NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1940, Page 9

NEW BOARD MEMBERS

hawera hospital work TWO NOMINEES WELCOMED "We are pleased to have a representative of the native! race on our board," said the chairman, Mr. A. L. Campbell, yesterday, extending a welcome to two new members of the Hawera Hospital Board, Messrs. W. Wakarua and H. Thrush. "We had one previously in Mr. M. R. Jones, and it was through him that the aversion of the natives to the hospital was broken." In reply Mr. Thrush said that while it would be difficult to follow in the path of the retiring | member, Mr. P. O. Veale, he would do his utmost to sefve the board well. Mr. Wakarua joined him in thanking the board for the confidence shown in their ability to fill the vacancies. The medical superintendent of the hospital, Dr. W. S. Fogg, stated that at the beginning df August there were 89 patients, and at the end of August there were 90. During the month, he said, there were 155 admissions, while the number discharged or dead was 154. The average of beds ocpupied in August was 92.9, compared with an average .of 88.5 for the preceding five rhonths, and 68.7 for the same period last year, the number of nurses on duty being 52.7, an average of 1.7 beds to each member of the nursing staff. Of the X-ray cases dealt. with, said Dr. Fogg, 204 were through the Army Department, hospital cases were 30, and private cases numbered 17. The number of outpatients attended was 181. Of the patients in hospital 17 had been there for eight weeks or more. Most of the staff work was general maintenance, reported Mr. Martin Smith, engineer. A total of 26,086 pieces was handled at the laundry. The value of produce supplied to the hospital and the old people's home by the farm was £71 19s 3d, it was stated.. Miss M. J. Fraser, matron, stated that two trainees had commenced their training. She found it difficult to fill vacancies in the "domestic staff. When the possible necessity of an addition to the medical staff was referred to Dr. Fogg. he said that at present it was impossible to estimate properly the assistance required. Under the present conditions the normal number of patients requiring treatment eould not be determined. "There is an increase because some people who have been delaying treatment are now having it under the social security scheme," he stated. "and the treatments given to troops are non-re-curring. It is not the time to think of extra aid." A decision to give any British children residing in the district out-patient treatment during and for six months after the war was made in reply to a request to that effect by the Director of Health.