TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1922, Page 7

TARANAKI HOSPITAL BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of the Hospital Board was held yesterday. Present: Messrs. M. Fraser (chairman), J. Andrews, H. R. Cattley, E. Gilmour, S. Vickers, M. O'Brien, J. Young, G. Capper and J. Sutherland. REPORTS. The general manager reported it had been necessary to keep the boilers going for 24 hours owing to the colder weather. The extra X-ray apparatus had been installed, and is giving good results. A start had been made on the preparation of the grounds round the nurses’ home. The old home had been removed, and it was for the board to decide what should be done with the site. Although the milk supply was short, there had been no need to buy from outside sources. The key of the Opunake Hospital had been handed to the district nurse, with a suggestion that she should take up her residence there. The dispenser reported that the delakite throughout the building was breaking away, and required attention immediately, and that the open drain previously referred to by him had not been' attended to.— The matter of the delakite was left in the hands of the house committee.

The report of the matron (Miss B. A. Campbell) on the nursing staff was as follows: On holiday leave, Nurses Mackie an:l Merriman; sick leave, Nurses Berry and Burwell; returned from holiday, Nurses Winfield and Rae and Sister Muir; returned from sick leave, Nurses Berry and Burwell. Sister Barnitt finished relieving duty pn the 11th inst. Nurses Orsman and •°angster, having completed their probationary terms, have been piaced on the icrmanent staff. Miss Dobson commenced inty as a probationer on the 19th inst. Miss Clarke, masseuse, severed her connection with the hospital on May 18. Sister Crookston has resigned the position * night sister. Nurse de Berry is leaving the, hospital at the end of June. The medical superintendent reported that 101 patients had been admitted, lOS discharged, 2 had died, and 79 remained, the highest number for one day being 85, and the daily average 79.2 There had been 68 operations. It had been a light month, but the number of operations was the highest for the present year. Four cases of diphtheria and three of scarlet fever were admitted during the month, and one of measles. Nurses Mackie, Kilbride, Merriman and Macßae had passed their examination in anatomy and physiology. The Uruti nurse reported there had been one patient in the cottage for six days, and another for three days. The dressings numbered four, and one consultation had been made. The matron of the Rangiatea Home reported that everything was satisfactory. There had been one death, and 38 inmates were now in the home—33 males and 5 females. The district nurse at Opunake reported having attended and nursed 5 European cases and three Natives, and attended two maternity cases. There had been a few cases of diphtheria and two cases of pneumonia. There had been very little sickness at Parihaka. Fees received totalled £2 5s 6d. THE FARM. The farm manager (Mr. W. C. Noble) reported that the herd of 16 cows had produced 11861bs of milk. Two fat pigs and two stores had been sold, and 14 dozen duck eggs had been sent to the hospital. It was very trying to keep up the amount of milk required for the hospital, and he pointed out the impossible nature of his task, as the point of desperation had been reached, and he was at a loss to know what to do for the best. There was not sufficient ground to grow half enough feed for the herd, and no ground whereon to raise stock or to recruit from. The amount spent on the purchase of feed every year would pay the rent on a farm of 150 acres, and the stock that could be reared would soon build up a herd that would be a credit, while, at a small outlay, a considerable quantity of vegetables could be produced, besides poultry. The chairman considered the manager should make his statements to the farm committee for that body to report upon to the board in a condensed form, and with such recommendations as they thought fit. Mr. Vickers considered the time had arrived when the board should decide whether it should play at farming or farm properly. With regard to lighting the sheds, he considered the two present gas jets were worthless, and he was of opinion that electricity would be cheaper. He also expressed his views as to the fencing and draining. The chairman said that before any expenditure was incurred the finance committee should consider and report on the matter, as circumstances had arisen necessitating caution. Mr. J. Young considered it was almost impossible to keep up the milk supply In : the winter. All that was expected was that the manager should do his best with the present herd. Mr. Gilmour asserted that the board should either attend to the drain or lea *e it alone. The board had now an opportunity of accepting a fair offer. Mr. Andrews said it was entirely a que.-; lion of finance. The chairman stressed the fact that the board must consider every pound of expenditure before it was made, thus the board could only provide for absolute essentials. When the estimates were made up no provision was made for treatment or consumptives, yet the board was faced with practically a liability for £lOOO for such patients. It was necessary to realise I he burdens on the farmers and proper tvowners as regards taxation, therefore luxuries must he barred. All proposed expenditure must be carefully investigated by the linanpe committee. Mr. Vickers contended that the drain in question was not a luxury but a necessity. He moved, however, that the matter should be left in abeyance for six months, and this was carried. HOSPITAL GROUNDS. Mr. W. W. Smith reported having inspected the ground around the nurses’ home. He suggested that, before ploughing, docks and the acanthus weed be carefully dug out with spades. He also mentioned other matters in connection with the work.—Left in the hands of Mr. Vickers and Mr. Smith to do what they deem best. REVISED FORMS OF RETURNS. The Director-General of the Health Department notified that the forms of returns had been revised so as to show to what extent, they are serving as charitable institutions, in addition to institutions rendering services which are paid for. A letter was received from the Hawera Board, strongly protesting against the adoption of the regulations owing to the increased demands for returns becoming a burden on the board’s officers, and the unjustified expense entailed. The chairman pointed out that the secretary was already overworked, and the board was quite unable to provide further assistance in the office owing to lack of I funds. ' It was deaided unaaimoiuly to endorse

the protest of the Hawera Board. GENERAL, It was decided to endorr.s the resolution of the Canterbury Board to urge the Minister of Prisons to amend existing legislation so as to provide that defaulters in maintenance orders should be employed on. remunerative work, and their earnings applied to the maintenance of their families.