A CHILD’S DEATH.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 22 December 1924, Page 6

A CHILD’S DEATH.

PARENTS’ ALLEGATIONS. RAETIHI HOSPITAL, URGENT INQUIRY ORDERED. Serious allegations were made at the monthly meeting- of the Wanganui Hospital Board, and as a result an inquiry is to be held. The following letter was read

“I would like to ask a few questions concerning my child, Eileen Staines, who- was taken to Raetihi Hospital on October 29 and died on November 18. We took the child to Dr. Cook and he ordered her to the hospital. The child arrived about three o’clock and was operated on the same day for oppendicitis. Tire child was doing well from the Thursday to the Monday. As I could see that my child was in great pain I proposed to the matron that 'a doctor, should see her every day. As no doctor had been in attendance since the. operation, I wished to call Dr. Boyd to hear his opinion of the child’s Condition. The matron strongly objected, and said if we called in Dr. Boyd we would have to take the child from the hospitah Dr. Cook did not .seem to like the idea of Dr. Boyd seeing the.child.. However- Dr. Boyd saw the child and said that- her condition was satisfactory. There was a second operation. After a third operation Dr. C/Ook wished ’to; see me, -I went to Ohakune and he arranged with Dr. Feltham to, see the child every day. He asked me if I would agree to it, and I. said that I would. Dr. Cook told us after the third operation that the child wa.s all right.and in no and if anything serious happened he would be out to .the hospital,.himself. He. was rung, up for the fourth operation -.and, ag.he:could not go out,, it was;done by Di\ Feltham. The. matron knew that Dr. Cook would have liked it arranged for, a doctor : .to see the child every day, and I. think;.it was the. matroMs place to n have bold ; me, or-, seen that there was a . doctor: to see the child every, day, seeing -that-she-was in charge of the hospital—-John Staines, Pokako.” DIET AFTER OPERATION. A .letter from Mrs. Staines said: “These are a.few of. the facts. When my: ; ,child was ill . the matron. even allowed.me to -sleep- in the. same ward as the .child. As soon,as we asked;for Dr.Boyd she;almost turned.,me : from-, the liospital and told me the child, would; get. on. better without me. . .She would not-allow; me to;.see,-the child, which craved-for .me, until Mr. Staines had to persuade the matron to- let me sit, with heiyland Dr., Cook -rang me and, told meil-was only,to. see the child for five minutes.-i The: matron - said: that ; the child was getting, better and that il must go; one way dr-other with her beforet'Friday;; as she! was going on her holidays: The. child died. After, the third' operation she was given lettuce salad, potatoes, meat and sweets (all on one plate),: jelly, cream, blancmange and stewed hairs. She was- told that she had to eat it all and leave none. She cried and told- me of it, hut the uopr Jittlemite is not here to stick up for herself:.- I Would like justice done to . my dead, child.’’ BOARD. SjBRIpUSLY , CQNCEiiNED. ’• yMrn'A.: H. Rogers said it. was a serious allegation that .the child had not been, looked at for several days. He did notvknow anything about diet, but he would not have liked to have taken it himself after an operation. 1 Mr. T. H. Battle suggested that the matter should he.referred to the medical suporintendeut, and then be referred back to the executive to see what form, an inquiry should take. Mr, Rogers said that a searching inquiry- should he made. They -owed that to the public. If there was anything wrong it should be remedied. No member of the board would like his child treated as it was alleged this child had been. - - ■ - . ..

-Mr.. Ritchie said that- \ the Raetihi Hospital was costing £ISOO a year, and .for -on© patient. they had two doctors, :a matron, two nurses, -a' probationer, a housemaid and a,* cook.

! • Mr. -Rogers;- Didn’t we decide that ■no surgical cases -should be sent-in ? Dr. Sherman : Only urgent cases. ■ Mr. Rogers: Isn’t there any diet set down? . -. * .

The chairman ; Mi 1 : E. E Fletcher moved that an inquiry he held. , Mr. Ritchie: And go up if necessary. lhe • chairman: The Waimarino bounty Council has already spoken about - the- necessity of affairs at the Raetihi Hospital being looked into. Mr. Rogers: This inquiry wants holding at once.

; Mr. Battle urged that an urgent inquiiy he held and that the chairman and secretary arrange'-the date.. This was unanimously agreed to.