TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD,

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1921, Page 2

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD,

MONTHLY MEETING. The Taranaki Hospital Board met yesterday : Present, Messrs. J. S. S. Medley (acting chairman), E. R. Gilmour, S. Vickers, C. Andrews, S. Capper/ and M. O'Brien. Leave of absence was granted to Messrs. M. Fraser (chairman), and A. H. Halcombe. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. The acting -medical superintendent (Dr. Home), repprtes that the number of patients admitted was 69'were discharged and 5 jfied. . Eighty two remained in hospital at the exyljof .the month. The highest number of patients for any one day was 82, and the daily average" 71.5; 26 operations were performed. The report stated that the daily average was lower than last month, and the month had been a quiet one in hospital, except in the children's ward, which had been exceptionally heavy. Two cases of Scarlatina, two of measles, and one of diptheria bad been admitted during the month. Two further cases of infantile paralysis, one from Waitara and one from luniho had come in. DISTRICT NURSING. Nurse M'Fadgen (Opunake), reported, that five cases had received attention during the month. Measles were : .prevalent In. the town and district. A visit w/!s paid, to Oka to uu

two occasions during the month, and. very little sickness was found, there were four deaths amqngst Maoris, one each at Pungarehu, Puniho, Parihaka, and Oeo. Neitter doctor ncr nurse was in attendance on the cases. FARM REPORT. The farm manager (Mr. McNoble), reported that for the monthly return ending February 28, the 16 cows had returned 11,672 lbs of milk. Owing to the continued dry weather, s;all feeding bad been adopted, and the cows were In much better form for the extra treatment. Ploughing and sowing young grass, barley, and oats, for winter and spring feed was now in progress. > NURSES' HOME. The architects for the Nurses’ Hdme (Messrs. Messenger, Griffiths, and Taylor), reported: Labor: There has been no additional labor offering during the month. Since our last report there has been an average of eleven workmen employed, principally carpenters and plumbers, and the number at present engaged was seventeen. The carpenters had been concentrating on the interior finishings, and these were now well advanced. GENERAL. With reference to the steam installation al the hospital, advice was received from Dr. D. S. Wylie (Director), stating that the Minister of Health was being approached with a view to, obtaining his consent to the expenditure of the extra amount now necessary for the proposed work. The Matron of ■ the Rangatea Home (Mrs. A. Bayly), reported that everything at the institution was progressing favorably. The number of inmates totalled 39. Advice was received from the Department of Public Health that the Minister would be prepared to receive a deputation from the board on the 22nd inst., in regard to the position in connection with the proposed cottage hospital. Discussion of increases in salaries and wages was deferred till next meeting as a number of members were absent. It was pointed cutthat the postponement would not result in any loss monetarily to the staff, as any increase made would date from April 1. The secretary reported that The medical superintendent would be absent 'on le&ve for four weeks, as from March 11.