TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 November 1921, Page 2

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING, The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board was held at New Plymouth yesterday. Owing to the absence of the chairman (Mr. M. Fraser), from whom an sjxriogy was received, Mr. S. Vickers was voted to ! the chair. There were also present; Messrs. J. Sutherland, S. Capper, M. O’Brien, A. H. Halconrbe, E. Gilmour, H. B. CatUey, aad J. Andrews. Mr. J. Young apologised for ab-' sence. MEDICAL REPORT. The medical superintendent (Dr. E. A. Walker) reported that during October Che number of patients in hospital was 87, discharged 84, died 5, number remaining in hospital 104, daily average 103.5, number of operations 39. The daily average being still over a hundred, October was a busy month all round. There has been an increase in the cases of diptheria under treatment, whilst the number of scarlet fever cases were fully maintained. Their Excellencies the GovernorGeneral and Lady Jelltcoe visited tfce institution 1 on October 28. iMATRONJS REPORT. The monthly report of the matron (Miss B. A. Campbell) stated that Sister Husking had been on holiday leave; Nurses Smith, Nelson, and Bullard on sick leave; whilst Nurse Street and Miss Clarke had returned from holiday leave, and. Nurses Smith and Nixon from ’ sick leave. Sister Dew had been on three weeks’ special- leave of absence owing to the illness of her mother. Tte applicai’in of Nurse Corkill for special leave of absence owing to the ill-health of her father was recommended. Miss Robinson had commenced duties on a three months' teran of' probation. Miss Whittington had left the hospital at the end of October. . Nurse Carroll, having finished her three mouths' term of probation satisfactorily, is now on the permanent staff. HCJSE MATTERS. The dispenser and house steward (Mr. C. F- B. Perrin) reported that Mr< H. Harowidga, assistant gardener, was on annual leave. Warder Shepherd goes on annual leave oh the 17th Inst., and Mr. C. Dale had been’ engaged to fill the vacancy. The floor in Ne. 4 ..ward-required attention-. and the . insani•tary state of the gardener's cottage was again brought under the notice of the board.—Both these, latter matters were referred .to the house committee with power to act. RANGLATEA HOME. The matron of the Rangiatea Home (Mrs. A. Bayly) reported that everything had been progressing very satisfactorily, the supplies had been good, and the discipline excellent. There was one admission during the month, the number in tho home now being 38. (males 31, females 7). THE FARM. The farm manager (Mr. W. C. Noble) reported that the herd of 30 cows had produced 1G.974 lbs of milk. The continuous rainy weather had been very hard on tte cattlq and had kept back the growth of feed. Cropping work was now in hand. The district inspector of stock (Mr. F. W. Sutton) reported that he and Mr. R. B. Wood had subjected the board’s herd of 23 cows and dne bull to a tuberculin test on October 21, and found that not any of them gave any re-action. He congratulated the board on tte fact that for practically 12 months the milk had been entirely free from tuberculosis. DISTRICT NURSES’ REPORTS. Nurse McFadgen, district nurse at Opunake, reported that there bad been very little sickness in her district, with the exception of a few ca?es of. slight influenza. , During the mouth- she had visited Okato and attended to two Mrfori children suffering from influenza. Nurse M. Shine (Uruti) presented a ' report covering the period from June 1 to-Novem-ber 14, showing that a total of 50 cases had been attended to. HEALTH MATTHRS. The Minister of Public Health (Hon. C. J. Parr) acknowledged the receipt of the board’s letter of 22nd ult., urging the necessity for the inclusion of venereal diseases In the list of notifiable diseases and the board’s representations in this matter would ree'eive his earnest consideration. The Director-General of 'Healtt- (Dr. T. H. A. Valintine) notified that after March 81 next the Health Department would not reimburse boards for the cost of any special attendance in respect of -delirium tremens cases in general hospitals. GENERAL. The' ministerial approval to expenditure 'n connection with the erection of a maternity home and cottage hospital at Opunake was forwarded. The name of Miss Ivy C. G. Dobson was placed on the waiting list of probationers. A large number of applications were reeeived for the position of housekeeper at the hospital, and these had been narrowed down , to two, from which the house committee had selected Mrs. -Lansley, of New Plymouth. An exchange of opinions took place on tfce question of Friendly Societies’ hospital fees, and eventually, on tjie motion of Mr. Suther- ' land, the matter was left over pending the , return of. -the pliairman (Mr, Fraser). i Accounts amoimtirig to £lO9B Ils 3d were ' passed for payment..