TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1921, Page 6

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Taranaki Hosp-tai Board met yesterday. Present: Messrs. M. Fraser (chairman), J. Andrews, G. Capper, H. R. Cattley, E. R. Gilmour, S. Vickers, A. H. Halcombe, M. • O’Brien, and J. You fig. The matron (Miss B. A. Campbell) reported that the following went off duty: On holiday leave,. Nurses Moore and Field; on sick leave, Nurses Bullard and MacKenzie; returned to duty after holiday leave, Sister Dew, Nurses Smart, Moore, and Taylor; from siek leave. Nurses McManus, MacKenzie, and Bullard. Sister Tysae (night sister) commenced duties on 3rd inSt. Sister Peers severed her connection with the hospital on the 12th and Nurse Wilton on August 31, the latter owing to illhealth. Nurse Grant having finished her probationary term, was now on the permanent staff. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. The medical superintendent’s report for the month of August stated that 119 patients were admitted, 99 were discharged, 6 died, and the number remaining in hospital was 117. The highest number for one day. was 120, the daily overage 100 and the number of operations was 67. The superintendent remarked that another busy month in all departments had to be noted. Fifteen cases of scarlet fever were under treatment, but for the time they were free of diphtheria. HOUSE MATTERS. The house steward, Mr. C. F. B. Perriu, reported, that good progress had been made with the installation of the steam service, and it was contemplated it would be ready for the main building in six or. eight week’s time. The milk supply from the farm had improved and ,it was not now necessary to buy from outside vendors. DISTRICT NURSING. Nurse McFadgen (Opunake) reported that during August twelve eases had been attended to. There were several diphtheria cases in the district, and still one or two of measles. There were also one or two cases of pneumonia. Three visits were paid to Okato during, the month and a number of Maoris were seen; there was no serious sickness among them. THE NURSES’ HOME. The progress report on the Nurses’ Home from the architects stated that since last report there had been an average of seven men employed at the Home, and five were at the boiler house and hot water installation. The contractor had been attending to sundry small finishings throughout the building, and with the exception of a few shelves and fasteners, the contract work was now complete. PROPOSED PURCHASE OF FARM. In reference to the proposal by the board to acquire a farm of 173 acres, involving an expenditure of £14,000, the Minister of Health (Hon. C. J. Parr) wrote stating he could not give his consent to it. All the available money for hospital purposes at his disposal must be devoted to the provision of extra hospital beds where they were required, and for other urgent purposes. The chairman reported that together with Mr. Vickers he had interviewed the Minister on August 30, and though they received an attentive hearing the department fell back on the plea that there was no money available. NOTIFIABLE DISEASES. . The North Canterbury Board asked for support for a resolution urging upon the Minister of Public Health the necessity of including venereal diseases amongst the notifiable diseases. It was decided, on the motion of Mr. Gilmour, that the proposals be endorsed. The mover said that when it was considered that the Health Journal showed there were 10,392 cases of this disease in the last quarter, it was time something was done. GENERAL. The farm manager (Mr. W. C. Noble) reported for the. month of August, the herd of twenty cows provided 13,7071bs ’of milk. August had been a hard month on the stock. The matron (Mrs. A. Bayly) reported that the number of inmates at the Rangiatea Home was 39. During the month everything had been progressing favorably.