TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1920, Page 7

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday. Present:. Messrs. M. Eraser (chairman!, G. Young, Geo. Capper, J. Young, S. Campbell, A. H. Haleombe, C. Andrews, E. R. A. Gilmour, P. J- Hill, and J. Andrews. MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. Dr. E. A. Walker, medical superintendent of the hospital, reported that during the month of August 101 patienta had been admitted, 74 had been discharged, and 11 had died; 8!) now remaining in the institution. The highest number of patients for one day was 92 and the daily average 83.75. There had been 45 operations, and although the daily averages was low for the month, August had been a heavy one, owing to the prevalence of influenza among tlio staff. 'Nearly every nurse and the domestic staff had been elected. There had been great difficulty in carrying on. The liou.se steward was o!T duty through illness. Mr. 0. Reilly was acting ternporarily._ There were three eases of diphtheria, and two of scarlatina under treatment at present. lie called the Board s attention to the need for painting the hospital, both inside and out, also for repainting portions of the interior. Tho now window had not yet teen placed in the operating theatre. MATRON'S REPORT. j Miss B. A. Campbell, matron, reported that Nurses Ennis, McManus and Chapman had been on holiday leave, and Nurses Smith and Paget had returned from holiday leave. Nnftses Taylor, Corkill and Wilson had been on sick leave, the latter two having returned to duty. Nurse Cartwright had severed her connection with the hospital on September 4th. Nurses Bullard, Dew, and Ren, having completed their three months' term of probation, were now on the permanent start. Misses Field and Street had commenced their term of probation! The following had, in order of merit,, secured first-class passes with credit at tho recent cookery examination held in the Technical College: Nurses Grooby, Ingram and Collins, first-class passes; Nurses Chapman, McManus and Leighton. The domestic, question was still very acute, it fell very heavily on the nurses, as they had so much extra work to do. RANG IA TEA HOME. Mrs. Bayly, matron of Rangiatea Home, reported that everything had been progressing very favorably during the past month. Supplies had been good and discipline excellent. There had been two admissions and one death. There were remaining in the home 33 males and 9 females. HEALTH INSPECTOR'S REPORT. Mr. A. 11. Kendall, inspector, reported that during the past month fifteen i?sses of infectious diseases were notified in the district, being one case of scarlet fever, three of diphtheria, two of enteric fever, one of tuberculosis, six of pneumonia, one of erysipelas, and one of chicken pox. The distribution of the cases was;as follows: Taranaki County, diphtheria at Puniho and 1 pneumonia at Okato; New Plymouth, 1 scarlet fever, 2 diphtheria, 2 enteric fever, 2 pneumonia; YVaitam, 1 erysipelas, 1 ciiicfcenpox; Ingle wood County, 1 phthisis; Egmont County, 2 pneumonia. The source ot one case of enteric fever in New Plymouth had not yet been traced, in spite of very full investigation, while the other case was traceable to contact with a pre\ ious case before its removal to hospital. Complete . investigations were made, and disinfection carried out. FARM REPORT. Mr. J. Andrews (Chairman of the Farm Committee) reported that he had paid his monthly visit of inspection to the farm on Monday, and found the staff busy planting potatoes in tho rain, which spoke well for their industry. The supply of milk had been kept up fairly well considering the weather, and the manager thought that he would be able to keep it «p f rom now on. Ho also says that he had the work well forward for the incoming season. There had been some sickness among the cows, but ail were now on the mend. There were two very choice heifer calves which the manager considered should be retained for future requirements. The hospital was being supplied with four fowls dailv, -and several dozens of eg gs. Things were going oil steadily, and as well as could reasonably be expected. The farm manager reported that the ,V«L ilcrd of 17 Co "' 3 had produced JJ.fUS pounds of milk. All the conserved food was eaten up, and he was now feeding on chaff, crushed oats, and bran. He was having considerable trouble with sick cows owing to having no long feed. He had sent twelve dozen eggs to the hospital, and had sold five store pigs and five slips at auction. The farm manager also asked permission to be allowed to rear two pedigree heiier calves.—Agreed to. OTHER REPORTS. Nurse MeFadzen, District Nurse at Opunake, submitted a. report of work, Which showed that five Europeans had' been attended and advised, and fourteen nursed throughout. Two .Maoris had been attended and advised, and two liuised throughout. Eight cases of pneumonia had been attended in the surrounding district. • The secretary of the Uruti Nursing Association wrote, stating that the cost of installing a hot water service at the Uruti College would be £53 as 2d.— Left in the hands of Mr. Haleombe. Messrs. S. Campbell and J. Young submilted a report on the fencing of the site of the proposed cottage hospital at Opnnake. Work to be done, and arrangements left in the hands of Messrs. [ Campbell and Young. NEW NURSES' HOME. 1 Messrs. Messenger and Griffith (the boards architects), submitted a progress report of tho new nurses' home, showing that from August 17th an average of 23 workmen had been employed, and at the present moment the stafi' numbered 21. The weather had been favorable, no time having been lost. Practically the whole of the flooring in the upper storey had been laid, together with about one quarter of the flooring on Ihe ground floor, and a commencement had been made on the upstair ceilings. Progress was also being made with the internal fittings. Given favorable weather the outside plastering should be completed before the next Board meeting, and a start had been made with the finishing coat of plaster in the bedrooms. The exterior rongf, east walls of the upper storey approximately half way round the building have been ' colored two coats, and * jaall amount g! asternal 1

painting attended to. The plumbing work had not advanced very much, but a considerable amount. of preparatory work had been attended to in the shopMILITARY PATIENTS. Pi". T. IT, A, Valintine, Inspector-Gen-eral of Hospitals, notified that in order to nutlet; matters perfectly clear concerning the admission of military patients to civil hospitals. The DirectorGeneral of Medical Services desired to emphasise the following points, viz., disabilities of returned soldiers were only admitted as a liability of the Defence Department for treatment. When the disability was due to or aggravated by war service. No liability for treatment would bo accepted by the Defence Department unless the approval of the Assistant-Director of Medical Services of the district' had been previously obtained for such treatment. This, of course, did not apply tr urgent eases for which treatment should be provided pending the obtaining of the. necessary approval at the earliest possible date, from the Assistant Director of Medical Services of the district concerned. CONDITIONS OF WORK OF NURSES. The Inspector-General of Hospitals asked consideration of proposals 1o modify conditions attending the employment of nurses in public hospitals, so as to provide for one clear day ofl' each week, and a minimum annual holiday of 21 days; also asking for information as to the number by which the staff would have to be increased to allow of the proposals being carried out,' the e.vlra accommodation necessary, and the earliest possible date the proposed changes could take place. To be submitted to the medical superintendent and matron for a report. The chairman said that thev had no difficulty in obtaining probationers, having six or seven names on the books now. ' pkiend'm: societies association Mr. IT. R. Oattlev, secretary of the Taranaki United Friendly Societies Association, wrote asking the Board to make the fees for members of the association the same as those fixed by the Hawera Board, namely, for children up to and including 14 years of ago 4s 6d per day, over 14 and up to and including 111 years of age Gs (id per day, adults Os Cd per day. The matter was referred to the Finance Committee to re-consider, members expressing the opinion that, if possible, they should meet the association 1 in some way.