TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1922, Page 2

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The, monthly meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board was held at New Plymouth yesterday. Present: Messrs. M. Fraser (chairman), J. Andrews, E. Gilmour, S. Vickers, A. H. Halcombe, M. O'Brien, J. Young, S. Capper and J. Sutherland. An apology for absence was received from Mr. H. R. Cattley. . MEDICAL REPORT. The medical superintendent (Dr. E. A. Walker) reported as follows for the month of January:—Number of patients admitted 99, discharged 97, died 3, number remaining In hospital 89, highest number for one day 95, daily average 89.4, number of operations 62. January, though a light month all over, saw a good amiount of work done on the surgical , side. Five cases of scarlet fever and six of diphtheria are under treatment In the isolation block. MATRON’S REPORT. The matron (Miss B. A. Campbell) reported that Nurses Warnock and Leighton had gone , off on holiday leave, whilst Nurse Fairbrother has returned to duty after holiday leave. Sisters Hamblyn and Solway and Nurse Merron had severed their connection with the hospi- , ial during the month, whilst Sister Marsh was doing relieving duty for six months. Nurse Field was on leave owing to the death of tier sister, Nurses Corkill and Graham had * returned to duty after three months’ and I one months’ leave respectively. Nurse Robinson, having completed her three (months' leave of probation satisfactorily, is now on the permanent staff, and Nurses Bull and Burwell had commenced duties on three months’ probation. OTHER REPORTS.

The dispenser and house steward (Mr. C. F. B. Perrin) reported that Warder Rice had returned from holiday leave, whilst Mr. P. H. Bower (ambulance driver) was off on sick leave. Attention was directed to the open drain referred to in a previous report, which had not, yet been attended to. A quantity of rhubarb had been received from Rangiatea. Home and a quantity of vegetables from the farun. Thanks were expressed to Mr. Swindells for a gift of lettuce. The matron of the Rangiatea H6me reported that everything had been progressing favorably during the month, the supplies very good and the discipline excellent. There had been one admission and one death, leaving in the home 39 (males 32, females 7). Nurse E. M. Fadgen, district nurse at Opunake, reported that 6 patients had been attended at the nurses cottage and 4 at their own homes. One maternity case had also been attended. There were a number of cases of abdomen and influenza in the district. Two cases of injuries had been, attended. Parihaka had been visited during the month and a number of Maoris attended. Tlie condition of the pa was good. Nurse M. Leed, district nurse at Uruti, reported that the number of patients attended was 12, advised 3, visited 10, and dressings 9. Mr. Vickers (chairman of the farm committee) gave a verbal report on tte work of the farm which was now progressing very well. No report was received from the farm manager (Mr. W. C. Moore), who had met with an accident. HEALTH DEPARTMENT MATTERS. A circular was received from the Department of . Health re the proposed superannuation bill for hospital board employees, stating that cabinet had decided that the matter must stand over to next session, when, if tte financial conditions permit, the Minister proposed to submit legislation in this direction.— Referred to the house committee.

The Health Department also asked that the question- e of the board’s proposed capital levy and subsidy for 1922-23 be brought before the board immediately, especially in view of the fact that the Government should be in a position to consider the requirements of the board as a whole in view of the present financial stringency. j HOSPITAL MANAGER. The director, division of hospitals (Dr. D. S. Wylie), wrote in reference to the appointment of a manager at the New Plymouth hospital, as follows: "I agree that under the circumstances existing at the New Plymouui hospital, which has at present no resident medical superintendent or resident medical staff, that an appointment such as outlined by you should be of value In helping to secure smooth and economical administration. I would be glad if you would, however, forward to me a schedule of duties which you consider are those which a manager should discharge and particularly the defining of his duties, so far as they are connected with those, in which ho must inevitablj’ come in contact with the m.edlcal superintendent of the hospital.—Left In the hands of the house committee to draw up the necessary regulations t-o be submitted to the next meeting of tlie board. BOROUGH COUNCIL MATTERS.

The general manager of the New Plymouth Borough Council (Mr. F. T. Bellringer), intimated that consideration of the questions raised by the board’s deputation to the last meeting of the council in reference to the charge for water, had been deferred until the annual estimates are being dealt with next month.—The members of the deputation were thanked for their services. Another communication from the same source was in reference to the increased charges for grave cleaning at the public cemetery. It had been decided to Increase the charges for keeping the Old People’s Home plot from £2 to £4 per annum. 'This was agreed to, members agreeing that the way the plots were kept in order was a credit, to those concerned. AN OPUNAKE BEQUEST. A copy of the will of the late Mrs. Rachel Taylor was forwarded by the Public Trust Office, directing the executors to pay the residue of her estate to the Taranaki Hospital Board. It Is understood that the property consists of a section of 6% acres, with a house, and also an adjoining section of about an acre. The Public Trustee will be asked to hand the property over to the board, and Messrs. O’Brien and Young were asked to inspect the property and to report to the board on the better way of realising upon it. GENERAL. Tl:e medical superintendent. (Dr. E. A. Walker) applied for three weeks’ leave of absence as from February 25, in order to attend the medical conference at Wellington. —Agr.eed .to. On behalf of the staff of the hospital, Dr. Walker thanked the board fo* Its kind letter of congratulation *in the recent success of the nurses in the state examination. It was decided to call tenders for hospital supplies for the ensuing six months. A by-law, prohibiting persons from visiting the isolation block without the written authority of the medical sufterintendent, was formally added to the by-laws on notice of motion given by the chairman at last meeting.

On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. Sutherland, it was decided that a letter of thanks be sent to the Opunake District Nursing Association for the hospitality shown on ti e occasion of the laying ot the foundation stone of the Opunake cottage hosP Mrs. W. Bewley and family acknowledged the board’s sympathy In their recent bereavement.