BOARD CLEAVAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 150, 26 June 1937, Page 14

BOARD CLEAVAGE

NAPIER HOSPITAL

EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY

STAFF MANAGEMENT

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

NAPIER, June 25.

At the: Napier Hospital .riquiry today Dr. J. A. Berry, questioned by Mr. Foden (acting on behalf of the Direc-tor-Genera] of Health), said the man-aging-secretary had the power to veto any. expenditure, major or minor.Mr. Foden: You.did not resign 'he office of Medical Superintendent because of confl&t with him?— No. You endeavour to stick up for the rights of the Medical Superintendent? —Yes. ■ ■ You attribute some trouble to the' fact that the managing-secretary has usurped some of the highest authority?—l think so. Do you think there has been i lack of cohesion?— Yes. Does it extend from the board downwards? —Yes. The cleavage in the board militates against the successful running of the institution?— Yes.-.'- It .has- been . the cause of all-the trouble. Had ■ there been a good- head it would. 'Ot- have occurred. Mr. Foden: A local Mussolini? Supposing someone considered s-.-mething should be done for Napier, would he ba in difficulties if he came against the Hastings faction?—He might be sacked. • ■-.- And it has its repercussions?— Right down through the institution. Do you regard the nurses' response to requests as good?— They seem a good type. Are the sisters responsive to suggestions and requests?— Yes. RELATIONS WITH MR. REES. Mr. Bate (for the ■ Hospital Board): I think you and Mr. Rees do not hit >.t off too well?—-I would not say that You have made remarks, I suggest, in. open board meeting against Mr. Rees? —1 should say '.hey .vere fair criticisms. I remember the case. They were resignations from the Hastings Hospital. You have said he was obstructive on occasions? Can you give us any recent instances which were to the detriment of the institution?'—! think he was diligent in arranging' his duties. You are not complaining that the board's time is wasted by unnecessary requisitions?— Yes. I did make that statement. ■ You mentioned that the managingsecretary assumed that he was in charge of the whole institution, but the bylaws say that the Medical Superintendent is the head, the managingsecretary being head of the other employees?—lf the Medical Superintendent wanted a splint made the carpenter <would. have to refer it to the man-aging-secretary Because of the cleavage I found it very humiliating. On what point has the board been most sharply divided? Your own suspension as a member of the staff and the dismissal of the sister?— Yes. Is there anything else?— The question of the site of-the'isolation block has been one matter. Any cleavage of the board has been attributable largely to your own status and what was to be done with the sister?— Yes. THE TWO HOSPITALS. Sir James Elliott: There are 50 beds at Hastings and 180 here?— Yes. : And the operating facilities are the same?-i-:Yes. ;l:You,-say,you are getting more than your share of chronic cases?— Yes. •, Has Hastings more patients per bed per year 'than Napier?— That is my opinion. ' . Have you any suggestions how the differences between Napier and Hastings 'could be reconciled,; because although Napier is the larger hospital, Hastings .gets. its share of medical cases?— Sack th- board. Sack the lot?— Yes. That is worth thinking about. Could you do without a board?— Yes. Mr. Mosley: Can you think of any other suggestion?— Two hospital boards and two hospital districts. What about nationalising the hospitals?— Sack all the boards. Would you not object to the loss of franchise?— No. London has done it Mr. Foden: It is worth looking into. To Mr. La wry (his counsel) the witness said that during his position as Medical Superintendent he had been proud of the hospital and its examination results, and considered it one of the best training schools in the Dominion. ■ , A sister at the hospital followed Dr. Berry in the witness-box, but her evidence, as in the cases of other sisters and nurses, was taken in camera. MAJORITY RULE. I Charles Ormond Morse, one of the 'Napier members of the board, and a iformer chairman, said it was.an admitted: fact that there was a cleavage on the board between .the Hastings and Napier members, this having been in evidence for some time, but there was "nothing serious in it." . Mr. Foden: Can you say, Mr. Morse, that the members always act quite judicially in arriving at decisions?— In some measures. lam of the opinion that they don't act quite in the right manner. Generally speaking, it would be correct to say that that state of affairs did not assist: the institution?— Yes. 1 admit that freely., I take it that generally speaking you are a . believer^ in the principle of majority rule?— Yes, I am. :It is the only way that a local body can function reasonably. •. , } I understand that fairly recently the question of terminating the services of an honorary member came before the board?— Quite right. On that occasion I understand that the voting was seven for the termination of his services and three or two against?— Quite right. As a supporter of the principle or majority rule you would concede that in the absence of any bylaw the wishes iof the seven would prevail against the three ?_No, hardly. /I believe that a oerson before any drastic measures are inflictet should have a fair and squardeal I think that the board, as laymen, were ' not the persons to take measures. . That objection goes to-the root of the principle of hospital board representa-tion?-Yes. very definitely. If a person whose conduct was in question was a member "of the board it would make it a difficult matter for the board to discuss and dispose of the position?— Quite. ■-. . In the view of the lay^mind I take it, then, that if that situation can arise it is not desirable to have a person acting in a dual capacity?—l quite agree. I have brought the matter up in the right quarters, but so far no one has been game enough to deal with the position. I think there are two doctors on the Hospital Board here, Drs. Wilson and Berry. Is Dr. Wilson a member of the Hastings Hospital staff?— Yes. If the difficulty could be got rid of do you consider that that would be in the interests of the institution?— Yes. I believe it would, and it would apply generally, too. In the particular difficulty that arose

I understand that the board had an inquiry into the desirability of terminatiug the services of the honorary doctor who was-concerned?—Yes. It is a fact, T think, that it was the Napier group which voted against the termination of his services?— Yes. As a member of that group your impression was that the board, in view of the circumstances, was not the best judge?— Very definitely. SHRIMPTON WARD INQUIRY. "I happened to be a member of the committee investigating the Shrimpton Ward troubles," the witness said. "Right from the outset I thought that we board members as laymen.were not the right people to conduct the investigation. I thought that a medical committee would be a better investigating committee." Mr. Foden: Where a body of ten men meet to decide if one of their employees, should be dispensed with, the vote of the majority should prevail in the absence of any by-law? Yes, in ordinary matters. You feel that if the man's conduct related to the professional side you, as a lay board, were not the proper judges?— Quite. The evidence discloses that there seems to have been a division of authority in the ' management of the hospital. The medical superintendent, according to the bylaws, is supposed to be the virtual head. You know that? —Yes. On the matter of the- requisition of medical supplies, I- think the managingsecretary's authority extended even to vetoing the smallest supplies?— Yes. It finally comes after passing through various channels to the man who holds the purse-strings?—lt is necessary that you should have someone in authority to do the initialling. Even if a packet of safety-pins was required?—l do not think so. » Mr. Mosley: It came out in evidence. Mr. Foden: You agree that.it is not desirable to have three captains to the one ship?— No. The ship would be wrecked. - Assuming that it is a question of two captains, the medical superintendent and the managing-secretary, who should be the captain?— Very definitely .the. medical superintendent in everything affecting the welfare of the patients. ■ •;''•■' ■.' . . ' ■■■■■■' ; If the Napier Hospital, wished in the future to get a first-class ■ medical superintendent, he would be required to ■be given' the- status, pf ■ captain?— Yes. - '■■~ ■■'■ : ■-,-'. ..--.■ ..' BUILDING FOR THE HOSPITAL. On the medical side of the institution you have been able to 1 get very considerable'grants from the Department'? —We made' application ' in the early stages for £83,000 and we 'were allo-, cated £66,000 to meet emergency costs. Mr Mosley: How was that money given, Mr.Morse?—lnterest free,for the first five years, and after that 5 per cent, interest and sinking' fund for' the next 33 years. ■ ; - „ .„ Has that been altered since?—We have exhausted the £66,000, but we have not the privilege to go back again, and have had to borrow £17,000 privately Mr Grant: At the present time you are still faced with, having to pay interest on £66,000 and £17,000, and in addition you have to repay the principal?— Yes. The reason the building was delayed was that they did.not desire a two-storey building after the 'quake. Hence the plans were aban : d°Sir James Elliott:' What right had the board to veto the Department's plans? —What right had the Department to permit it? ' , CHAIRMAN'S EVIDENCE. Christian Lasseri, chairman of the board, said he thought members decided matters on their merits, and there was no block voting. The man-ager-secretary was the captain on the business side, and the Medical Superintendent on the medical. • Mi Foden: The matron has sent reports direct to you?— Yes Is that against the regulations?— Yes ■ ' When did you find that out?— When 1 told the matron to send her correspondence to the manager-secretary. Should-any member of me board or the medical staff take any member of the nursing staff for motor wdes at night or become unduly familiar with one girl by calling her by her Christian name?—lt would be detrimental to control. . . Mr. Bate: What is your .opinion about members of the bqard being on the honorary medical staff?—lt is very undesirable, but Dr. Whyte has never caused me any trouble. ; Mr. Dowling: To Dr. Allan Berry did you always give an .opportunity for free speech?— Yes. . Did you allow Dr. Berry sufficient opportunity?— Not when he was divulging committee work. Mr. Mosley: You appreciate the fact that British fair play demands for every man the opportunity to defend himself?—Oh, yes, but he threatened to make public what was taken in committee. Mr. Mosley: I can't express an opinion. The chairman must.give every_ man a chance of expressing himself. Do you remember a smoking incident when the nurses were incensed at a' notice in the home?—l dont think they objected to that, but to the publicity. Sir James Elliott: Has all possibility oi trouble between Hastings and Napier- gone?,—Yes. ■ ■ „ . Sir James: I don't like two hospitals only 12 miles apart, and you are the only witness .who says the trouble has ended—l would welcome the Commission calling other board members. I cannot commit the new board Where do you think the permanent hospital should be? In Napier in perpetuity ? —Yes. MR. REES QUESTIONED. Edward Thomas Rees, managing-sec-retary of the board, said he had been in the office for 15 years. The Medical Superintendent was the head of the institution. ' Mr. Foden: So you will do anything he wants? —Most decidedly. • There is a conflict in the evidence?— 1 am telling the truth. Yes. I dare say others told me the truth?— Yes, but not about safety pins. Are you aware that a witness said you refused to agree to purchase a certain article?— Yes. He was not telling the truth in a way When asthma powder was called for, I asked the dispenser if he could make it. In the meantime the doctor had telephoned for it. You always see the requisitions from the doctors carried out?— Absolutely. Immediately. . Is your ambulance safe? —Yes. Has it been given a certificate of fitness?— No. That's a fine state of affairs?—A new one will be ready in a month. Are communications to the matron sent through the medical officer?— No. Do you know the nurses are limited to a 56-hour week? —No. To Mr. Grant the witness said that his clerical staff was not too large. The Commission adjourned at 10 p.m. till tomorrow, when the last witness will be heard.