CHILD WITH FRACTURE

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25739, 26 February 1949, Page 6

CHILD WITH FRACTURE

Alleged Delay In Treatment CRITICISM BY TEACHER

The alleged failure of the Christchurch Hospital to treat a schoolboy for a fractured arm was discussed at a meeting of the North Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute last evening, and the following motions were passed:— “That this meeting views-with the gravest alarm the position whereby a pupil with a badly fractured arm was refused treatment at the Christchurch Public Hospital after 4 p.m.. and that the North Canterbury Hospital Board be asked to investigate the matter wit: a view to preventing a repetition.”

“That, in view of the fact that the out-patients’ department at the Christchurch Public Hospital refused to treat a child with a badly fractured arm until the next day. this meeting urges the Canterbury Education Board to make the strongest possible representations to the North Canterbury Hospital Board and the Ministers of Health and Education, asking that this position be rectified without delay, as each afternoon thousands of Christchurch children taking part in organised sport are not provided with adequate medical attention when such accidents happen.” “On Wednesday a boy. aged BJ. fell from his bicycle near his school,” said Mr T. W. Curr. “He was attended by a member of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, who put his arm in splints and he was taken by a teacher to the Christchurch Public Hospital where he had the most cursory examination and was sent home. There was not even an anti-tetanus injection given him and the teacher was told to bring him back the next day. No one would treat a dog in that fashion. A prescription was written. but it was too late for the chemist and too early for the all-night dispensary. I know the hospital does a good job. but there should be no 40-hour week for medicine.”