Investigations At Grey Hospital Not Yet Completed

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1947, Page 3

Investigations At Grey Hospital Not Yet Completed

Though no hint has been given of details of the investigation being conducted by a special committee, which was set up by the Greymouth Hospital Board, to inquire into the working of the various departments of the institution following allegations of “grave mismanagement” which were made three months ago, a great deal of work has been carried out according to remarks made at last evening’s meeting of the board.

Commenting on an allowance which had been made in the estimates for the expense that might be involved in the investigations, the Health Department suggested that if the inquiries had been completed that a copy of the reportsbe forwarded. “If the investigation, has not been completed, is it; .of sufficient importance for-the department to take a part?” the letter concluded. Nothing Extra to Date

Emphasising that the special committee had cost nothing extra to date, the chairman, Mr F. J. Oakley, said that long hours had been spent making inquiries, including eight full Saturdays. “I do not think it necessary for the department to take part in these proceedings,” said Mr A. Mosley, who proposed that a copy of the report be forwarded to the department when it was prepared. “Only if the board considers that it is necessary that the department should have a report,” said Mr T. P. Ryan, who suggested that no decision be made until the board had seen what the report had to say. “The matter is largely of concern to this district,” agreed the chairman. “If we say that, the department’s reply might be that as 80 per cent, of the board’s funds is .supplied by it, it has a definite interest in the investigations,” said the secretary-manag-er, Mr W. H. J. Watson. “Nothing to Fear”

“We have nothing to fear with regard to giving a report to anyone,” said the chairman.

The board resolved to advise the department that it did not consider that it should take part in the inquiries being made, but that a report would be forwarded after it had been placed before the board.

Referring to the expense involved in the investigation, Mr W. Gutberlet suggested that the board would eventually save money as a result of it.

INMATE COMPLAINS ■ AT LIFE IN OLD PEOPLE’S HOME “Once I could sit down to eat like a white man but I can’t now,” declared an inmate of the Greymouth Old People’s Home, concluding a letter of complaint ’ which was placed before the Greymouth Hospital Board last evening. The letter dealt mainly with the condition of the food and was referred to the hospital committee for investigation. ‘T am disturbed from my sleep at six o’clock,” began the letter, “and then at 7.10 breakfast is placed in front of me by an old man after having been brought some distance in the cold. At dinner the dessert is cold. For tea we have meat, hard bread, what you call butter, cold tea and watered milk.

“And for this I pay my £5 8s in gold,” he added. “There is no 40hotir week for the like of me.”

“I referred this complaint to the matron of the home,” said the secre-tary-manager, Mr W. H. J. Watson, “and she assured me that everything reasonable was being done.”

“These old folk should have the best of food,” said Mr J. E. Stokes, “and I am rather surprised at this coming forward. I don’t think there is anything in it, but if there is we will have to correct it,” He added that the food was the same as that supplied in the hospital and he had found this to be good. He had seen the trolley being taken to the home and everything was hot. The chairman, Mr F. J. Oakley, who had recently been a patient at the hospital, testified to the high standard of food served.

Some members agreed with the complaint as far as waking hours were concerned and suggested that 6 o’clock was a bit. too early for elderly people. It Was also pointed out

that breakfast should not be served until 7.30, while it was agreed that 4.30 was an early hour at which to have tea.