HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1919, Page 7

HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. I The monthly meeting of the Taranaki [Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday, there being present: Messrs M. Fraser (chairman), F. J. Hill, C. Andrews, G. Young, G. Capper, J. j Young, J. Andrews, S. Campbell, A. H. Halcombe, and E. Gilmour. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. The medical superintendent (Dr E. A. Walker) reported steady work in all departments for ,the month. There regained only one case of diphtheria under treatment, but five of scarlet fever. Nurses Smart, Grooby, Evans and Dew passed the examination in anatomy and physiology, held in June by Drs." i.eatham and Wade. The number of patients admitted during the 'month was 81, discharged 91, died 4, remaining in hospital 82, highest number for any one day 104, daily average 97.1, number ot operations 45.

' In a separate report to the Board Dr. Walker paid a warm tribute to the services rendered by Dr. Fookes while act-ing-medical superintendent, and also to those of Dr Wade in connection with the soldier out-patients, which work he still administers, MATRON'S REPORT.. The matr6n (Mrs B. A. Campbell) reported on the disposition of the nursing staff, and the commencement of their training by three probationer nurses. HOUSE STEWARD'S REPORT. The house stewards and dispenser (Mr C. F. B. Perrin) reported on various matters that had occupied his attention in connection with the hospital buildings and the staff under his control. RANGIATEA HOME. The matron of the Rangiate'a Home (Mrs A. Bayly) reported satisfactory progress, for ,the month. There was one admission and there now remained in the home, 35 men and 9 women. FARM REPORT. The farm manager (Mr W. C. Noble) reported a satisfactory month. The dairy herd returned 11,117 lbs of milk, and the supply to the home and hospital had been adequate. Vegetables and poultry had also been supplied to the institutions. Five fat pigs had also been disposed of. INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The health inspector (Mr A. H. Kendall) reported 18 cases of infectious diseases for the month as follows: Taranaki County, five cases diphtheria and one of lethargic encephalitis; Now Ply-' mouth, two cases of scarlet fever, three of diphtheria, and two of influenza and pneumonia; Egmont County, one case diphtheria, and one of enteric fever; Clifton County, one case influenza; Waitara, two cases influenza. The case of diphtheria at Parihaka was alleged to have come from Wellington, where the patient had been on a visit. The patient's removal to the hospital had been ordered but he died before he could he shifted. The inspector insisted upon immediate burial, and he also stayed in the district and carried out disinfecting work in the houses, in which the natives gave every assistance. In all the cases notified, all the precautions possible to prevent further spread of infection were taken.

EPIDEMIC MATTERS. The Board received a telegram from the Public Health Department asking that all table crockery, cutlery, blankets, single iron bedsteads, bath towels, and tea towels, on hand from the late epidemic, be consigned to the Department at Wellington. An offer had been received by the Department frpm a local draper (and the Department was prepared to accept) to buy all unused blankets at an.advance of 10 per cent on the price paid by the Board at the time of the epidemic. It 'was pointed out that there wore no blankets that had not been used, and the oiler therefore could not be accepted. It was further pointed out that a great many of the blankets in hand would be ultimately required for hospital use, and the Board considered it would be unwise to part with any considered useful. The matter was ultimately referred to the House Committee on the understanding thsit the Board wished to re- s tain all blankets considered likely to bo of use for the institution.

Some correspondence was received from the Department on the matter of the payment of accounts of certain local undertakers for work in connection with the recent epidemic. The amount was chiefly for the burial of natives, and amounted to about £216. The Department offered payment of £5 and cemetery fees for each burial, which it was suggested the Board should pay and be reimbursed by the Department. The average cost of each burial was in the vicinity of, £lO. The chairman pointed out that at the time the local undertakers had to work under extraordinary pressure. Much of the work had to be done at night, by men who could be got to work atter their ordinary day's work. The cost was unduly heavy, and he thought some further representations should bo made to the Department on .the matter.

The Board endorsed the chairman's view, and it was resolved to make strong representations on the matter to the Department, pointing out the special circumstances, and also the fact that the undertakers had not yet, been paid for their services-

CONFERENCE OF BOARDS. Replies were received from the following hospital boards endorsing the Board's proposal that the Minister of Public Health be' asked to call a conference of hospital boards for the purpose of considering ma.tters of importance to all boards: —Otago, Wairarapa, Wallace, Cook (Gisborpe), Wanganui, Palmerston North, Vincent (Clyde), Coromandel, Waiapu, Grey, and North Canterbury. The Auckland Board considered that impending political changes rendered the present an inopportune time for such a conference and the WelIfhgton Board stated that representatives had been appointed to wait on the Minister to ascertain if any legislation to meet requirements would be introduced' during the coming session.

The Palmeraton Board also suggested an informal conference of the Board's closely adjoining each other between Taranaki and Palmerston for the purpose of discussing matters concerning the interests of the boards.

It; was resolved to joiii in with the proposal and that the chairman and Mr F. J. Hill be the representatives (with the secretary if possible), but that a suggestion bo made to have the conference at Wanganui instead of Palmerston, as being more eoj , yeni"nt.

SALARIES OF MEDICAL STAFF. In accordance with notice given, Mr Gilmour moved tba,t the salaries' of the superintendent and his staff be revisei/, and that a committee, consisting of tide chairman, Messrs Hill, Halcombe, Young and Campbell, be set up to go into the matter.

The motion was seconded by Mr G. Young. Mr Campbell said that in view of the conference of boards that would be held shortly he thought the matter should be held over pending that. He thought there should be a uniform rate throughout Taranaki.

Mr J- Andrews deprecated stirring up the wages question every now and then. He thought the iirst move should come from ,the medical staff themselves, and while 1 they took no action he thought the Board need not interfere. The motion was carried without further discussion. GENERAL.

The applications of Misses Dorice A. Leighton, and Iranui McDonald, New Plymouth, for positions as probationer nurses, were approved by the Board. Accounts were passed as follows: — Payments £707 9s od, accounts £lOl7 Os 'id.