“MOST UNFAIR”

Evening Star, Issue 20055, 21 December 1928, Page 8

“MOST UNFAIR”

CRITICISM OF BATCHELOR HOSPITAL BOARD CHAIRMAN’S REPLY A strong protest against the report Jellett, consulting obstetrician, concerning the training of purses 'and midwives at*the-Batchelor Hospital was made at the meeting of the Hospital Board last night. “1 would just like to make a few remarks in regard to the letter received from the .Nurses’and Midwives’ Registration Board, to ■ which was -ttaclied Dr Jellett’s report concerning his annual inspection of the Batchelor Hospital,” said the Chairman (Mr W. E. S. Kmght). “On .July. JO the secretary of the. Nurses and Midwives’ Registration Board forwarded to thp matron of the Batchelor Hospital the report on the inspection made ,on April 17, and again in May, 1028, by Dr Jellett, of the Batchelor Hospital. Oh August 29 the board replied to the Nurses and Midwives’ Registration Board dealing with the various matters referred,to by Dr Jellett. I feel disinclined to allow Dr Jellett’s report to he received without some remarks in regard to his statements’. He says that the. general conditions of training- are fairly satisfactory. L cannot let this pass without quoting the following, ligures from 1907 to 1928 : —Total number of candidates, 113; total number of failures (19091, 1;, total number of passes, 112; number who secured honours or its equivalent, 80 (as the records of ‘ place ’ are; not quite complete, this numbetj may be higher); number would have been top and topequal for New Zealand, 10; number of others who have secured over 90 per cent, or second or third place, 12. “ 1 think this can be considered more than ‘ fairly satisfactory,’ and it is doubtful if any hospital in New Zealand can show any better results of maternity nurses’ training,” continued Mr Knight. “ r Jellett stated that tho matron was grossly overworked, but the reply to the board was that she rather felt, after the visit of Dr Jellett, that she was over-worried. Dr Jellett has further remarked that 197 labour cases occurred in the year under consideration, which would moan an average of about four per week, and over 200 patients were attended at the antenatal clinic, paying some 300 visits. This would moan about twelve visits per week. . To attend/to these cases there was the matron and one sister am! five-nurses' in training without counting any medical students. I hardly think that any officer of the board would bo overworked without letting tho board know*, and from the above figures 1 cannot see that- the matron was overworked. In this case, as a matter of fact, the matron says she is not. “In view of the ■ contemplated changes -which.have now been hanging fire sinco 1921, when Dr Valentine and Dr Jellett were present at aii infer--mal meeting of ’ the board, and the present institution . being incapable of extension which would bo required, 1 hardly think that the board - would ‘ be justified in going to any groat expense in this institution in the -meantime’ until something more definite is received from the Health Department in conjunction with the-'Otago’ University’ as to the training of medical students’ and the contemplated new institution. “The total number of babies born' in the institution' from'’ its. opening in’ May, 1907, to the end of November, 1928, was 3,577. Maternal deaths of these were, fifteen,.' .sfeven* emergency, and one epidemic influenza., Still births totalled 162,;of?.which forty-six were dead before? or immediately-after admission. Number of natal deaths were seventy-eight,’ ;of which .five; were born before admission, thirty-seven were premature,- and'fifteen.died fromcongenital conditions. , ? . , “Do the.above figures■'convey-do you and the - public."ahrecord of, conditions being only ‘ fairly satisfactory ’? T think it is one of winch any - hoard might he pitmd, and the greatest credit due to the medical officers, matrons, and nursing staff, of this institution for its great work.” -Mr J. W. Dove?: “I think we are all heartily in accord with the chairman’s statement.” “Dr delicti’s criticism was most uni'hir,” remarked Sirs Ross. “Exceedingly,” added Sir Dove.