TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1920, Page 2

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

| ' MONTHLY MEETING, i The Taranaki Hospital Board met yesterday, Present: Messrs M. Fraser . (chairman), G-. Young, F. J. Hill, J. Andrews, E. Oilmour, J. Young, and A. H. Halcombe. An apology was received for the non-attendance of Mr. C. Andrews, who is at present indisposed. THE HOSPITAL. The medical superintendent (Dr. Walker) reported for June thai iOft patents were admitted, and 109 discharged. Ten died and 87 remained in hospital at the end of the month. The hignra« number for one day was 10a, and the daily average 93.8. Forty-six operations were performed during the month. There were six cases of diphtheria under treatment, and three of scarlet fever. Nurses Wilson, Peers, Cartwright, and Salway had been successful in passing their State examination, while a partial pass was gained by Nurse Dew. The healing-of "the building had been • seriously interfered with throughout the month owing to*the shortage of coke. This still prevailed, and urgently required remedying. The quality of the coal was also inferior.

The house committee was delegated to inquire into the matter of heating. The chairman remarked thot in spite of £IOO being spent on coal and coke last month, the position did not appear to be satisfactory.

The matron (Miss B. A. Campbell) reported that the hot water service in the main kitchen was most > unsatisfactory, hot water having to be carried some distance for washing dishes, etc. The laundry also required attention, and great difficulty was experienced in getting the clothes dry in wet weather.

RANGIATEA HOME. The matron of the Rangiatea Homo (Mrs. Bayly) reported that the institution had been progressing very favorably during the month. The gas supply for some weeks had been deplorable. There had been one admission and one death; there were regaining in the Home 35 males and 8 females.

It was decided to obtain a report from the house committee on the question of installing electric light.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

The report of the Inspector (Mr. A. H. Kendall) stated that since last report 256 cases of infectious diseases had been notified in the district, being 7 cases of scarlet fever, 13 of diphtheria, 3 of enteric, 207 of influenza, 1 of tuberculosis, 15 of varicella, 1 of tetanus, 1 of erysipelas, and 8 of pneumonia. There was one death from scarlet fever, one from tuberculosis, and two from pneumonia.

I Since influenza had been removed from I the list of notifiable diseases there had been a great decrease in the total mim, her of eases notified. The notifications for the month of July up to date had been two cases of scarlet fever (one in Waitara and one in New Plymouth), four cases of diphtheria (two in Taranaki County, one each in New Plymouth and the Egmont County), three cases of enteric (two in Taranaki and one in Egmont Coitnty), four cases of varicella (three in New Plymouth and one in Waitara), one case of tetanus (in New Plymouth); one case of erysipelas (at Waitara), and 4 cases of pneumonia (one fatal in Clifton County). The total number of cases notified during the month of July (to date) was 19, which jS rather lower than the normal average of cases notified for a similar period. DISTRICT SICKNESS.

District Nurse Fenn, Uruti, reported that there had been little sickness in the district. A few cases of a mild form of influenza had been attended to. District Nurse McFadzen, Opunake, reported that five cases had been attended to. There were a fair number of cases of mumps in and around the district. THE NEW FEES. It was reported that the Department had not yet approved of the new scale of fees, and it was decided to telegraph, urging that the question of the new scale be decided as soon as possible, as the Board was making a loss on the present charges.

GENERAL. Taranaki M.P.'s wrote, promising support for the resolution in f&vor of simultaneous valuation of land, and a number of local bodies wrote notifying that they had endorsed the proposal. Intimation was received from the Bank ot New South Wales that the rate for overdraft had been increased to 0 percent.

The Grey Hospital Board wrote, asking for support and co-operation in urging that the Hon. Minister of Public Health consider the advisability of appointing an architect from the Department whose services would be available for hospital boards for the preparation of plans for hospital construction, alterations, etc.—No action taken. The Department notnva that the Minister had approved of the estimates submitted by the Board, the subsidy rate for maintenance purposes" being 10s 3d in tho £.

The houße and finance committee recommended that hospital fees for treatment of children in hospital be increased as on Ist July, 1020, to: First child 6s Gd; second child "who is a patient at the same time as the first one, 5s 6d; and each subsequent child in hospital at the same time, 4s Gd per day; (2) that adult, patients who are members of the Hospital Association of tho Friendly Societies be charged at 03 Gd per day as from Ist July.

A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Halcombc for pasturing some of the board's stock on his farm.