Vendetta at Oakley denied

Press, 19 August 1982, Page 6

Vendetta at Oakley denied

PA Auckland A nursing' supervisor at Oakley Hospital yesterday rejected suggestions of a staff “vendetta” against a patient who died on February 22 after being given electro-convulsiye therapy (E.C.T.). ' ■- The supervisor was giving evidence to the Committee of Inquiry into patient care at the hospital. He said he had heard a rumour that the patient, Michael Percy Watene, aged 25, had “beaten up” the son of a former staff member. The witness, whose name was suppressed, said, “It is rubbish' — the rumour and that there was a vendetta against Mr Watene.”

He said he did not investigate the rumour. Answering questions by Mrs Lorraine Smith, counsel for the patient’s family, he denied that . Mr Watene showed signs of bruising on February 18. (A previous witness 'said there was a “scuffle” with Mr Watene the day before.) He also denied that the found “humorous” a photograph taken of Mr Watene for the-file. The witness said he could not explain discrepancies in the records of amounts of “a painful drug,” paraldehyde, administered to Mr Watene. He said he believed that the < responsibility for the internal inquiry into the

death had been taken by the hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr P. P. E. Savage. The witness denied any suggestions of “collusion” with staff on written stateaments. Asked by a committee member, Miss Rita McEwan, if he was aware that there was a,, patient in “critical need of care” on February 17, he said, “There was no feedback to administration.” In answer to questions about hospital administration, he said, “We are heavily bogged down .with administration. Fifty per cent of our time is spent making up shifts and rosters.” . ■ He said , he had riot read the' patient’s charts and he

had. not seen a code issued by the Auckland Hospital Board on the rights and obligations of patients and staff.

The witness said that Mr Watene had been given an unusual amount of drugs.

Three psychiatric assistants, two of whom had not previously been asked for statements, said yesterday morning that they saw Mr Watene’s eyes open briefly after his final E.C.T. treatment.

They said Mr Watene was breathing normally and thought he was “awake,” “aware,” or “conscious.” The third assistant said he did not take, 'the patient’s pulse and did riot see anyone else take I 'it. >