HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1918, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEEXIN'a. Ths monthly meeting of Mio Tnranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday. There were present: Messrs M. Eraser (Chairman), A. E. Sykcs, G. Capper, R. W. McNeill, C Andrews, E. Morgan, F. J Hill, and C. Andrews. Leave of absence was granted to Mr. A. H. Halcombe. MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT REPORT. Tlie medical superintendent (Dr. E. A Walker) reported that the past month was a busy one in all departments, the number of patients for the last two days being over 110. The staff responded well to all the calls. The diphtheria wards were filled throughout the month, nil the cases responding well to treatment. Two cases of scarlet fever were admitted. Eighteen soldiers were treated as in-patients and 43 as outpatient?. Six candidates froji the local hospital sat for the Hospital and Stati: examinations for nurses. The admissions for the month were 117, discharged 88, died 0, remaining in hospital lifi; highest number for any one day 116; daily average 100.5: jiumber of opera'lions 54MATRON'S REPORT. The matron (Miss B. A. Campbell) reported that Nurses Austin and Lansley were absent on holiday, and Nurses Farley, Corkill and Greatbatch had returned to duty. Nurse Myra_Lansley had been off duty for three weeks on account of diphtheria and was now on holiday leave for three weeks. 'On account of continued ill-health the medical superintendent had recommended that Nurse Dew be granted three months leave of absence. Nurse Jemison resigned her position on the staff as pupil nurse. Nurses Nicol!, Hamblyn, Taylor, Jemi:3on, Stanton and Hodge sat for their final hospital examinations, and all were successful. The State examinations were held on .Tune 12 to 13. Nurses Waite, Rolston, L. Lansley, Peers, Wilson, Hudson, Cartwright, Salway, and Lambert hove parsed the examination ia anatomy, und physiology. The question of leave of absence to Nurse Dew was left in the. hands of the House Committee. HOUSE STEWARD'S REPORT. The dispenser and house steward (Mr. C F B. Perrin) reported on the matters connected with the building and general establishmentj-bat had occupied his attention during the month. Matters mentioned requiring attention were referred to the, House Committee HEALTH INSPECTOR'S EEPORT. The Health Inspector (Mr. A. H. Kendall) reported 58 cases of infectious disease, being one case of scarlet fever, 56 cases of dipththeria, and one of tuberculosis, from the following districts: Taranaki County, one case scarlet fever, and 22 of diphtheria; New Plymouth, 14 cases of diphtheria, and one of tuberculosis; 12 cases from Inglcwood, three from Egmont County and five from Clifton County The cases wero generally distributed all over the district. Adequate precautions were taken in all oases to as far as possible prevent the upread of infection. Children of the Inglewood, Waiongona. Norfolk Road, Tarata and Kaimata schools were treated with chloramine, the treatment being given during the visit of Dr. Elizabeth Gunn to the schools. RANGIATEA HOME The matron (Mrs. A. Bayley) reported a satisfactory month There" had been two admissions, and one death. There were remaining in the home 47 inmates Hljnales and six females) FARM MANAGER'S REPORT The farm manager (Mr. W. C Noble) reported that the necessity for acquiring more land for the farm "was daily becoming more evident. He stated' that the matron of the home had made a heavy demand for milk and he was finding difficulty in keeping up the supply. He furnished a return of the milk supply for the five weeks ended Juje Ist showing a total yield of 12,54G1b5. The cattle were in good condition and should go through the winter satisfactorily. DISTRICT NURSE'S REPORT. The district nurse at Uruti (Miss M. Quinn) reported attending more cases during the month, one being a maternity case. CORRESPONDENCE The district health office advised that there were a number of vacancies in the Otaki Sanatorium available for suitable female patients.—The matter was referred to the medical superintendent. The chairman pointed out that the Otaki Sanatorium was a very well equipped institution for cases in the early stages of tuberculosis disease They did not take chronic cases He said that patients there received very good treatment, and he suggested that any such cases known to members of the board should be recommended for admission to Otaki. Particulars as to procedure were supplied in Dr Watt's I letter.

The acting-Inspector General of Hospitals (-Dr. J. P. Frengley) wrote that the Minister of Justice, in relation to the increased fees for patients at the hospital, advised that the, hoard could recover from the department only at the rate set out in the Cabinet's re«nt decision—namely 30s per week—Received. ( Th e _ Minister of Public Health (Hon. 0. W. Russell) wrote approving the amended charges for maintenance deeded upon by the board. He stated, inter alia, that the department had often •urged upon boards the desirability of making a uniform rate of charge for patients and had suggested £>2 2s per I week. If boards could be persuaded to 'idopt a uniform charge it might be as well for the Board to come into line with whatever charge was universally adopted—'Received. The Palmerston North Board wrote asking the board to consider the following resolution, which was passed by 'iheir board on (May 23: "That this board urges upon the Ministers of Health and !Edncation that legislation he introduced making dental treatment of children of Mhool age attending State schools compulsory, and that, dejital officers be appointed by the departments for such purpose, treatment to Ibe free to children whose parents are n<v} in receipt tif more than £4 per weeik. It wa 3 decided to advise the Paluurston Board of the steps that the

Taranaki Board had taken in. relation to the matter .of a dental clinic. GENERAL. The Board confirmed the action taken and the arrangements made by its representatives in conference with the Opimake 'Nursing Association. Misses Ella Hutchinson and Janet Morrison applied to bo placed oa the probationer nurses' s£aff.—The applications were granted. Accounts were j/jssed, as follows: Payments £771 3s lOd; accounts £IOO7 2s 4d.