Hospital Trustees.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 6428, 12 April 1892, Page 3

Hospital Trustees.

The Hospital Trustees met tbis afternoon Present—Messrs H. S. Tiffen (chair), C. A, Fit-Roy, S. Carnell, J. D. Ormond, M. R. Miller, G. Rymer, R. D. McLean, T, Tanner, H. Williams, and G. H. Swan.

The Visiting Committee reported that they had visited the hospital from time to time during the last month, and found everything to be in a satisfactory condition. " In the matter of a lady patient whose husband complained of inattention to her, careful enquiry was made by the Visiting Committee, assisted by other Trustees ; the statements were found somewhat at variance with each other, but we have taken considerable trouble to get all the evidence possible, and have handed to the ohairman our notes on the same. Another complaint by a medical gontleman of inattention to one of his patients, on enquiry was found to be based on erroneous information."

On the chairman being asked if the notes of the enquiry were to be published he replied in the negative.—Mr Ormond thought that there should bo no secrecy about the matter, and that the notes should be read and the public be informed of the whole facts of the case. There had been a great nany trumped up cases lately in connection with the hospital, which greatly harrassed the officials, and gave the hospital a bad name.

Mr Miller read the notes of the enquiry which related to Jane MoKay, who was sent to tho hospital by Dr. Innes, suffering from a tumor on the brain, but was afflioted with a loathsome disease. The girl was removed to the refuge, such cases as hers not being treated in the hospital.

The Chairman said that complaint was made by Mrs Annie McKay, the girl's mother, to him by letter, which stated that her daughter was not attended to in the hospital, and was in a filthy condition when shifted.

There was some discussion on the point, all the Trustees being of opinion that the girl's medical adviser should have not sent her to the hospital as suffering from the tumor on the brain, whereas she was suffering from a complaint not admitted to the institution. The Chairman said the girl eventually died from tumor on the brain.

The discussion was brought to a termination by the Visiting Committee's report being adopted A lengthy letter was read from Mrs Kuyper. a former patient in the hospital, who made a number of complaints about inattention, &c. The Trustees she said, did not know how things were carried on at tho hospital or they would not permit its continuance. If she was dying she would not go back to the hospital.

The Chairman said the Visiting Committee had made a full enquiry into the whole circumstances, and drawn up a report, which he read at the request of the Trustees.

Mr Tanner moved that the report of the Committee be accepted as satisfactory.— Seconded by Mr Rymer.—Mr Carnell said that in spite of all that had been said to the contrary, there had been gross neglect, and it was not going to be huthed up. He thought another sole.t committee should be appointed, as he had obtained more evidence since the other committee had examined Mrs Kuyper. Mr Williams said the matter had been fully enquired into, and what Mr Carnell had said about hushing the matter up was a gross slur on the whole of the Hospital Board. He was astonished at him making such a remark, which was totally untrue. Mrs Kuyper had no oomplaints to make to the Visiting Committee whatever, and she wrote a letter after she left regretting having made a complaint which had been magnified and caused not little trouble to the officials. Now, at a lato stage, she made a great many complaints, some of which wore of a startling character.

Messrs Cohen, McLean, and Tanner also spoke, and Mr Tanner's motion was carried. Dr. Menzies wrote recommending that Probationer Nurse Poole, who had gone through her first term satisfactorily, be paid in accordance with the Board's scales. —Agreed to. A vote of thanks to the City Band for their offer to give a sacred concert in aid of the funds of the institution was passed. Messrs Cohen, Fitzßoy, and M'Lean were appointed Visiting Committee for the next term.

Mr Carnell moved that a committee be appointed to enquire into the circumstarces attendant on the dismissal of Nurse Murphy and that the press be allowed to be present. He characterised the " offence" alleged to have been committed by tho nurse as a very trivial one, relating, as it did, to a little tea and Bugar, which she gave to her patients. Mr Cohen seconded the motion, which was the subject of some comment, and was lost, only the mover and seconder voting for it. Mr Carnell then moved that a return be compiled showing the amount of wines, beer, and Bpirits consumed in the hospital during the year 1891 ; to show the number of persons who received the same, and the amount received by each ; also if any of the medical comforts are kept in any other place than the store.

Mr Tanner seconded

There was a little "breeze" between Mr Carnell and the seoretary, the latter stating that he oould not supply all the information required. Mr Fitzßoy expressed the opinion that Mr Carnell should not talk disrespectfully to the secretary, and the members should not sit and listen to it.

There was no other business except passing the vouchers, which amounted to £193 6s ad.