HOSPITAL SYSTEM.

Evening Star, Issue 18698, 29 July 1924, Page 7

HOSPITAL SYSTEM.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—lt was stated at tho meeting of the Hospital Board on Thursday that standing order No. 11 for house surgeons is as follows:

“The house surgeon shall initial the charts for a patient's discharge from hospital only after haying the approval of the honorary medical attendant. All cases must bo seen on tho day of discharge by the house surgeon. The A.M.O, will also initial the charts before tho discharge of patients. The A.M.O. will visit all patients for. discharge who have not on tho day been visited by tho honorary medical officer.” Standing order No. 12 for sisters in charge of wards was reported to be as follows:

“On the discharge of any patient—old, infirm, or in weak health —tho sister will satisfy herself that suitable arrangements are made by tho friends for the patient’s removal from hospital; otherwise she will notify tho medical superintendent or the house surgeon on duty.” But are these orders carried out ? As regards No. 11, my wife was put out of tho hospital on a Saturday. She was last seen by tho medical attendant on the previous Friday, and by the house surgeon on the previous Thursday. Regarding No. 12, the sister did not make any inquiries if she had anywhere to go. Both the house surgeon and sister were aware that she had nowhere to go.

I, to my sorrow, have had a fair experience of hospitals, and as far as my observation goes it is, God help anyone who has no friends. It may interest your readers to know that the more visitors yon have the better is your treatment. Tho doctor who was attending my wife ordered her into tho hospital for certain treatment. The first week in, the hospital was all right; hut the second week she was put through the “ fourtli degree,” .and asked many impertinent questions, such as—Why I was not working ? Why wo had no friends, etc. ? To cut a long story short, the doctor in charge ordered her to get out, although she had nowhere to go, and it was only through tho intervention of a special official that she was allowed to stay from the Thursday to Saturday at 11 a.m. Anyone who has had any sickness will understand the terrible torture it is to be threatened so. I may say that I had nowhere to take her to, and it was only through the kindness of a gentleman to whom I told the circumstances that I was enabled to get her into a home for twe weeks. Tho patient had been in bed for close on three months, with the exception of a few days. She was too weak to dress herself on the morning of, her discharge. The sequel to tho treatment is that she has not been able to -get about sines. She was ordered in for certain treatment, which she never got; also, the visiting doctor ordered vaccine treatment, which was mover given. When I heard of what was going on I asked to see tho doctor in charge. I was put off. I also called twice to get some explanation. The last time I saw another doctor, who said the doctor in charge was not well enough to be seen. I am not in the habit of knocking my head against a brick wall, so I dropped tho matter until another case of similar circumstances cropped up. ( If my explanation of my case will do something to prevent some other poor person being treated so, it will be something to bo thankful for.— I am, etc.. Homeless. July 28.