HOSPITAL BOARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 February 1940, Page 7

HOSPITAL BOARD

i ♦ ■ MEETING IN MASTERTON FINANCIAL POSITION ; OUTLINED. I MA IMTENANCE EXPENDITURE HIGHER. The monthly meeting of the Wairarapa Hospital Board was held in the • Board offices today. The chairman, Mr H. H. Mawley presided, there also being present Mesdames S. Fletcher. J. Robertson, Misses C. McKenny. H. Card, Messrs F. S. ; H. Bolton. W. Britland, A. Clark. F. Court. A. Forsberg. W. B. Martin, D. McGregor, Trevor Bcetham, C, T. Richardson. H. Thomas. J. F. Thompson and P. R. Welch. 1 Opportunity was taken by the chair- ■ man to congratulate Miss C. McKenny. on behalf of board members, on being re-electdd president of the N.Z. Nurses' Association. In commenting on the high honour bestowed on Miss McKenny in her re-election Mr Mawley referred to the capable manner in which she had filled the position in the past. On behalf of the Greytown Centennial Celebrations committee. Mr J. F. Thompson expressed appreciation for the assistance received from the board in connection with the historic pageant in which the progress of nursing was depicted from the early days up to the present date. WHATMAN BEQUEST. A special report submitted by the chairman concerning the Whatman bequest was received. It was decided to defer the matter until the next meeting of the board. MANAGING-SECRETARY’S REPORT The Managing-Secretary, Mr Norman Lee, submitted his report, in respect to the financial position of tin board for the period April 1. 1939, ti January 31, 1940, as follows:—-"Main-tenance expenditure is in excess of re ceipts by the sum of £4,969 18s 7d. Or capital account there is a credit balance of £2.584 19s lOd. The bank past book shows an overdraft of £1,633 4s 5d and cheques outstanding total £65( 5s 4d. Statement of balances shows : reconciliation of the pass book with the cash books. Local Contributing Authorities levies for maintenance anc Government subsidy thereon received to January 31, 1940, total £36,172. The proportional amount due to this date is £40,155, leaving an amount of £3,983 due on the 31 idem. The last quarterly instalment of levies for the year ended March 31, 1940, arc due on February 21, and accounts have been rendered accordingly. So far as the Masterton hospital is concerned adjustments have to be made for laundry charges and goods sent to other institutions. In addition, and as indicated in previous reports, considerable stocks are held, but I am of the opinion that by the end of the financial year the expenditure as a whole will approximate the appropriations. The remaining items of maintenance expenditure call for no detailed analysis as they an self explanatory and many will adjust themselves before the end of the financial year. In connection with capital receipts and payments there is a credit balance of £2,584 19s lOd. The amount of levy and subsidy due for the period is £8.718, and the amount received £7,847. As in the case of maintenance levies the last quarterly instalment is due on February 29. 1940, and accounts have been rendered to all local authorities. This account will remain in credit to the end of the financial year. The unexpended balance of loan funds is £3,771 10s 3d of which £3,750 is on fixed deposit at the Bank of New Zealand. From an examination of the statement it will be seen thathe aggregate maintenance expenditure on the three hospitals is £997 highei than the proportional estimate for the period. The aggregate fees collections for the period under review is greater by the sum of £7,627 than for the same period last year and further the total collections are in excess of the proportional estimate for the period. The remaining items of revenue call for no particular comment and will adjust themselves during the financial year. With reference to maintenance expenditure it will be observed that several of the appropriations are in excess of the proportional estimates. In many cases these are the result of increases owing to abnormal conditions,” concluded Mr Lee. MATRONS' REPORTS. The Matron of the Pahiatua Hospital Miss N. Ockenden reported that thi. daily average was 19. Forty-one major and seven minor operations were performed during the month. Six outpatients were treated. The ambulance answered 10 calls covering a distance of 487 miles. During the month there were fortyseven patients admitted to Greytown Hospital, stated the Matron, Miss L Higginson. Forty-three were discharged and there was one death, leaving i total of twenty-five patients remaining at January 31. The daily average was 25.42. Thirty-seven operations were performed during the month. Dr. Sharp visited the hospital four times and Xrayed eleven patients. Buchanan Ward: There were two admissions, two inmates discharged and no deaths, leaving a total of fifty-five patients remaining on January 31. 1940. The daily average was 55.84. The health of the patients in Buchanan Wards has been fair. The ambulance answered fourteer calls covering a distance of 356 miles. Miss M. F. Barnitt. Matron, Masterton Hospital, reported that there were no failures in the senior State examinations. general or maternity. There were four partial passes in the junio.’ State examination, but no complete failures, nine nurses passing in both subjects. The Masterton ambulance answered 18 calls during the month covering a distance of 297 miles. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. The Medical Superintendant (Dr. T L. Parr) submitted his report, for last month as follows: —Sixty-eight operations were formed, 90 X-ray investigations made, 85 pathological examinations made, and 2-18 massage treatments given. The high admission rate and low occupied beds are usual in January, mainly because of the number of ■ short-stay tonsil cases. Ward 6 has filled up again recently and there is only one spare bed there at present. Tile maternity ward has been more busy Ilian usual during the last few months. Patients remaining from December. 86: patients admitted in January. 150; total, 236. Patients discharged ; in January, 122; patients remaining (n i January 31. 114; total, 236. Daily aver- ' age occupied beds, 96.74