NAPIER HOSPITAL INQUIRY

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22120, 16 June 1937, Page 10

NAPIER HOSPITAL INQUIRY

EVIDENCE BEFORE ROYAL COMMISSION TREATMENT OF CHILDREN DISCUSSED U'llEdi ASSOCIATION TELBGH.VM.I NAPIER. June 15. The Royal Commission appointed to investigate the administration of the Napier Public Hospital continued its sittings to-day. The chairman is Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., and associated with him are Sir James Elliott, Wellington, and Miss Cecilia McKenny, Pahiatua, formerly matron of the Wanganui Hospital. The subjects which the commission will investigate are:—

(1) The circumstances in which the disease known as vulvo-vaginitis was contracted by child patients in Shrimpton Ward at the Napier Hospital, and in which one of the affected children died.

(2) The circumstances of the treatment of a patient, the son of Mr F. W. Berry, Puketapu. <3i The circumstances in which a patient, S. J. Montgomery, suffered untovard effects from an injection of neohydriol. (4) The disappearance of X-ray films. , ~ , ~,. (5) Questions relating to the health of nurses.

(6) Wh; ther any action of any member of the stafT (including the honorary medical staff) of the hospital, or any member of the Hawke's Bay Hospital Board, lias been detrimental to the discipline or effective co-opera-tion of the nursing staff.

(7) The organisation, control, and supervision of the training of nurses at the hospital. (8) Generallv, any points relating to the management and administration of the hospital arising out ot any of these matters. Assisting the commission in its inauiry is Mr N. A. Foden. Crown solicitor, acting on behalf of the DirrctorGeneral of Hospitals. Mr M. R. Grant and Mr W. E. Bate are watching proceedings on behalf of the Hawke's Bay Hospital Board, and other counsel enraged are Mr H. B. Lusk, appearing for Miss L. M. Croft, matron cf the Napier Hospital; Mr A. E. L,awry, representing Dr. J. A. Berry, Sister M. A. Wood, and the nurses in training at the institution; and Messrs S. J. Montgomery and C. G. E. Harker, for persons concerned in the Shrimpton Ward inquiry, and Mr R. Rells. Sister's Evidence The sister in charge of the ward where the infection broke out continued her evidence. She said one record sheet had been so torn up by the children that it could not be repaired. Others had been torn, but not so badly. These had been mended. Witness said she had the assistance of the charge-nurse for part of the time for the children in isolation. Dr. Barry's manner was nice to the children, and he always observed medical etiquette to the other patients. After the bath of 120 degrees temperature, the child's temperature was between 104 and 105. Witness thought the infection came from one source. She thought the medical superintendent could have discussed the whole matter with her.

She reported one nurse for not obeying instructions. Her technique was not at fault. The treatment was not considered in the nature of an experiment. She did not report the collapse of the child because Dr. Berry said the child was satisfactory. She was never asked to tell the medical superintendent what was going on. Another honorary doctor never ordered the treatment for his patients. She had not at the previous Inquiry given such full evidence because her legal adviser so instructed her. She complained that one nurse was incompetent, and was told that it was th" nurse's last chance. Witness admitted being suspended for insuboid'nation. She was reinstated, and again suspended. A member of the honorary medical staff said he gave instructions for the treatment of the chi'dren and checking the infection. The treatment was changed without his knowledge, and later with his approval. He did not know his patients were given hot baths. He protested against his treatment being altered. He had tried to get into a bath at 110 degrees and could only just bear it, but there were personal variations. A temperature of 120 degrees would be dangerous to young children.