AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 139, 6 March 1908, Page 5

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

MANAGEMENT CRITICISED. REPLY BY THE CHAIRMAN. BY TELEGRAPH— SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. Auckland, March 5. At the meeting of the Auckland Trades and Labour Council, held, last evening, certain charges were preferred against tho management of tho Auckland Hospital. Tho matter was brought up by Mr. Henry, a delegate, who declared that a servant, girl from Ponsonby had been ordered to tho hospital 011 Saturday week by Dr. Bedford.' Sho went to tho hospital, ho alleged, carrying with her a certificate from Dr. Bedford, but sho was told 'tliero was no room available, and she-would bo admitted as. soon as thero was room._ On the following Thursday'tho girl was very bad, and the hospital authorities wero communicated with,. and she was admitted tho next day. Tho girl had been in Auckland two years, but she. happened to mention, that sho had been up ■ north oil a short holiday, and this was taken down. ''Half an hour after the girl was bathed and put in bed," Mr. Henry declared, " the doctor came and ordered her out of tho hospital there and then." The girl \v-as suffering from varicose, veins. . Sho had onougli money to taljo her to the hospital, but none to pay her tram faro back homo, and sho had to walk as best sho could from tho hospital to Hargroavcs Street, off College Hill. "They told her to go to tho Northern Wairoa Hospital," he alleged. "Recently a young girl was sent to tho hospital by tho Health Officer (Dr. Purely), but she was sent away again to die." Such proceedings wero monstrous. ' . A Delegate: Brutal! - \ Mr. Honrv then moved: — ' . That this Council deplores tho condi- • ticn of affairs and management as at present existing at tho .Auckland Hos-• pital,' and hopes that tho ,' will take steps to prevent 'Such a thinghappening again, as it is a menaco and scandal to tho citizens of A.uckla : nd that such a state of things.should bo allowed to exist in this enlightened and demo- . cratic community. ■ Tho motion was seconded by' Mr. Canham. ..Mr. Peak said ho .had had somo experience of tho hospital, and ho .counselled' 1 caution. , They ought -t-o Writo to tho secretary of. tho Hospital Beard and ascertain why tho young girl had been sent, homo, and also inquire about the child's case.' They wanted, to mako suro of their ground before they made a direct charge. Tho President (Mr. A. ilosser): What can justify sending a girl homo like that? Sho was, already in bed, apparently. Mr. Long thought that tho days for, such a thing to-occur in tho hospital wero past and gono: Tho Commission was supposed to havo cleared all that 'up. The President: If they havo, any reasonable excuso it, will bo. given to us. 1 Tho motion'was carried. \ THE. CHAIRMAN INTERViEWED. Intorviowed regarding tho . statements mado at tlioj. Trades "-and.. Labour Council mectipg fis to hospital: management, Mr. Knight (Chairman, of tho Board) said:— " There appears to.have been a grave,mistako - somewhere.- Tho. position seems to bo much, exaggerated. The girl caino to the hospital suffering from varicoso veins, and tho' hospital officials understood from her that sho had como from tho north. As had boon stated, sho was bathed and put to bed, a proceeding adopted in the caso of . every patient admitted. Now, it is'well known,by ovoryono that tho accommodation at tlie hospital is seriously l taxed by tho ..present outbreak of.typhoid in tho city and suburbs, and that tho fever wards are absolutely lull. Besides this, wo understood this caso, to. bo out' of our-jurisdiction. Tho medical attendant told tho girl of tho position, and that tho beds wero' required for cases of a moro serious nature. ~ Sho. left tho '.hospital quito .cheerfully, and as if satisfied, that tlie best courso was being adopted. Tho hospital has at present so, many typhoid patients that preparations havo oven been made to have the old - detached fever,' wards available for cases if emergency should arise. When it comes' to . a case, of varicose veins, it must he remembered that such aro seldom attended by, a-fatal termination, ■ whereas in typhoid a-delay of a dav may bo serious. As'regards the girl's inability to obtain a tram faro to take, her homo, I can* onty say that if sho had tared-to ask tho hospital manager, or, in, fact, you or- mo or anybody else, sho would havo got it instantly." Regarding the case wliero it' was. alleged that a young.girl was sent to tho hospital by Dr. Eurdy, and " sent away to die," Mr. Knight pointed out that ho Was convinced that no ,' such thing hod occurred. Tho allegation wfs extremely indefinite, and if, as ho thought, it referred to a recent caso before tho Hospital Board, this had boon threshed out and finally settled somo time previously. ~\l '■ _