of the approval of the ap- ' pointment of Mr. Richard Morgan as representative of combined Waitara and Inglewood districts, anil Mr. |C- Andrews as representative of the Taranaki County Council, was received , from, tlie Public Health Department. An intimation was also received from the Egmotit County Council that Mr. R. W. J. McNeill bad been appointed to fill • the vacancy caused by the resignation of the Rev. 11. B. Gosnell. —Received. The secretary of the Taranaki Workers' Council wrote further with reference to their previous suggestion that the motor ambulance should be housed at the hospital, still urging that tlfe hospital was tlie proper place for tho ambulance to be kept so that there should be no delay in sending out the ambulance. Reference was made to alleged delay in the arrival of the ambulance at the station to take a cot case recently to the hospital—A reply was sent by the secretary to the effect that fj»9 Council ahottld itself with I

ho facts of the ease before approaching the Board on the matter. A letter was also received iron l t ll <■ --mtv-Mayor of New Plymouth (Mr. W. A. Collis) which lie stated that .oil tlie occasion in question the ambulance arrived at the station within ten minutes of his first ringing for the same, and lie had had tri ring twice before getting into touch with the garage.—Received. In reply to ail enquiry from the Public Health Department as to the number of beds available for the accommodation of soldiers likely to be returning to the Dominion, the secretary had s'tated (hat the Board was always prepared to make a special effort on behalf nf returned soldiers and also made the following offer—namely, the use of the nmisiieil portion of the old hospital, which is estimated to accommodate a large numbers as a temporary military hospital, the department to renovate. furnish, equip, and staff the same. It was suggested that the hospital provided one of the finest positions in the Dominion for such a purpose. The secretary asked that the Department should communicate with the medical superintendent who was anxious to do all possible for the benefit of returned soldiers—Xo reply had Wen received from the Departmnt in reference to the board's offer. GENEKAL. On the recommendation of the X tron, X'urse l.ansley w'as granted a month's leave of absence on account of illness in her family. Tlic name of .Miss C. Sole was placed on the list, of probationers. A letter receive! from th» Utiller Hospital and Charitable Aid Board aski support to a resolution urging the na-, tiomilising of the medical profession was ordered to lie on the table, the time for such a move being considered inopportune. A letter of thanks was received from Miss G. Gill in acknowledgment of her appointment as assistant matron.