TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 May 1920, Page 2

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

• MONTHLY MEETING, The monthly -meeting' of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday. There were present: .Messrs. M. Fraser, J. Andrews, ]?. Gilmow, G. Young, P. J. Hill, and J. Young. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs. A. H. Halcombe and G. Capper. Mr. M. Fraser was unanimously reelected chairman for the current term. MEDICAL .SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. The medical superintendent (Dr. E. A. Walker) reported 85 admissions for the month, 84 discharges, 10 deaths, and there remained in the hospital 84 patients. The highest number for one day was 100, and the daily average 03.8. There were 47 operations. In a comment on the work of the month the superintendent said a high daily average and large proportion of serious cases had kept the staff fully occupied. The diphtheria ward had still two eases in it, and two easas of scarletina were under treatment in the isolation ward. The superintendent mentioned that frequent complaints had been received that the milk from the farm arrived much too late at the hospital MATRON'S REPORT. The matron (Miss B. A. Campbell) reported on the movements of the nur--sing staff as follow: On holk'-y, Nurse Paynter (from 12th inst.); on «ick leave, Nurse Moore (6th inst), Nurse Hirst (16th April)'; returned to duty, Nurses Farley, Berry, Hirst, and Stanton. Nurse Ingram was now placed on the permanent staff, and Nurse Farley had resigned and leaves early in June. HOUSE STEWARD'S REPORT. The house steward and dispenser (Mr. C. F. B. Pen-in) reported on work connected with the hospital, and the re■'arrangement of quarters for the male staff. He also referred to complaints as to the late arrival of milk; and to some dissatisfaction in regard to the removal of pig foodThe question of early delivery of milk was referred to the secretary to deal with. HEALTH INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The health inspector (Mr. A. H. Kendall) reported 103 notifications of infectious diseases during the month from the following districts: Taranaki County, one case of tetanus, 29 of inlhienza, and two of pneumonia; New Plymouth Borough, one of scarlet fever, three of diphtheria, one of phthisis, one of pyaemia, one of auterior poliomyelitis, three of varicella, and 31 of influenza; Waitara Borough, two cases of varicella and four qf influenza; Inglewood Borough, four cases of influenza; Egmont Countyj'ione'case of scarlet fever, 10 of influenza, and two of pneumonia; Clifton County, one case of influenza. The number of influenza cases showed a decrease on the notifications for the previous month. DISTRICT NURSING The district nurse at Opnnake (Miss R. McFadgen) reported attending a total of 38 cases during the month, four of which were Natives. There had been 30 cases of influenza in the Rahotu and Oaonui districts. One Maori house was visited where there were, four Natives down with influenza, and one woman died from pneumonia and tuberculosis. A tangi lasting four days was subsequently held. The "nurse at Uruti (Miss C. E. Fenn) also reported one case to which she had been called during the month. MISCELLANEOUS. The matron"«>f; the Rangiatea Home (Mrs. A. Bayly) reported a satisfactory month, the discipline of the inmates being excellent and the general supplies good. The Board's architects (Messrs. Messenger and Griffiths) reported on the progress of .the work in connection with the erection of the new Nurses' HomeA letter was received from Mr. Alf. Lee expressing appreciation of the skill and attention received during his three weeks in the hospital. Leave of absence for one week was granted to NuTse McFadgen, OpunakeNotification was received from the In-spector-General of Hospitals (Dr. T. A. H, Valintine) that the conference of Hospital Boards would commence in Wellington on Tuesday, June 'l. The chairman suggested that it would be wise to appoint someone else in addition to himself and the secretary, who were originally appointed delegates, and Mr. F. J. Hill was elected an additional delegate- . Payments amounting to £B9B 15s lid were approved, and accounts amounting to £ll2l 18s 8d were passed for pay--1 ment.