Patients Not Allowed To Use Own Electric Blankets

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28984, 27 August 1959, Page 7

Patients Not Allowed To Use Own Electric Blankets

The use of patients’ own electric blankets will not be permitted, the North Canterbury Hospital Board reaffirmed yesterday. Reports had been received from the chief engineer, the deputyMedical Officer of Health and the board’s solicitors on the use of the blankets owned by patients, reported the institutions committee. The decision to prohibit their use was based on the reports. “At the same time, the committee has considered the possibility of the board providing electric blankets of an approved type for use by patients," said a report to the board. “To this end, the engineer has been asked to forward a report on a suitable type of blanket and the cost of maintenance of the blankets’ in use at Cashmere Sanatorium.” Mr L. Christie said a safe type of blanket was being used at the sanatorium but the maintenance costs were high. “Is it true that the use of rubber mattresses has made it necessary to have some way of warming the beds?” asked a member. “I don’t know if I am an authority, but I don’t think that is so,” replied the chairman (Dr. L. C. L. Averill). Matrons had told him that rubber mattresses had been one of the “most wonderful” developments in nursing for many years, said Dr. Averill. Eut the board had to be circumspect, he continued. To allow

anybody to bring a blanket into a hospital would be taking a great risk and before long the board would have to face a claim for damages for injury from burns caused by the use of a blanket. “We have to find out if any blanket is absolutely safe,” said Dr. Averill. “I don’t think we have found the ideal blanket for hospital use yet, but a. report will be made. Fortunately, the weather is improving, but by next winter we will be able to do something.” The board was not condemning the use of electric blankets but only the use of patients’ own blankets. Medical opinion was all against electric blankets, said Mr D. MacMillan. Scientific reports from all over the world were available and the board had to be on very good grounds before it went against scientific opinion. In hospitals where arthritic and such cases were treated, the blankets might be of extreme importance, but that was not so in the country hospitals where most of the cases were obstetrical. Mr Moohan in Prague.— The New Zealand Postmaster-General and Minister of Railways (Mr Moohan), who is on his way to the inter-Parliamentary union conference in Warsaw next week, has made a brief halt in Prague. He was invited to do so by the Czech Parliament.—Prague, Aug. 24.