TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 February 1921, Page 8

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. ■The Taranaki Hospital Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs. M. Fraser (chainman), G. Young, J. Andrews, E. R. Gilmour, G. Capper, J. S. S. Medley, S. Vickers, J. Young, M. O’Brien and A. H. Halcomibe. The chairman extended a welcome to Mr. Medley, who was recently appointed Borough representative vice Mr. F. J. Hill, resigned. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. The report of the Medical Superintendent for the month of January stated that 88 patients had been admitted, 88 discharged, and 3 died. Seventy remained in hospital at the end of the month. The highest number of inmates for the day was 82, and the daily average was 73.8. Thirty-seven operations were performed. The superintendent remarked that with the lowest daily average since February, 1919, January was a quiet month in hospital 1 Three cases of diphtheria and two of scarlet fever were under treatment jn the isolation blocks. One case of infantile paralysis had been admitted, and duly isolated. DISTRICT NURSING. Nurse Fenn. (Uruti) reported that there had been very little sickness In the district during the month. Four cases called for minor surgical dressings. Nurse McFadzen (Opunake) reported that nine cases had been attended to during the month. There were a number of cases of whooping cough in the district, and also a number of cases of measles. She had visited a number of Maoris, but there was no serious sickness amongst them. At Puniho -pah one case of pneumonia was seen, and they were holding a tangi. The symptoms of the case pointed to septicemia. FARM REPORT. The farm manager (Mr. W. C. Noble) reported that for tiie month of January the dairy herd bad produced 14,2531ibs of milk. Everything was progressing favorably in connection with the farm, (but like everywhere else the dry weather was telling on the milk supply. NURSES’ HOME. A progress report on the work at the Nurses’ Home was submitted by the architects (Messrs. Messenger, Griffiths and Taylor). They stated that the average number of workmen employed during the month of January was twelve, and on the 15th inst. the number was fifteen. With regard to progress, the flooring was nearly all laid down with the exception of the special spring floor in the memorial hall, which could not be proceeded with immediately. The arrival of materials urgently needed for plastering had come to hand recently, following a delay of over three months. GENERAL. The matron of the Rangiatea Home (Mrs. A. Bayly) reported that the number of inmates in the home were:» Males 30, females 9. The report of the house steward (M?. C. F. B. Perrin) stated that improvements had been made to the dairy, and were proving satisfactory. Owing to the milk supply from the farm having fallen off it had been necessary to buy milk from outsi.de. The question of salaries was left to the finance committee to bring down a report to next meeting. . . On the suggestion of Mr. Gilmour, it was decided to set up a 'committee to make preliminary arrangements regarding the furnishing of the nurses' home. In the course of discussion the chairman said he did not expect that the building would be ready for furnishing for three months.