HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 August 1940, Page 6

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

WAIRARAPA BOARD MEETING FIRST AID CABINETS. SUPPLIES FOR AN EMERGENCY. The monthly meeting of the Wairarapa Hospital Board was held in the board room this morning. The chairman. Mr H. H. Mawley. presided. There were also present Mesdames J. Robertson, S. Fletcher. Misses H. Card, C. McKenny, Messrs W. I. Armstrong, F. S. H. Bolton. W. Britland. A. Clark. F. Court, A. Forsberg. W. B. Martin. Duncan McGregor. C. T. Richardson, H. Thomas. J. F. Thompson, Trevor Beetham, and P. R. Welch. An apology for absence was received from Mr J. A. McLeod. Accounts for £9,410 15s lid were passed. ,

Dr M. H. Watt,’ Director-General of Health, advised that the board was authorised to supply first-aid cabinets to clearing stations, under the emergency precautions scheme, in its district.

It was decided to supply hospital requisites at an approximate cost of £25, to local authorities making application to install the emergency cabinets. “It seems very childish to me. Here we have funds for an emergency being held up in an absurd manner,” observed Mr W. B. Martin in urging that pressure be brought to bear upon the trustees of the Influenza Epidemic Fund to make their fund of £lOO available for the emergency scheme under which the cabinets were being provided. Dr G. S. Sharp, Featherston, wrote asking if the Greytown Hospital Ambulance could be utilised for the transport of soldiers from Tauherenikau to hospital until the Army Department had made arrangements. Mr N. Lee, managing-secretary, reported that according to arrangements between the Army Department and the Department of Health the transport of sick soldiers to and from hospital was the responsibility of the Army Department. It was decided that as an emergency measure and pending arrangements being made by the Army authorities, soldiers who were severely ill would be transported from camp by ambulance and for all other cases, ordinary means of transport would be utilised. The Masterton Borough Council advised that the council was not disposed to make a supply of water available for the nurses’ home at the Masterton Hospital. It was decided that tenders be called for the excavation and the building of the baths. Separate tenders would be called. So far as the waler was concerned arrangements would be made to draw from die board's own supply. The Department of \ Health wrote advising that the Minister of Finance had approved the board’s application for an advance of £5.000 on subsidy. It' was also stated that the Minister had approved of a grant of £425 to the Pongaroa Hospital for the year ending March 31, 1941.

In view of the extra nursing work being carried out at Greytown Hospital it was decided to appoint an extra probationer nurse.