NAPIER HOSPITAL INQUIRY

Evening Star, Issue 22682, 23 June 1937, Page 13

NAPIER HOSPITAL INQUIRY

THIRD PHASE OF PROCEEDINGS MISSING X-RAY FILMS [Per United Press Association.] NAPIER, June 22. The absence of certain X-ray films from the Public Hospital X-ray department was investigated by the commission in the afternoon. The events leading up to the discovery that films were missing' were outlined by Dr H. F. Bernau. Mr Lawry: You are unable to say how they came to be missing?—No. You are not imputing their theft?— No. Mr Fodou: You will agree that the films were missing at a very critical point? Air (Irani: Am I correct in saying that Mr Kell's cr.'c was diagnosed almost immediately as sudecs ntrophegm? —Yes. You know that Dr Harvey’s reports on the first films negatived sudecs atrophegm?—Yes. They were discovered in hospital just before the case came on?—1 heard so. Which doctor diagnosed sudecs atrophe?—Dr Allan Berry. Who mode the complaint about their loss?—I do not know. What is your opinion about their loss?—I do not know. What is your opinion of the system of caring for films? —Very satisfactory. Have you had experience of any other films being missing?—No. Regalado Hells said that on September 13 he met with an accident on a ship. Dr Harold Berry was summoned. Witness was taken to hospital later. Dr Allan Berry arrived some time after the operation to his hand had been performed. It caused him pain. He was sent to the hospital for an X-ray, five films being taken. A court case was pending, and it was found that the films were missing, Dr Berry being so informed. The photographs produced, in court were the ones taken subsequently by Dr Harvey. Dr Harvey took the X-rays in his room to send home to England?—Yes. Do you think the board is to blame? —Yes. Dr Harvey was in charge. Suppose the doctor wont in and took the films without anyone , knowing. Would you blame the sister and the doctor then?—The door is locked, Mr Lawry: You told Dr Allan Berry after seeing Dr Fitzgerald about it. W as Dr Berry surprised to learn that they were missing ?—Yes. Mr Bate: You told Dr Harvey that you were annoyed about having to be X-rayed all the time?—Yes. You were annoyed about having the photographs sent Home to England?— Yes. We have some of the cleverest doctors in the world in New Zealand. Mr Mosley: Could you name one ? Witness: When I went to Wellington I was told by a doctor there that we had one of the cleverest doctors in New Zealand in Napier. I am not a friend of his, but his name is Dr Allan Berry. FILMS TURN UP. Sister Genet, who was in charge of the X-ray room, said that she had found the films behind the door on the morning when she went to the room. It looked as though they had been pushed under the door. There was a hole in the door throtigh which it was probable someone had put a hand and opened the door with the films. Later another envelope was found_ under the door containing films of a third patient. All three were the patients of Dr Allan Berry. Who do you think would want access to the rooms ?—lt would have to be someone interested in the films. Who are the people interested ?—Dr Berry and later Dr Fitzgerald, and also the three patients. Could you say who would he the most likely?—No. Was the hole in the door there when you changed the lock?—Yes. Mr Barker: Were there more sets of keys than the one to the new lock?— Two. I had them both. Were the films returned after you had changed the lock? —Yes, about six weeks later. Noting has been missing since you changed the lock?—No. Dr Foley was not in Napier at the times the films were returned?—No. Mr Mosley: Could the latch be opened if the piece of composition was removed from the door?—Yes. Is it a fact that other films were missing from time to time ?—Only those I mentioned. Have you been in the habit of giving doctors films?—For consultation. Are you careful that they are always returned?—-Yes. . _ Mr Foden: Films could be missing until you put the new lock on the door without your knowledge?—Yes. I would not notice unless I went for one. SUGGESTION REPUDIATED. Strong repudiation qf the suggestion that he knew something of the disappearance of the X-ray films was voiced by Dr William Douglas Fitzgerald. He mentioned that when he visited the hospital to see films they could not be found. Ho had never had occasion to take films away from the hospital. Mr Foden: You were definitely accused of having these films of Hells? Dr Fitzgerald: I was rung up by the Doctors Berry, but I regarded the matters ae “ leg-pulling.” What was your reply to them?—l told them ip have a look round their own place. To whose interest would it lie that the films should not bo available? —I do not think it would be to anyone’s interest. The whole thing seemed to me to be silly. Dr, Frank N. Harvey, radiologist, stated that ho had not been a party to the disappearance of the films. He considered that if Rells’s claim for damages was based on the presence of disability and the X-ray films disclosed that there was no such disability, then it would bo to his advantage if the films were missing. To Mr Grant, Dr Harvey stated that he was aware that the Hospital Board

was planning to provide more adequate X-ray accommodation than that available. Whenever films were allowed to leave the hospital trouble was experienced in securing their return. Mr Mosley: Do I understand from you that any doctor in Napier can get films relating to his patients? Dr Harvey: Wo have had no instructions to the contrary. Have any honoraries removed films from the hospital?—They might have. Dr James Joseph Foley, medical superintendent, referred to the tightening up of the film recording system. Air Foden; Did you know about the broken piece in the door?—Yes. Suspicious, is it not?—Yes, it might bo made use of. Those films would not be of use to anyone but medical men?—That is so. THE MISSING KEYS. Mr Grant: Are those films of any value that we should be making such a stir over them? Dr Foley: Yes, they are. To whom are they any worth ?—Only members of the medical profession. Dr James Allan Berry gave evidence that ho knew nothing about the disappearance of the films, nor had he gained entrance to the X-ray room while no one was about. Hp had never had the key to the room. Mr Foden: Have ‘you over removed films from the hospital? Witness: I may have years ago. It would strike you as being a rather rare coincidence that three sets of missing films were all in regard to your patients?—lt looks almost like a conspiracy. “ Almost like other conspiracies in connection with the Napier Hospital,” Mr Foden observed to witness. Dr Berry said that over the period for which the films were missing he had not seen them. The first time he saw them after they were lost was when they were produced in court. Mr Foden: A committee decided that the matter of the missing films should be placed in the hands of the police? —Yes, that is so. And the films were returned next morning?—l understood so. i Suggesting the presence of fear ?—I should say so. The information that the aid of the police had been sought travelled very rapidly to whoever held the films?— Yes. I suppose you know nothing about the pieces of broken asbestos near the lock on the X-ray room door?—No. Mr Bate (for the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board): We knew that these films were_ returned in an envelope without any indication of who had taken them? Dr Berry; Yes. We can assume, therefore, that some kleptomaniac was responsible for the disappearance of the films?—You can assume what you like. I have no explanation to offer either for their disappearance or for their return. The disappearance indicates .that some definite action should be taken to ensure that there is not a recurrence Yes, certainly. Mr Mosley: Do you know anything about those keys?—No. . Was it not rather a coincidence that those films and keys should have been returned at about the same time?— Yes. POLICE AID SOUGHT. Christian Lassen, chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board, said that the matter of the missing X-ray films had come to his notice first when mentioned by Dr Berry at a board meeting. At the following meeting there was before the board a letter from Mr C. W. Nash, solicitor for Mr Hells, and a sub-committee had been set up to investigate. The board decided later to place the matter in the hands of the police, believing that the films must have been stolen. The board also decided upon additional _ precautions in connection with allowing X-ray films to leave the hospital. Mr Lassen said that one of these precautions was that honoraries should sign for films which they took away. Dr Berry was the only person who objected to this measure. _Mr Bate: Plans are under consideration for a new. X-ray department?—. Yes And you will be in possession of an excellent X-ray department very soon? —Yes. Air Foden: What, did the police report about their investigation ?—That our system had broken down owing to tho fact that the medical superintendent allowed honoraries to take tho films away. Air Alosley: And you withdrew the matter from the hands of the police?— Yes. Air Lawry (for Dr J. Allan Berry) : After the decision to place the matter in the hands of the police the Press got hold of it, did they not?—Yes. I suggest that the Press_ report -would let anyone know what action was being taken?—Yes, but I did not give any statement to the Press. Air Alosley: Oh, they get hold of these things. This concluded the evidence under the fourth item in the order of reference. “ That is as far as I can carry the matter,” Mr Foden said to Mr Alosley. “ The matter was put into the order of reference so that this commission could recommend a watertight system.” “ And we are going to do that to the best of our ability, and it will bo pretty radical, I can tell you,” said Air Alosley. CONDITIONS FOR NURSES. Giving evidence of the conditions existing for nurses, Dr Foiey said that the nurses were not so well off as elsewhere. They had a seven-day week. There was no 40-hour week. Although the hours were long, the nurses were nob worked hard. A serious effort had been made to provide, better conditions. Late leave was limited to 11 p.m. for certain girls. Some nurses would not report sick too readily. The Alatron said that the nurses had two lawn tennis courts, a library, sitting room, etc. As soon as ill-health was detected tho nurses were sent to bed. They were weighed every two months, and those missing a meal were noted. Air Foden: So that if a certain disease were present in a ward the same sister would he nursing her sick companion as well as the diseased children. A nurse’s sick bay would be preferable. The Alatron: If the sickness was of a minor nature the patient was expected to tdl her own parents, otherwise witness would write to the nurse’s parents. Nurses worked 58 hours one week and 50J hours the next week. There was an insufficient staff to grant all that the nurses required. Air Foden that if a nurse was called to give evidence there should be no victimisation. Air Alosley: You need not be afraid The commission will safeguard them. Some nurses will be called. Continuing, the matron said that extra accommodation was to be provided, permitting an increase in the staff and one- clear day off a week. The nurses had been encouraged to form clubs, etc., for recreation. One pint of milk a day was allowed for each nurse. Her reports to the board were addressed to the managing secretary. Sir James Elliott: And the medical superintendent ignored?—No: wo discuss it, and nothing I send to the beard is objected to by him. Some

nurses went six weeks with only one day off, but the best was done with the available staff. The mother of a nurse complained that her daughter did not receive proper treatment during an illness. If that were possible, she asked, how would a patient fare?.