HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1919, Page 6

HOSPITAL BOARD.

'MONTHLY MEETING.. , • The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday. There were present: Messrs M. Eraser (chairman), J. Andrews, F.- J. Hill, C. Andrews, A. H. Halcombe, S. Campbell, G., Capper, G. I'oung, J. Young and E.Gilmour. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. The Medical Superintendent (Dr. E. A. Walker) reported another busy month, the daily average of patients being the l'ighest for the year. The examinations for nursing certificates took place.at the beginning of June when Nurses Hirst, Sreatbatch, Corkill and Lansley were successful. The State examinations took place on the 11th and 12th.. Seven cases of diphtheria are under treatment and two of scarlet fever. The number of patients admitted was 85, discharged 32, deaths 5, remaining in hospital 96, highest for one day 106?, daily average 98.6, operations 56. , MATRON'S REPORT. The matron (Miss B. A. Campbell) reported on matters affecting the nursing staff and the leave of nurees for honday and sickness reasons. Attention was: again called to the unsatisfactory state of the kitchen. RANGIATEA HOME.' The matron (Mrs A. Baydy) repotted everything had gone on satisfactorily during the month, and the discipline was excellent. There had been one departure, and there were remaining in the home 34 men and 9 womenINSPECTORS REPORT. The Health Inspector (Mr A. H. Kendall) reported 33 cases of infectious diseases: In Taranaki County t cases of diphtheria, and nine of influenza; New Plymouth, 3 of diphtheria, one of enteric, 3 of tuberculosis, one of influenza, and one of cerebrospinal meningitis; Waitara, one of enteric and 4 of influenza; Inglewood, two of inflnenaz; Egmdnt County, one of tuberculosis, four of influenza, and one of puerperal fever; Clifton County, one ease of influenza. The enteric cases were both well on the way to recovery, one being proved to have been imported from another district. The influenza cases were all mild. The source of the meningitis *!ase had not been traced.. All precautions were taken to prevent the spread of the diseases.

FARM REPORT. The farm manager (Mr W. C. Noble) reported favorably on the work for the past month. The dairy herd had produced 11,755 lbs of milk. Quantities of vegetables, eggs and poultry, hod been sent to the hospital and the home- Mr Noble was confident of having an abundance of milk for the winter. DISTRICT NURSE'S REPORT.. Nurse Holds worth (Opunake) reported the district to be fairly free from sickness. Two Maori pahs had been visited and all the natives were well at the time of the visits. .OPUNAKE NURSING ACCOMMODATION.

The position with regard to the nursing service at Opunake was before the board when the resignation of Nurse Holdsworth was considered. The chairman stated that efforts had been made to get a new nurse, but without success, and he was of opinion that some better accommodation should be provided at Opunake for the nurse. The only satisfactory way to meet the need, he thought, was for the Opunake Committee to go in for a cottage hospital, as had been done at Uruti. Two clergymen of Opunake had made representations to him in regard to the cottage hospital idea and he had told them that the Government would subsidise, by f for £, any moneys subscribed by the public for such a hospital, and that they should get into touch with the Uruti Committee and find out how they worked their hospital.

Mr Halcombe stated that so far lie had had no communication from the Opunake people on the matter. He stated, however, that the Uruti hospital had been built by public subscription. He was quite satisfied that for successful nursing, such as district nurses had to do, some such place was necessary. The nurse must have some place quite to herself, and it was impossible for her to take cases into a house in which she merely occupied a joom. He strongly recommended the Opunake Committee to build a cottage hospital.

Mr Campbell said he favored the idea of a cottage hospital, as he was quite sure no satisfactory state of affairs would come about until something of that nature was done. He had had some communications from the Opunake Committee, but on account of having been away from home had not been able to meet them.

Mr C. Andrews said he was surprised that, considering the accommodation at Opunake, nurses had stayed there as long as-they had. He thought the conditions were a disgrace to the Committee, CONSUMPTIVE SOLDIERS. The Health Department wrote to ask what the board was prepared to do in the matter of assisting in the treatment of returned soldiers suffering from tuberculosis, whose cases were not suitable for treatment at any of the open-air sanatoria. In order to avoid occupying beds' to the exclusion of civilians, the Defence Department was prepared to supply a certain number of moveable single bed shelters which can rapidly be belted-together and placed in any convenient site chosen by the board.

Dr. Walker intimated in a letter that ho thought the board should assist the Defence Department. At present the hospital could provide for three such cases, but if more arose arrangements should be made to receive thein. At present no single bed shelters would be required. A copy of Dr. Walker's letter was forwarded to the Department and the board approved the action taken in the matter.

NURSES' RECREATION HALL. The question of Government subsidy on the moneys subscribed towards the enlargement of the social hall in connection with the new nurses' home was referred to, a letter having been received from the department to the effect that Cabinet had decided not to subsidise moneys Taised for permanent peace memorials, and that if- the hall was a memorial building there would be no subsidy thereon. The chairman stated he had written fully to the department on the matter showing how the idea arose, but as yet no reply had been received. GENERAL. Tho town clerk of New Plymouth gnU frs the «ffert that ** £uUerd

Street lias not yet been formed, the council could not see its way to consider the extension of sewers in the street at present.—Received.

A resolution was received from the Buller Hospital and Charitable Aid' Board, for which support was asked, to the effect that the Minister be asked to have the Pensions Act amended so that widows with children under the required age may be entitled to the widow's pension, irrespective of length of time of residence in New Zealand! It was decided to refer the matter as a remit to the Conference of Hospital Boards which was expected to be held shortly.

The Hawera Hospital Board wrote asking support to a proposal to be put before the Conference of Boards, urging the Government to introduce legislation for the purpose of compelling persons suffering from, or suspected of having, infectious diseases, to be properly isolated, and that adequate accommodation be provided for this purpose It was pointed out that the Act provided at present for such treatment, and the mater was in the hands of the Department's inspectors. It was decided to support the Hawera Board's resolution.

A reply from the Minister of Public Health to the Board's resolution urging the calling of a conference of Hospital Boards, stated that the matter would receive careful consideration-

The application of Miss Alice D. Warnock, and Miss A. Scott, New Plymouth, for positions on the probationer staff were approved. Mr Gilmour's notice of motion in regard to nurses' salaries was withdrawn pending the holding of the Dominion Conference of Hospital Boards. Accounts were passed as follows Payments £849 7s 2d, and accounts £1252 3s 2d.