PORIRUA INQUIRY, Evidence Of Violence

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32166, 9 December 1969, Page 32

PORIRUA INQUIRY, Evidence Of Violence

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 8. There had been a noticeable increase in violence at Porirua Hospital in the last three years, a male supervisory employee told the public inquiry' into allegations of ill treatment of patients and drunkenness of staff members at Porirua Hospital today.

The inquiry is being held by Mr A. Eaton Hurley, assisted by Mr M. J. O’Brien. There had been a marked decrease in violence in the mid-19505, the employee said. This had been because of the availability of modern drugs and could have been coupled with the fact that patients were allowed more freedom. Contributory causes of the increase in violence were the referral of remand cases to the hospital from the courts, the intake of alcoholics, and the large numbers of younger people now referred to mental hospitals as informal patients. Overcrowding had a serious effect on the behaviour of patients, witness said. Asked by Mr G. S. Orr, for the Health Department, if the overcrowding had in any way led to the ill-treatment of patients by staff, he answered, "No.”

types and ages of patients would be desirable, witness said it would make the work of supervision better, and assist in therapy. A large number of the remand patients were in for assault and sexual assaults. This had contributed to the increase in violence over the last two years. Recalling an interview with the chief complainant (a parttime female employee) the matron-in-chief said she asked her for names of staff, patients and wards. The complainant refused to give these. “I told her she had made serious allegations and that in my opinion she was condoning this conduct if she would not divulge information,” said witness. “When I asked her reason for not giving this information, she said that if she did she would be sent to Coventry. At the end of the interview the complainant was crying.” Questioned aoout an allegation that a fire hydrant had been turned on patients, the matron said that during one of her rounds she had seen patients in an outside court enjoying themselves splashing about with a fire hydrant. It was a very hot day, not the middle of May as bad been stated, and there was no suggestion of patients being ill-treated, she said. Witness suggested that it would be better if patients wore bathing costumes and used a garden hose. She had not reprimanded an employee about the incident

Even if adequate staff were available incidents would happen he said. Asked by Mr O’Brien if remand cases were kept apart from the patients he answered, “Uilfortunately, no.” Asked by Mr Hurley if greater segregation between