NAPIER NURSES

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 June 1937, Page 9

NAPIER NURSES

EVIDENCE OF OVER-WORK PROBATIONER’S DEATH [PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] NAPIER, June 23. The hospital inquiry was resumed to-day when consideration was given to the treatment of sick nurses. The chairman of the commission is Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., and associated with him are Sir James Elliott (Wellington), and Miss Cecilia McKenny (Pahiatua), formerly matron of the Wanganui Hospital. The Commissioner of Crown Lands at Napier, Mr. F. R. Burnley, father of a pupil nurse at the hospital, who contracted a fatal illness at the end of last year while a member of the hospital staff, was the first witness. Mr. Burnley said that his daughter died on November 16 last after completing two years’ service. The girl was an athletic type and weighed 9st. 121 b. when she joined the staff. She had worked periods of weeks' on end without a day off and the lost leave was made up later. When she took her periods of leave, however, she usually. spent the first day or two in bed to recuperate.- '//.-// She took ill ■ after i'B? months, and her trouble, a severe pain in the back, was diagnosed as muscle trouble, and electrical massage was prescribed. This benefited her considerably, but she began to lose weight, and at the time of her second illness, in October, she weighed only eight stone. The girl’s mother had urged her to report sick, but she had declined to do so, fearing that if she did another nurse would have to do “double duty” or another nurse on leave would have to be recalled. The girl was forced to report sick on the occasion of her illness in October, and when her condition had improved sufficiently she was taken by'her mother, with the approval of the hospital matron, Miss Croft, on a holiday visit to Taupo. .. The girl again took ill, said Mr Burnley, and witness was summoned to Taupo on November 5. The girl suffered severe headaches, which the doctor attending her, Dr. Armstrong, could do nothing to relieve, and also nervous convulsions. Dr. Armstrong advised witness to convey the girl to hospital, expressing the opinion that

she was not convalescent, but was still suffering from the original infection. When the girl arrived at the hospital,

her trouble was found to be tubercular meningitis, and witness was informed that there was no hope for her. She died on the morning of November 16. “I cannot speak too . highly of the care and attention given my daughter bv the acting-medical superintendent, Dr. A. G. Clark, the acting-matron; doctors, and the nursing staff,” Mr. Burnley said. He added that he had given evidence only for one purpose, namely, in the interests of the nursing staff. .He did not think it right'that nurses should work such long periods Without leave. Dr. Arthur Gruchy Clark, actingmedical superintendent during Dr. Foley’s absence, said in evidence that he had examined another nurse, who had almost begged him to allow her to return to duty, and, as a result, he had permitted her to do so. Three weeks later witness and Dr. Gilray had seen 1 her together, and it had been decided that she should be given a month’s holiday and placed under a medical overhaul. Mr. Bate: . If she had shown any sign of having scarlet fever, you would have seen her? Dr. Clark: Oh, yes. Why did you decide to grant her a month’s leave?—She was run down, and I am afraid I was rather influenced - by the concern of her mother, who was unduly worried about her.