ST. HELENS HOSPITAL.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20027, 8 September 1930, Page 13

ST. HELENS HOSPITAL.

I)B Ot TH» PBT.S» a, common practice of i the correspondence spapcrs, but as my at-, drawn to some statc'to Mr J. McCombs, se of Kepresentativ'es, orking of St. Helens arly the Ckristchurch lor it my duty to reply and put the true facts I will deal with his bs states that tho hours a day for seven were expected to get th, but did not always rhich tho nurses got lis I might stato that mrtecn months every ig has been given a uum when tho Hos)ccn given at shorter ntly, during a slack made possible for a to visit the Arthur's ?ark, as well as take icial relaxation in the urses' working hours riod of daily duty is, ional occasions, the are other shifts _ of :. Lectures are given alf of the total numare attended by the arses finish their daily ample opportunity is lyj whilst those'nurses in attendance on the i p.m., receive daily «n 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. ' nurses from the Es- : Home, "which is conplo's elected represenexamination list each examination results w that this statement correct. The honours y distributed over the the St. Helens nurses ■* For instance, at the on for nurses, results inblished only 10 days es from Christchurch entered for the Hid--es 1 - examination. All. ■cent, and over 1 ), a ro- « good as that obo give the nurses some J

payment for, at any rate, part of their course, especially as the course has been lengthened recently. (4) Concerning the patients themselves. Mr McCombs's statement that {ho patients found the Essex Home more satisfactorily conducted than St. Helens, draws an invidious comparison, which is not merited. The patients at St. Helens are well cared for, well fed, well nursed, aud appreciate their rest, despite their somewhat gloomy surroundings; and, on their departure, far from complaining of their treatment, are unanimous in their expression of appreciation of the care and attention winch they have received, and many return for subsequent confinements. The St. Helens building is certainly old. and not convenient a3 a hospital, but with the improvements effected by the Government during the last month, the building is now very, much improved, and more workable from the nurses point of view. Everyone realises that a new building is desirable, but until the Government can see its way to build such, the nursing staff continues to do. .its work cheerfully and satisfactorily. ■ ' u„ ' The art of midwifery' can never be compressed into'regular hours;- some ot. us, perhaps, wish that it could be so sometimes; and, if the nurses are to gain the full benefit of their .tracing, they .have to attend cases at somewhat unusual hours. „ , .. + Finally, I think Mr McCombs might obtain verification of his facts by a. personal visit to the instation, before making such statements as he -ha* mad° in the privileged .sphere of the House M.D., F.R.CS.K Medical Officer. Christohurch, September 6th, 1930.