STRATFORD HOSPITAL

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1940, Page 4

STRATFORD HOSPITAL

BOARD MEETING HELD TREATMENT OF CHILDREN As has been done in other centres, it was decided at a meeting yesterday of the Stratford Hospital Board that children who come to Central Taranaki fiom Britain will receive free outpatient treatment from the Stratford hospital should they require it at any time. A letter was received from the Director-General of Health asking for the board's decision in the matter. The letter stated that homes were available for 10.000 children in New Zealand, but it would be some time before that number travelled to the Dominion. The board passed a special resolution to ratify its decision to give the service to child evacuees free of charge. The contractor for the erection of the boiler house and laundry at the hospital asked the board to amend his price to cover the increase in wages since he tendered. He said that his sub-contractors had asked for higher prices in respect of the increase in wages of their employees, and in addition he would have to pay higher rates to his own men. He asked the boai'd to meet him in the matter. Members asked if the contractor had included a clause in his tender to cover wages increases, and were advised there was no such clause. While the board considered it was not bound to make any adjustment, some members felt the point should £e furt.her considered, and it was referred to the architect to compute the proportion of wages in the total cost of the work.

Appreciation of V.A.D.'s. Thanks for the courtesies and cooperation extended by the hospital staff to the Stratford Red Cross V.A.D.'s during their recent 60 hours' twaining, was expressed in a letter received from the V.A.D. commandant, Mrs. R. R. Curtis. The commandant offered the services of the V.A.D.'s to - the hospital should they ever be needed in an emergency. Eighty-nine patients were admitted and 85 were discharged in August, leaving 46 in hospital, reported the medical superintendent, Dr. C. R. Lambert. Outpatients attended to in August totalled 123, and 12 cases were admitted to the maternity annexe, there being 10 births therein. Ante-natal clinic visits totalled 53. Sister Sandford left the hospital staff on September 10, and Sister Gaddis had resigned to take effect on Otftober 4, reported the matron, Mrs. J. IJunt. Nurse Givillian commenced maternity training on September 1, while Sister Young arrived for maternity ward service on September 17. Vegetables to the value of £12 5s 6d were supplied to the hospital during the month, reported the gardener, Mr. W. G. Hayward. Spring vegetables were coming on well, and a good crop of broccoli was being cut.