FRICTION AT HOSPITAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 February 1939, Page 10

FRICTION AT HOSPITAL

DOCTORS’ BLACK EYES Incidents, including an exchange of blows between two doctors, as a result of which each had a black eye, were slated al the inquiry into the administration of the Junee Hospital (New South Wales), and the conduct of Dr. R. Cuttie, to have been the culmination of years of friction at the hospital.

The inquiry (says the Sydney “Morning Herald”) was conducted by Mr. W. A. E. Lewis, of the Hospitals Commission, and the finding will be announced later. Dr. Cuttle was staled by the president of the hospital, Mr. 11. S. Belling, to have struck Dr. Weaver at a board meeting with such force that Dr. Weaver was knocked off his chair. A short scuffle followed, the participants being separated by board members. Mr. Belling said that he had consulted members of the board and the secretary of the Hospitals Commission. He had then suspended Dr. Cuttie as an honorary medical officer and had asked for an inquiry. Mr. Belling also said that Dr. Cuttie had on several occasions called the directors liars. The terms of reference of the inquiry were: — (a) The conduct of Dr. Cuttie, his fitness to hold the position of honorary medical officer, and his fitness to act as the medical attendant of private and intermediate patients in the Junee Hospital. (b) Any matter pertaining to Hie administration and management of the hospital, including the welfare of patients, and any oilier matter which, in the course of the inquiry, the commissioner considers calls for investigation or inquiry. Charges were made against Dr. Cuttie that he had bullied and humbled the nurses, and that his attitude towards them was not in the best interests of the working of the institution.

Dr. Cuttie in reply made countercharges against the hospital administration, the secretary, and the nursing staff, in which he alleged that the matron did not carry out instructions given by the medical officers. One of the charges against the secretary was withdrawn during the hearing. The charge which, it v/as stated, had actuated the inquiry, was that Dr. Cuttie had spoken rudely to one of the nurses because she had not said good morning to him. The nurse concerned. Sister Hutchison, fainted, and was in a dazed condition for six hours after the incident. Dr. Cuttie, in evidence, said at a board meeting he approached Dr. Weaver. who was sitting in a chair, and

llicked a book of rules in his face saying: “Get to ”, Dr. Weaver d’d not get up. and he hit him across the face and then he punched him harder. Dr. Cuttie said that members of the board of directors grabbed hold of his arms and also grasped Dr. Weaver. However. Dr. Weaver’s right arm was left free, and with it he hit him (Dr. many times. Dr. Cuttle said be cried out: “Take him off. he’ll murder me.” They were I hen separated. Dr. Cuttie said that there had been hostility between Dr. Weaver and himself over a number of years. After the altercation, each had a black eye. Dr. Weaver said that he bad bis legs crossed while sitting in a chair look-1 ing al the floor, when, without warning, a book of rules was flicked in bis 'ace. He then received a terrific blow I ■ross the lace. The force of the inijacf broke the back of I be chair, and. 1'

he rolled over, striking his nose against the fender near the fireplace and his back on the corner of the tabic. He was seized around the v’aist and when he got to his feet he saw a face locked in his arms which recognised as that of Dr. Cuttie. He delivered three short-arm jabs. In evidence regarding hospital matters. Dr. Cut tie said that, a child had eaten a quantity of shoe polish. He went to the hospital and said to the matron: “Get the stomach pump, as it is a case of urgency.” He alleged that the matron replied: “The nurses are in the day room. Don’t upset the hospital.”

BIBLICAL TACTICS

Dr. Cuttie said that he Avas told that Biblical lessons were given in the hospital, and the patients had tracts handed to them, purporting to give “a front-seat in Heaven.” The matron, he said, had a hand in their distribution. Complaints had been received from Roman Catholic patients that literature of a non-Catholic nature had been handed around the hospital, which the matron described as her spiritual home. Dr. Cut tie said that a baby had been brought from his private hospital to the district hospital in a dangerous condition. He claimed that the oxygen cylinder was running out of oxygen, and that that was evidence of the inefficiency of the staff, and indirectly was a contributing factor to the child’s eventual death.

Nurse Vera Sharp gave evidence that the oxygen cylinder had run out of oxygen only a few minutes before Dr. Cuttle's arrival, and that she would have inspected the baby within 10 minutes in ordinary circumstances.

Mrs. C. Harold, of Junee. said that she was a! the hospital for three weeks in January, ID3S. and that, the bed linen had not. been changed during her stay there. When she complained to the nurse, she was told that there was no laundress. She also complained that the meals she received were not cooked, and that, there were no green vegetables. The nurse replied: "What can you expect for 6d a week?”

Mrs. Harold said that on a Sunday morning the wireless in the ward was turned on to a church sermon. She had a headache, and she asked Sister Law’rcnce to turn it off. The sister did so, but the matron turned it on again later on. Matron Paul was recalled to answer questions regarding the tracts that had been distributed. She said that they came without her instigation, and referred to no particular creed. They were small pamphlets called “Gems.” and she believed that they came from a movement started by a Liverpool philanthropist, and were distributed in i most hospitals in the State. Everybody distributed their own. literature in the hospitals, and whenever any minister of religion attended the hospital be would bring all sorts of literature.

William Coffey said that he had seen nurses standing at the end of the ward reading the Bible for the best part of 15 minutes. He also said that his son. a victim of pneumonia, had not received a drink of milk from one Sunday till I he following Saturday. Sister Stead was then called. In reply to the charge about the milk, she said that Mr. Coffey's son would vomit the milk on each occasion it was given to him. Mr. .Tames Foran said that he was in lhe hospital for three days, and (luring that time he (lid not receive “a feed.” The I’ev. Harry Staples. AiieTican liuisfer at Jtiuee, said that he Imd

been a regular visitor at the hospital for 21 years. The conduct of Dr. Cuttie was always that of a. professional man and a gentleman. He had seen the doctor going the rounds of the hospital with the nurses, and had heard nothing unpleasant. Dr. Cuttie had been a churchwarden for 11 years.

Mr. H. J. Henchman, who appeared for Dr. Cuttie. said that the suspension of Dr. Cuttie was illegal, and that serious repercussions were likely, because the president of the hospital had suspended him without the authority of the House Committee.

Mr. Henchman saiU that there were apparently faults on both sides, and that, the incidents were the culminations of years of friction.