NAPIER HOSPITAL INQUIRY

Evening Star, Issue 22684, 25 June 1937, Page 11

NAPIER HOSPITAL INQUIRY

DISCIPLINE AND CO-OPERATION. ASPECTS EVIDENCE OF MATRON [Pek United Press Association.] NAPIER, Juno 25. _ The hospital inquiry was resumed this morning. After hearing some evidence in open court, tho commission decided to exclude the public and the Press while certain evidence was heard. The matron, Miss I. M. Croft, said she made the rounds of tho wards daily except on days when she went to Hastings Hospital. She spoke to each patient during her rounds, and commented with sisters on the patient’s progress. Mr Eoden: Did a patient make references to cockroaches? Witness: I was on annual leave at the time. . That is tribute to your efficiency if they come only when you are on holiday. Have you seen any cockroaches in the hospital?—Yes, sir, and I have reported the matter to the medical superintendent. Have you seen them on the food. — No. sir. Do you obtain the fullest co-opera-tion of every sister?—Of recent months I have found that I have not had the co-operation of one sister. Which sister was that?—The sister in Shrimpton Ward. Which sister—the present sister or the ex-sister? Tho court was cleared while Miss Croft gave further evidence. For the last 12 months witness thought that she had received every cooperation in tho matter of requisitions, but prior to that she had felt that she had not. Orders for gown stands, for instance, had not been fulfilled _ as rapidly as witness thought they might have been, several months having been required for the stands to make their appearance. She had never been given an explanation for the delay. Mr Foclen: Do you make a routine inspection of the hospital in Company with the house manager for the purpose of looking over necessary repairs works? —Yes. How often?—The first Monday of every month. Do you know of any instances or directions in which the conduct of any member of tho staff, the honorary staff, or tho board has been detrimental to the discipline and the co-operation of tho nursing staff? —Yes. Your definite answer indicates that you have no doubt in tho matter? — There is no doubt in my mind. Can you give any names? Witness gave a name.