Information From Hospital: Mine Manager’s Case

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 October 1948, Page 2

Information From Hospital: Mine Manager’s Case

The allegation that a mine manager, who telephoned the Grey Hospital to inquire as to the condition of an employee injured in the mine that day, was told to “ring the morning newspaper office —they know everything,” was made by Mr F. J. Oakley (Runanga) at last night’s meeting of the Grey Hospital Board. Mr Oakley’s statement precipitated another discussion on the giving of information by the hospital and it was eventually decided that the board's executive officers should consult with the Mines Department on the question of the information required by mine managers when a mine accident victim is admitted to the hospital.

Referring to the previous discussion on the question of information being given to the press, Mr Oakley said that he had been asked by a mine manager if it would be possible for the hospital authorities to reveal to the m'anagers some details when a major accident occurred in the mines. Under the Mines Act, it was necessary for the working place to be fenced off, pending inspection, when a major accident occurred, and in the case of small mines in particular, it was necessary for the manager to know as soon as possible whether an accident was to be considered “major” or “minor.” Recently, added Mr Oakley, an accident had. occurred in the Moody Creek mine and the man concerned was taken to the hospital. The manager telphoned the hospital that night and asked what was the extent of the man’s injuries but the reply that he got was anything but satisfactory. Even if the actual injuries could not be revealed, added Mr Oakley, could not the information be given as to whether the accident was considered a major or minor one? The chairman (Mr A. Mosley) said he did not think there was ever any intention ,as far as he could gather, to prevent a mine manager from getting such information. , Not New Information The surgeon-superintendent, Dr S. Barclay, agreed with the chairman s remark. He added that the mine manager would already know that tne man was hurt and the hospital authorities would not be telling him anything new However, the only difficulty was the definition of what was a major and what was a minor accident. He could give an answer only in general terms as to how it appeared to the doctors. If the mines could give a hint as to what they called a “major” accident it might be helpful. . Mr Oakley pointed out that, in tne case under discussion, the man was caught by a fall of coal. He walked part of the way out of the mine before collapsing and having to be carried out, and the mine officials did not know whether he was bad or not. “The manager was very annoyed at the report he got from the hospital, added Mr Oakley. “He was told to ring the morning newspaper—that they knew everything.” The chairman: I think that reply, if it was made, was quite uncalled for. I do not think it is an action that would be upheld by the board. Whoever gave that reply, it should be investigated, and I would like the surgeon-super-intendent to look into in. “I don’t think it is my business, replied Dr' Barclay. “The ’phone girls are under the managing secretary’s control. Of course, if it was made by the medical or nursing staff, that is a different question. I cannot give you any information on that, however, as this is the first I have heard of it.” “I think it is a matter that the managing secretary should be asked to investigate,” said the chairman. Mr Oakley said he did not bring the matter up to cause any bad feeling. He had been approached by the. mine manager to see if it was possible to make a better arrangement. The chairman: At the same time I think you will agree that, if the remark was made, it was uncalled for and we are quite justified in asking the secretary to investigate the matter. The secretary (Mr W. H. J. Watson): I would not stand for it? Mr H. G. Carter pointed out that, on the other hand, the person asking for the information should say who was speaking. Mr Oakley: He did. In reply to a question by Mr J. Stokes, Mr Oakley reiterated the requirements of the Coal Mines Act, relative to the fencing off of the place where an accident had occurred. “We would be quite happy to say whether it was a major or minor acci-. dent, if we had some guidance as to what the Mines Department considers a major accident and a minor accident,” said Dr Barclay. After some discussion on how the difficulty mentioned by the surgeonsuperintendent could be got over, the chairman moved that the matter be

referred to the managing secretary and the surgeon-superintendent, to consult with officers of the Mines Department. The motion was seconded by Mr W. Gutberlet and carried. Information for Press

The only reference to the recent discussions relative to the hospital supplying information to the press concerning accident cases was contained in Dr Barclay’s monthly report, as follows:— “I recently received a letter from the British Medical Association, Wellington, the gist of which was that, in releasing somewhat more information to the press than we had been prepared to do, we would be carrying out a practice which is ‘fairly widely accepted among some of the larger North Island Hospitals,’ and to which the B.M.A. sees no objection. I understand that this matter will be gone into more fully at the next meeting of the Medical Superintendents’ Association.

“Personally, I cannot agree entirely with the opinion forwarded to me, but as the further information which is apparently given in the North Island, does not involve a breach of law, I felt that the proper thing to do w r as to give this additional information to the press. I discussed the matter with the chairman, who agreed. I then wrote to the editors of the local papers informing them that we were prepared to give certain further information.”