AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

Mataura Ensign, 16 May 1912, Page 5

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

DEVELOPMENT AT THE INQUIRY. matronliesicins. PEE UNITED PKJSSS ASSOCIATION AUCKLAND, May 15. The inquiry ab the public hospital concerning the matron's relations with the medical and nursing staffs and the charges brought against her by the medical staff was resumed to-night. The lady superintendent (Miss Griffiths) was present, and stated that before the inquiry proceeded she wished to submit a statement to the Board. When she arrived last July there were only 20 trained nurses in the. hospital, this providing for one fully-trained nurse for each ward. At the present time there were 16 other fully-trained nurses who had 1 obtained their certificates since her arrival, which showed their satisfaction with the present conditions. When she arrived there were 38 first-year nurses, so that she had an inexperienced staff to deal with. The efficiency of the staff was nevertheless proved by the excellent results obtained at the recent State examinations. The nurses' diet had been much improved. It was faulty a-nd insufficient when she arrived, and she at once drew up a generous diet scale, and the result had greatly reduced! the amount of sickness among the nurses. She also attended to other matters involving a great amount of work. If it were possible to convey to the Board an idea of the enormous labor entailed l>y the eight hours' system it would perhaps have some understanding of the multifarious duties she had had to perform. She had worked against definite antagonism from the first. Every obstacle and every difficulty that could be placed! in her way had been put there. After 11 months of strenuous and conscientious work in the interests of the institution she felt that, owing to the active and uncompromising attitude of Dr. Pabst during that time and his behaviour towards her at the inquiry on the previous day, she could no longer retain her present position with dignity. She therefore placed her resignation in the hands of the Board. She took this step with regret, having spent years with an honorable and unbroken record in the nursing profession. She gave three months' notice, and added that a month's holiday was due to her. The past few days had imposed a great strain on her health, and she asked to be relieved of her duties at the end of the month. The matron, who was in much distress, then left the room. When she had finished reading the statement the chairman said that the position was an awkward one just now because an examination of the junior nurses was in progress. That was one of the reasons why he had objected to the suspension of the matron, lest the juniors might be prevented from taking their examinations. The statements made by the matron were just what he had thought all along. He had watched her work carefully and had known the extreme difficulties with which she had had to contend, not only in getting on with some of the staff, but with the work as well. He was satisfied that she had never in any way neglected any of the patients. It now rested with the Board to decide what should be done. Mr Coyle moved: "That the resignation should be accepted l , that the lady superintendent should receive three months' salary in lion of notice, and another month's salary in consideration of the holiday clue to her." The motion to receive the resignation was carried, and it was further decided that it should take effect from the end of the month. The question of replacing her temporarily was left in the hands of the chairman of the Board, the chairman of the honorary staff (Dr. Pabst), and Mr P. J. Neroheny. The Chairman : Is it desirable to go on with t'he inquiry? Mr Potter: Yes; it is an important matter. We have had damage done to' the Nurses' Home, and that must bej investigated. j Mr Dye: I move that we do not. Mr Coyle moved that the special committee set up to replace the matron should consider whether the inquiry sliould bo continued and report to the next meeting of the Board. j After a lengthy debate this motion» was carried by five votes to four. j