THE OUT-PATIENT

Grey River Argus, 27 May 1938, Page 12

THE OUT-PATIENT

Neglect Alleged

LONG DELAYS INVOLVED.

GISBORNE, May 22

Criticism of the manner in which out-patierrts' were neglected when they cafire to hospital for treatment was voiced by Mr D. W. Coleman, M.P., at a meeting of the Cook Hospital Board yesterday. “Our; in-patient system is equal to the best in New Zealand,” said Mr Coleman, “but our out-patient system'is definitely the worst. On several occasions patients have come up for treatment and have then found that there is no doctor to treat them. Some of these people sit in the corridor for an hour to an hour and ahalf, and are then too late to catch the bus back to town.” Mr Coleman urged that there be a doctor in attendance, but admitted that the board was at fault in not evolving a system whereby patients received treatment.

The acting-medical superintendent, Dd. W. A. Bowie, said that the set hours were too long and in some cases patients left it to the . last minute to come up for treatment. Shorter hours would mean a doctor in attendance and also that the patients would be up for treatment more punctually. It was decided to accept the recommendation of the chairman, Mr M. T. Trafford, I hat Ihe matter be lefl in Dr. Bowie’s hands, it being understood that the hours would be shortened.