Chathams’ unique health services

Press, 20 September 1980, Page 16

Chathams’ unique health services

DENIS DWYER

information officer,

North Canterbury Hospital Board

Some 500 miles east of Lyttelton, the Chatham Islands are not on the route to anywhere else, and the population has- always been small.

This has led to some odd medical occurences, such as bogus doctors and a bogus dentist hanging up their shingles. At a public meeting on

December 27, 1890, one F. J. Sheridan stated that he was a "duly qualified medical man holding the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine, London University.”

But for reasons un- .. stated, rumours soon began to circulate among the islanders that they had been “had,” and in May 1891 the “doctor” ' was fined five pounds or a month’s imprisonment. Another “doctor,” George Tucker, who headed his bills “acoucher-Pub-lie Vaccinator — 30 years

experience,” was at the Chathams from 1899 to 1903. He had no testimonials or diplomas, but that deficiency was soon remedied. A friend provided him with nicely framed ones to hang in the jail where [he lived,- as that building was never required for other purposes. The tonics he gave his patients were harmless and cheap — red clay and

water. He filially left in a great hurry. The “dentist” was a visitor who took impressions of false teeth and collected full payment in advance. In short, many who had paid went toothless. There were many unsuccessful attempts to get a qualified doctor and until 1927 the islands had to manage without hospital

services, even for casualty and maternity cases. Then in that year and the next there was a welter of activity. On May 16, a hospital opened overlooking Waitangi Bay, and in the same year the islands were included in the Lyttelton Electoral District. In 1928 the Government gazetted an Order-in-Council making the North Canterbury Hospital Board responsible for the Chatham health services.

The first doctor appointed by the Board was Dr H. V. Drew. His position was no sinecure. One trip to an accident-case included a cold ride through eight miles of lake water, the complete journey taking 10 hours. The hospital was maintained by nursing staff but there was the inevitable turnover in numbers, and in 1948 the board approached the (Roman Catholic. Bishop in Christchurch for assistance. The outcome was the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary agreeing to staff the hospital under the supervision of the board.

Medical officers since the 19205-have been similarly hard to retain. In the last 60 years there have been nearly 70 of hem. Significant factors are the-, lack of secondary education facilities and the isolation — there is a ship about every six weeks and two planes a week if the weather is favourable.

The cottage hospital of 1927 has been regularly maintained by the board’s works :'? and ’ engineering ' staff, and is still |the Chat- 1 ham islands Hospital.Over the years extensions ' have been added-and mod-? em equipment supplied. The .hospital has a bed ca-

pacity of four and a nursery for any maternity or paediatric needs.

The acting principal nurse is Sister Mary-Anne. “We have two registered nurses, including a midwife, and there is a third sister responsible for the cooking and another for the laundry. . Roles are fairly flexible, so it’s not unusual for the nurse to mow the lawn or the 'cook’ to be asked to do a dressing in an emergency,” she says. The doctor lias a Landcruiser which is also the ambulance. Only emergency surgery is performed in the islands and then only if a reasonable back-up service is available. Most of the residents have been cross-typed for blood groups so donors are fairly accessible if required. A major difficulty can be the time factor in arranging mercy flights. Pitt Island, about eight miles from Owenga on the east coast, has an experienced registered nurse who cares for the routine health needs, but in times of emergency the only way of transferring patients to Chatham Island is by fishing boat, and the strait its often treacherous.

Sister iMary-Anne explains that apart from the usual medical emergencies confronted anywhere, there are distinctive occupational problems. Removal of fish hooks is fairly common and in recent months there has been an upturned fishing boat in the bay, pinning a man in an air pocket for 45 minutes inhaling diesel fumes; a German ship diverted there because one of the engineers on board had severed-three fingers; and many injured backs and bone's with two New Zealand firms building the new airport, and extending the wharf ,at Waitangi. The efficient and happy functioning of medical services in the? Chathams depends greatly on local knowledge, and after a third of. a century the Missionary Sisters 1 of the Society of Mary have this : in abundance.