REPORTER IN A HOSPITAL

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 989, 2 December 1910, Page 5

REPORTER IN A HOSPITAL

DOCTOR AND NURSE'IN TROUBLE. ißy Telecraph.-Pross Association.) _, . •..■■.■■ • Dunedin, December 1 . The chairman o£ the' ' Hospital ' and Charitable Aid Board has received from the. Department at Wellington the report of:. Hiss Mac Lean, assistant inspector, on ker recent investigation of the conditions existing at Dunedin Hospital, and also the recommendations of tie Department thereon. In a letter forwarded with the report, Dr. Valintino fays that it must be admitted that there is room for improvement-with regard to the nurses' dietary and arrangements. Indeed,,these facts have been recognised by tho 'medical superintendent and other responsible officers, and the recommonda- ■ tions of the Dietary Committee had been . forwarded to the board.on tho diy that the first letter of criticism' appeared in tho "Otago, Daily Times." Dr. Valintine added: As regards other charges, though hero and there. some alterations in the ■ existing arrangements aro undoubtedly necessary, they were.in the main grossly ■ exaggerated. The ac- . tiqn of the junior medical officer in ad- : mitting a. reporter to ono of the wards : without reference to the senior officer on 1 duty, is held by Dr. Valintino to bo t r grave breach of discipline, and he sug- ' gests that a severo reprimand bo admin- ! istered unle6s the board has additional ' reasons for thinking that he should b( ' moro severely dealt with. The Inspector- ; General adds that the doctor concerned ' should bo giren to understand that hi; r engagement, which is expiring in throi months, will not be renewed. Dr. Vijin 3 tine further approves ef the suspensioi 3 of the nurse who supplied informatioi to the reporter, and recommends that hoi " services be dispensed with. Miss Mac [ Lean's report states, with reference ti : an allegation as to the number of .nurse; ■ oft dnty thronsh illness, that six onto C 7 were off. She thinks that tho nurse ' receive every kindness and consideration 1 and that, tho amount of sickness has beci h exceedingly srrfill. She considers tha J tho statement that insufficient time- i allowed for meals has no foundation ii J fact, but she admits that .there has beei ground for complaint with regard to th '' cooking and serving of food. Tho state ' ment that nurses had been refused lea T to visit dying rolntivesis, sho say's, en f tirely false. Sunday cleaning has bee; '" carried on against tlip matron's desir* " nnd some of tho physical, work done b g the nurses has been - forbidden by th ,f matron. . __