HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 143, 18 June 1937, Page 15

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

NAPIER INQUIRY

POST-MORTEM-ON CHILD

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NAPIER, June 17,

The inquiry into the management of the Napier Hospital was continued this afternoon by the Royal Commission presided over by Mr, E. D- Mosley, S.M, Most of the evidence and examination of witnesses concerned happenings after an outbreak of disease in the children's ward, The father of the child that died was recalled and said that he had desired an inquest to clear the matter up but was opposed to a post-mortem examination. He did not know at that time that an examination had been held.

A, E. Bedford, a member of the Hospital Board, and Coroner, said that Dr. Foley (the medical superintendent) had 'told him J that the child had died suddenly at the hospital after a bath, and ho wanted to know if an Inquest was necessary. "He said the child had died of acute heart failure and congenital dislocation of the hips," witness added. Dr.' Berry had not told witness that the child had .Just come from a hot bath, Witness stated that Dr.. Berry had confirmed Dr. Foley's certificate but had not asked permission to conduct a post-mortem examination. Witness considered that he should havo been told of hot baths or any special treatment which had been carried out on the child. The chairman said that, knowing that JRIr, Bedford was a member of the board, the doctors should have approached the official Coroner, Mr, J, Miller, S.M. ■ Mr. N. A. Foden (of the Crown Law Oflice): Their action was not prudent. Mr. Mosley; It was more than not prudent. Of course it is easy to be wise after the event, Mr. Bedford, but it would have been prudent for you to have declined to deal with the case. Witness: I thought at the time that It was a case of, death due te natural causes. . ,Mr, Mosley: But you sea where al! this has led. ■ Witness: Yes; I do sow, MATRON'S EVIDENCE. The matron said that the hospital had the maximum number of patients during the outbreak, but the staff had insufficient senior nurses and junior nurses did not come in contact with isolated patients. She had no knowledge that baths- were going to be giyen. She thought the doctors bad conferred on-the question, The beat of the baths should have been recorded, Witness did not know If the eMer was keeping her pwn record, That struck witness as an extraordinary proceeding, The linen caused much concern. The utaJna were, caused by local treatment, An effort to remove the stains by a steam iterJMser made them worse, end the sheets were then only used on the bed* of children affected. The sheets were clean but not of good colour. The disinfectant had since been altered. The occurrence of lice on the children had been reported and checked.