Doctor Answers Charge On Hospital Treatment

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29342, 22 October 1960, Page 16

Doctor Answers Charge On Hospital Treatment

“The Press” ’ Special Service

NEW PLYMOUTH, Oct. 21. The Stratford Technical High School board of managers was taken to task for criticism of the Stratford Hospital at a board meeting last week. The secretary of the board and principal of Stratford Technical High School (Mr A. W. White) had written to the Hospital Board saying that a boy had broken his arm at school on a Saturday at 1.45 p.m. He was taken by car to hospital, arriving at 2.5 p.m. The adult with the boy was told he must see a doctor first and it was 3 p.m. before the boy reached hospital the second time. The letter said it was felt there should be direct access to hospital in case of accident.

In a letter to the Hospital Board, Dr. J. W. Davies, of Kaponga,' referred to “illinformed publicity about the hospital which originated from the local high school.” he said. Stratford Hospital, he continued, had only two resident doctors, and it was impossible for them to provide a 24-hour casualty service for all types of injury. •»'

“From time to time there arise those whose dignity is offended by apparent disadvantages in an organisation of which they know nothing. It is characteristic of such people to make extravagant ill-informed statements,” wrote Dr. Davies.

“Ignorance is often outspoken in all fields of public life. When school teachers are in charge of injured children- it is usually , their duty to acquaint themselves with the proper procedure to obtain treatment. It is not proper procedure to arrive on any doorstep demanding treatment. It is worse conduct to create ill-feeling when informed of correct procedure. ' "It is the function of schoolteachers to teach children, not to direct policy for hospital boards and medical men. »

“I trust your board will view the unseemly outburst with a depth of perspective which comes from education in the wide and true sense of experience in human affairs,” Dr, Davies wrote. The hospital board decided to send a letter in reply to the