THE MANAGEMENT OF THE HOSPITAL.

Evening Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 39, 5 September 1882, Page 2

THE MANAGEMENT OF THE HOSPITAL.

•» OFFICIAL ENQUIRY.-SEVENTH DAY. The enquiry into the management of the Wellington Hoipitol wm resumed at 11 a.m. to-day in the Connoil Chamber. Present— Counoillor Allen (chairman), an& Councillors A. W. Brown, 8. Brown, Gr:onne'ld, Diver Danks, M'Kenxie, Logan aid Thompson. Mr. Brandon, jan , watched the prooeodings on behalf of Dr. Gillon. Dr. Collins wm the first witness examined. He stated that he charged Mr. shield, a prirate patient, who was sent to the HospiUl from the Clab. Witness denied that he had reooived or demanded foes from palienti in the publio wards. Ue oonsidered a patient in a private ward was his own private patient. He never gave Hodgson an agreement for any patient to sign. In reply to Counoillor M'Kenxie, witness said so far as he hod aeon the hospital had always been olean and comfortable. Had nerer heard of any ill-treatment except in the owe of Clara Valentino. Direotly he luard of it he et-nt for the n'ght nurse, and on tho latter refusing to come, got Dr. Gillon to dismiss her. He enquired as to the alleged douching and found that it did not Amount t) a severe douohing at all, and he did not think it affeoted the patinnt. He found also that tho patient was not allowed to remain in her wet olothes, bat that they were changed. He thought it would be an improvement in regard to the sorviDg of the food if the joints were brought into the ward and the portions out off there for the patients, it would bo more appotising. As to the ohamot«r of the food, to far as ho h»d seen, it hod always been good. Tho beef-tea had not always been so good as it might be in a private home, but he thought it was as good as. that given in hospitals at Home. Ho thought tho stuff of nurses waa short, and many of them were incompetent. One good nurse like Mrs. Alexander was worth two nurses who did not know how to do euoh simple things as making poultioes, tnrniog a patient in bedj *o. He thought the treatment of Miss Valentine was perfectly correct. The application of cold water waa no unoommon thing in epileptio and byaterio oases. He did not think the so-called " douching " affeoted tho result of the oaße, and believed that death was due to natural oeusrs. Dr. Gillon eaid ha asked for the enquiry beotnse he was told hj the chairman ot the subcommittee that thore wore tomo cerious ohnrgoj against him. He asked what they were. The chairman refuted to tell .him, Bnd referred him to Dr. Nowmui. The latter said that he did not know that thoro were any particular charge*, but that in an enqu'ry there was always a good deal of dirt, and some of it was sure to stiok. Witsaid;'' Whether it is true or not P "■ and Dr. Newman said yea, and advised witness to to -ign. Witness said he was disgusted with the overwork, «nd would think about it. Next day be asked for the enquiry. Referring to* the reorganisation report, witness said he wm not consulted about it, but endeavoured to carry it out to the best of his ability. He considered the nurses too few and underpaid. He did not agree with the reorganiaation report, but Dr. Diver told him no must carry it out, or somebody elsd would be found to do it. He was told to toy it for a month or two, and than any obanges necessary would be made. When Mrs. Bailey threatened to resign, witness told tho oommittee she Was too old to work, ana wm obstructive. By Councillor Diver— Witness complained that the sleeping aooommodation for the nunei was inadequate. Had several times asked for things whioh were not granted by the oommittee. Mr. Hodgson and witness were exoellent friends, and always had been for 18 months. Witness only remembered having one" tiff " withhim. Mr. Hodgson was dissatisfied with tUevarwork. WttoMS very rarely assisted Mr. Hodgson in the dispensing, but wrote some of the ltittn. Witness had to teach the nuneatheir duties, it being impossible to get qualified wom£n to come for the present wages. The ooiymlttee granted a laundress and most of the things witness asked for. Then wm very, seldom a quorum. Witness here interposed a statement to the effect thai-he did not, in his interview witk Mr. Graham, say " God d-,— it." Ha did say "D— it, 1 ' but he had the same excuse as the captain o£ the " Pinafore "— he was very much annoyed at the time. In reply to the Chairman and Counoillor A. W. Brown, witness said he did not think there wm any other case exoept that of Btaoe in which a'paiient was asked for fees. There wm a rule on the subject, bat witness always looked to the dispenser to do anything in connection with money matters. Witness told Hodgson to see if Staoe would sign tho agreement. By Councillor Diver— HeKDr. Divw) twice Mked witneta in the ward if Btaoe had signed the paper. Be asked it in an off-hand way, and witness did not think Staoe board him. Counoillor Direr said he .denied that ho bad ever spoken to Dr Gillon on the Eubject in the ward. - In reply to the chairman, witness said th»t Hodgson came to him out of sorts one day and to!d him thai, at the private interview referred to yesterday, Mr. Graham had been saying all sorts of things against him. Mr. Hodgson wm then recalled, and asked by Dr. Gillon whether he had not made this statement. He replied that he could not sty. Jn answer to Counoillor M'KoDrit, he said he thought the reduotion of the staff effected by tbe oommittee'a report waa a mistake, as was alio the turnug away of Mrs. Alexander. In some respeots, such as doing the washing on the premises, substituting female for male nurses, &c., there was an improvement. Thought «aob ward should have a head-nurse and an tindernurse, making eight nurses in all for the Hospital. Thought the nurses should also be bettar paid. __ By Counoillor Greenfield—The oo«t of maintenance at tbe Donedin Hospital comrarod favourably with that of the Wellington Hospital, because the average number of patients was higher. They could feed 100 patients for almost the same figure m the present number oost The food was sufficient according to the diet scale. The cooking win sometimes T*ry bad, sometimes very good. He had Been lots of hospitals but be bad never seen the food better tban it was in this Hospital. At the time the butter was complained of, it was impossible to get better supplied. Iha Chairman, at this stage, pointed out that there wm not a quorum present, and it was necessary therefore to adjourn. He

asked whether it was worth while going on with the enquiry any farther P Dr. Gillon laid he should like to b»v* the oaae of Clara Valentine oleared up. On the suggestion of Councillor A. W. Brown, it wa* resolved that tho committee should meet on Thursday evening at 7.30, with the dual objoot of hearing the remainder of Or. Oillon'i evidence and framing ther report. The enquiry then idjonrned.