PLACED BETS FOR PATIENT

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23299, 8 April 1941, Page 8

PLACED BETS FOR PATIENT

_—— HOSPITAL ORDERLY DISMISSED

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, April 7. An allegation of bookmaking by an orderly at the Auckland Hospital, who was alleged to have obtained nearly £SO from a patient suffering from cerebral hemorrhage, was brought before the Hospital. Board in a report from the board’s complaints committee. The committee had considered a report fromVthe acting medical superintendent (Dr. H, L. Gould), who stated that the sister in charge of one of the wards had, received a letter from a relative of a patient. The writer stated that an examination of the patient’s cheque book showed that four cheques, amounting to just under/ £SO, had been, drawn in favour of a named person, and it was suspected that they related to bookmaking transactions. Dr. Gould commented that the charge involved a patient suffering from cerebral hemorrhage, and possibly not competent to transact business of any kind. The committee reported that it had interviewed the orderly concerned, who had admitted having received cheques from the patient for the purpose of placing bets on horse races. He stated that he had placed the bets with a bookmaker, but would not disclose the latter’s name. He had been suspended, and the committee recommended that he be dismissed from the board’s serVicp. ■ The report was adopted.