THE HOSPITAL BOARD.
MONTHLY MEETING.
At the meeting of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board held yesterday afternoon, the Rev. W. A. Evans (chairman) presided, and there were also present Mrs. D. M’Laren, Miss M. Richmond, the Rev. H. Van Staveren, the Rev. J. K. Elliott, Dr. Mackenzie, Dr. E. Platts-Mills, Messrs. H. Baldwin, D. Campbell, F. Castle, H. Freeman, W. Galloway, B. R. Gardener, J. W. M’Ewan, G. Nash, G. J. Petherick, D. Robertson, and J. Smith. Leave of absence was granted to Mr. D. M’Laren.
On the recommendation of the Hospital Committee it was decided that a comprehensive report dealing with the commercial side of the working of the hospital in all its branches be furnished by the acting-medical superintendent, secretary, and house steward.
It was also decided that an extension of three months be granted Messrs. M’Lean and Gray for completing the out-patients’ and pathological block.
The Public Health Committee reported that during the month ended August 10 the health inspectors report having made: Investigations—chicken-pox, 26; scarlet fever, 20; diphtheria, 8; tuberculosis, 13; blood poisoning, 6; revisits, 168; disinfections, 85; sanitary inspections, 62.
On the recommendation of the Public Health Committee, it was decided: “That, in reference to the proposed demolition of the insanitary buildings at Wainui-o-mata, where eight cases of diphtheria were reported last year, the Department of Public Health be urged to carry out this urgent and necessary work so as to prevent the possibility of any disease being disseminated throughout the district; and that no milking of cows for making of butter, cheese, or sale of milk be allowed unless the buildings as agreed upon be demolished.”
The Finance, Property, and Policy Committee reported that the Treasury Department advised that £288 (61 licenses at £4 10s.) has been lodged to the credit of the board’s general fund account, being amount payable in terms of Sub-Section 3, Section 16, of the Land Agents Act, 1912.
It was decided that the medical officer at Otaki should furnish the committees with a monthly report on the inmates of the sanatorium.
It was reported that during the month of July patients at the Otaki Hospital had been dealt with as follows:—13 admitted, 11 discharged, 1 died; under treatment, 8 males and 4 females.
Otaki Sanatorium: Admitted, nil; discharged, 5; under treatment, 8 males and 9 females.
The chairman of the Hospital Board and the chairman of the Hospital Committee were authorised to wait upon the Department of Public Health to ascertain what assistance can be given by the Department for the purchase and upkeep of a trap and horse for the Native district nurse.
It was resolved, on the recommendation of the Public Health Committee, “That the attention of parents and guardians should be drawn to the necessity of having their children vaccinated as early as possible in order to avail themselves of the only efficient means of combating smallpox.”
