INFORMATION WANTED

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 October 1934, Page 2

INFORMATION WANTED

BY HOSPITAL BOARD MEMBER. At last evening’s meeting of the Grey Hospital Board, Mr A. Mosley moved that the secretary bring down reports of staff changes during the past five years. ,His. reason for Jhe request, he stated, was because of the large number of changes, arid the strong public feeling in regard to them. He asked that the report disclose whether the changes were the result of ordinary resignations, or dismissals, in each case. The Chairman .(Mr R. McTaggart) said he would be pleased to second the motion. He asked whether Mr Mosley desired a report on the whole staff.

Mr Mosley answered that he was referring only to the nursing staff. Mr Kent: Why not make it general?

Mr Mosley: So long as the nursing staff resignations and dismissals are shown clearly, that is all I require. The Chairman: Do -you want the reasons?

Mr Mosley: If it will not entail too much work, I would welcome them. The Secretary (Mr J. E. A. McKeefry) said that he doubted whether the records went back later than the past 12 months.

The Chairman said there were several members of, the staff who left prior to the .records being kept, and it was not known by the Board, whether they were dismissed, or simply resigned. Mr Mosley said he would be satisfied to have reports as far bacll; as could be supplied, and the motion was then carried. DIPHTHERIA PRECAUTIONS. Mr F. L. Turley said he would move a resolution to the effect that it be an instruction to the Medical Superintendent, that cases of diphtheria in the hospital, be isolated, in the isolation ward. A case, he stated, had developed in the hospital some time ago, and it was “quite a feather in the cap” of the person that discovered it. It was fortunate that diphtheria did not spread throughout the institution. The patient was placed in a side ward, and the nurse that treated the case, had the run of the hospital as usual, and lived with the other nurses. He understood that a regulation had been laid down, that all diphtheria cases be isolated in an isolation ward. It was said some time ago, that when Dr. Bell had isolated some patients, it was a put-up job, but there was no foundation for that statement. Mr Mosley seconded the motion. He had been informed that the nurse who attended the diphtheria case referred to, had also to do duty in the ward. He considered that was a serious matter.

The Chairman said he thought the Board would be “overstepping the mark,” by directing the medical Superintendent, who knew whether a case was one of diphtheria or not. The speaker felt confident that the Medical Superintendent would take all precautions, and treat such a case accordingly. It would not be right for the Board to move such a motion. The Chairman did not know of any case being in a side ward, but the doctors probably took the same precautions, as would be taken if the case were in the isolation ward. Nurses who were engaged in the isolation ward, mingled with other nurses, and slept at the Nurses’ Home. The secretary stated that there had been a change in the regulations. At one time a nurse in the isolation ward was kept there, and not allowed to move from it. The health authorities now had sufficient information to warrant that restriction being lifted. As long as a nurse took the usual precautions against passing on the infection, no restriction was placed on her. He could write to the Health Department, and secure the information, if the Board desired it. Mr Turley: If we had that, we would know where we get off. The- motion Ayas put, and lost, Messrs Mosley and Turley supporting it, and Mr Kent not voting, whereupon the Chairman gave his casting vote against it. A REPORT. REQUESTED*

Mr. Mosley stated that Mr. Turley had made a statement at a public meeting held at Cobden, that he could not obtain a copy of the Chairman’s reply to Mr. Turley’s allegations against the Hospital administration, forwarded to the 'Minister of Health. The speaker was surprised to learn that a copy had not been placed on the Board’s files. It was Board business and as such, a copy should have been filed. He would like to know why it had not been.

The Chairman said he had been authorised by the Board to frame a reply to Mr. Turley’s allegations. He had done so, and had it-forwarded to the Minister of Health. He had kept a copy at his home, although he had no need to keep a copy, but it was still in his possession. If Mr. Turley had made application to the speaker, he would have secured the copy. The reply dealt with Mr. Turley’s allegations, which the latter had sent to the Minister of Health, without consulting the Board.

Mr. Turley: I handed them to the Press, and they were published. The Chairman: It was left to me to reply, and I was not duty bound to the Board to read it out. Mr. Turley saw fit to run away from the meeting, before it was read. I left it till the last, as I do with other similar matters that are not on tne agenda paper. The same thing applied to-night with Dr. Bridgman’s letter. Had Mr. Turley waited he would have heard the reply read. Instead, he made out that I had deliberately kept it back till after he had left the meeting. I am rather surprised to again find that vou should challenge me, Mr. Mosley. Mr. Turley made other statements, and I am quite surprised that you did not challenge them, instead of so consistently questioning me.

Mr. Kyle: Oh, it’s just a matter of which of the two of them will get the biggest piece in the papers.

Mr. Mosley: I am not concerned about the publicity, Mr. Kyle; I am concerned with the Board’s business.

Mr. Kyle: That’s a good job. I am pleased to bear you say it. Mr. Mosley said that so far as Mr. Turley’s letter was concerned, that was a private letter, and it was not necessary that it should come before the Board. The Chairman’s letter was Board business, and a copy of the reply should have, been filed. If the Chairman had a copy, the speaker would like to see it put on the file. Mr. Turley said he had asked the secretary to get a copy, and the secretary had informed him that one was not available. He moved that the secretary be instructed to write to the Health Department for a copy. Mr. Mosley said that would not be necessary if the Chairman would sup-

ply his copy. “Are you prepared to put your copy on the Board’s file, Mr. Chairman?” he asked. The Chairman: I am prepared to do that.

Mr. Turley: So far as I am concerned. I want a copy from the Health Department. Mr. Turley explained that lie had an important meeting to attend on the night the Chairman read his reply to the Minister. He deliberately refrained from going from the meeting until he could wait no longer. He left at 9.30 p.m. and had to catch a train at Otira at 11.30, so that members would know he had to “put his foot on it to get there.”

The Chairman: Who is holding up the meeting to-night? Mr. Turley: I don’t know, but I know who holds them up, in committee.

The Chairman: There is one thing I can say, and that is I have never made aiz untruthful statement on this Board yet. Mr. Mosley said that he would be satisfied if the Chairman placed his copy on the file, and the discussion terminated. The meeting then went into committee.