HOSPITAL ENQUIRY.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 268, 1 November 1911, Page 6

HOSPITAL ENQUIRY.

TO-DAY'S fill.. EEDINGS. T’r e It., > . L-.p . .. k Napier tin. m* rt.m-, Ir,it : Mes rs Shrmrorom o mro >. L.:z.-. Mlil. r. I'-rr nd L ;'.!•: a >d D- \f ... In the ahM-w.. H 3 quorum it wa- p .t ' '.' D . V.’.'u t»: • nt the board w:is preseiit. THE MATRON'.-, EVIDLN' E. Tlie matron refused to give « videnr ,> .f i. ’.i •- a. p.iL’v e;»ii.,-v. She r» fl ‘be .1 • rot oblige' I to an«»rr any further qtr: st tori -. She would di, so if th** n.Vtvr were private. It '-a- ... i .1 i , f - d , ith :■• rnqttirv. Mr Mlb- .1 k<d it :O n r - 1 ■•! been informed that they eintbi he ropr« -• ri'» d. Mr Shrimpton said the n::rse« had bt cn i-u-f i it.i d. X>. t”fo’:>i.t; i«>.t ! •* rcnrh»d h.m a. r.. th> s ii.ronli >n. Mr. Gam tr lure arrived. Mr. Mill* r r- *» d the .1 <f the resigns: n i- <f Vur-i -R< <i ami Wi Pere. H’.l "I.- matron k> ■■ v ledge of tl e m for their rc-ig-nations .* The matron had not seen t< - reasons. After some di-< it-.-ion the letter, were r< .id loving th.i‘ >. i --at i- f -i> - tion v.as through con pretnot i in. The ni.i*. n ■ >•<« ti.-.t th” num - Wi Ki; r.ril R. • d v. doing charge nurse-.’ wo.k. hut had p<-: the res- ( e,n : ! uh ; She refused in give any f : rpp iuti:>u thi outside nur-es over the hi rd ones. Mr. Miller -a'd it nr.s a peculiar petition that the matron should pass these two n«r*es over and appoint two strangers. It was a little iinreasonable for the matron t > pass over those names and give no t'-v-.n.

Mr. Baxter drew tie i::t. rem.' that the matron lad come to the eonrhision that tb.c nurses witnot capable. The matron had not the present Medical Superintendent, about Nurse Wi R;pa. She had spoken to the previous doctor, and he had said she was suitable in some ways and not suitable in ot.hu rs for the position of sister. The Chairman urged the Matron to speak freely on the subject.

To Mr. Granby : The two nurses who have left would not in her opinion make good sisters. A- they w, re local girls she did not win: to anything more. Mr. Miller again express, d the opinion that it was strange that the Matron should appoint outside girls and give no reason for the action. Dr. Valintine pointed out that it was the custom throughout the Dominion and in other parts of the world to promote an interchange of nurses. The advantage was obvious. Mr. Granby drew attention to the interview in the Telegraph in which a nurse was reported to have said that she worked from 6.30 to 7 p.m. The Matron stated that the interview was entirely fictitious. No nurse had ever made the statements reported. The nurses were most indignant. Another resignation had been received from a nurse, but she had been asked to reconsider the matter. The resignation had been put in b. fore the last met ting of the Board, and she was still withholding it. She explain, d that she reconsidered the resignation because the nurse was a probationer. She felt justified in considering the whole question. Mr. Miller asked who the Matron had asked for permission to be absent. She replied that she asked the Doctor or the Chairman as the bylaw provided. Mr. Large said that Mr. Miller over looked the fact that nurses were verv scarce.

Mr. Miller asked if the Matron submitted a report to the Med tea! Superintendent each morning as provided by the by-law. „ Some discussion followed as to the necessity for the question, and the matter was dropped. Mr. Miller then a-k(d if -he ever reproved nurses before patients. The Matron replied that she usually took the nurse aside. She never asked any nurse to leave an import ant dressing to show her round the ward. The welfare of the patients was always considered. Nurse Reed s work had so improved that she had considered recommending her as a sister. Her own hours were indefinite. YesUrday she rose at 7.1-5 and went to bed at 11.1 ■'». wa> up again at I a.nt. for an operation, and went to bed at t a.i’t. A change of work often broaght out good qualities of nut- s. Mt ri nurses were trained to work among the Icangas. (Left sitting.*