AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 116, 14 May 1912, Page 8

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

INQUIRY INTO CHARGES AGAINST THE MATRON.

A HEATED- SITTING,

[I'BESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, May 14

The inquiry into the charges" preferred against the matron of the hospital by the Medical Committee of the Board'opened yesterday. Tli© first matter dealt with was the allegation of impertinence and inso:ife»ce ttiher superiors. Considerable heat was shown during the discussion. vThe point in dispute ■was trivial enough: . Dr Pabst (chairman of the Medical 'Committee) contended • _that by-law 135 made the- lady superintendent responsible to ihe Medical Committee for", tho efficiency of the nursing etaff. ' .-•■-.■•: . .

Miss Griffiths (matron) argued that the Board was; the "superior officer" to1 which she had to look, for instructions.' '-: •' ■ •".'"'■■ ■.'•■ '■•" .!' '

'/Nurse Rudd gave evidence that since "February 22nd "17 maids had ■lof t thev home-. She had had a most unhappy time. , During the proceedings Mr Nertienny took strong exception to a reraark, from Mr Coyle that he had been repeatedly closeted with the .^natron during th© past month. He further suggested that Mr Coyle's ilrvefv was out of order. Later Mr. 'Werlieniiy accused Dr Pabst of leaving lii 3 conscience in Sydney.

Mr Potter asked Dr Pabst why, so Jate^as December 31st, he had report-' that.' th© conduofi ■; of ; the hospital wasi1 BatiGfaotory, and then apparently suddenly found everything was .'.wrong:1-, ■'' - ■ .'.-■ •.. .... • . ■■;.'■ • -.. . \ ' Dr Pabst replied ;I(liat he had told Mr -Potter, at, one meeting that/the ■.itaaltr'on'':.:wasi.;.vU:hsa^sfa^tory in every .■way,.;! ;■;/■}: ,;;.. /;;,- ; ;:s; i i:;iv:;':V/.f;;: ..,';'• ' v;v-'- ■■_;.■ -4|'r" Pott&r: '■"'' "I .'. deny that absoM•tolv."/' ' '■■; ■-.■;'' :i •:'■'.": -■ %■' •■■•'■.-■■•..■:-.

Mr''MaoKa-y-'i.'-fli heard- the doctor tell you."- ,„••;.' ■■'. : Mr Nerhewny heatedly charged: Dr Pabst witih deliberate subterfuge and lack of (business methods, and that he was wasting the time of tbe : Board. ;0r Pabst aaked for the Avithdrawal .of the remark, but the chairman replied that Mr uNerhenny was quite right, though Mr Coyle and Mr MacKfjy protasted against such .an-opin-ioii being e-Kpc/essed by the oliairman. ■ '■/•'' ; ::■ I :;^- ": ' ' '—': Several other, charges^fcere dealt vviuh yesterday,, the .last^bne being that the matron ,left ,a c'hfairwoman in cfhargo of tWo oases in • the; scarle.%' foyer ward.

Her defence was that the woman ' was wards-maid, tihat the cases , were j .convalescent, and that the. maid could ■easily for assistance if iieeessary. "■'■■'■'-, '■■■'.■ .. Dr' Map ire said that iti mattered iioti, whether ih© woman was a charivoman or fi wards-maid. The ques-.,----■fcion was that the matron had detailed an unskilled person to look after two oases,of;soarlet fever. ■Miss Griffiths said that it was for A -fc^ day 0n1y...;. > : ;.', ' • '.' . ; ■ Sister Taylor corroborated Dr Maguire's statement; \ .-.,.■■

■•■■ During tb ; 9 subsequent discussion Mr Nerhenny made a remark . about Dr Maguire and Dr Grant, which was ■ptron'gly resented: by Dr Maguire, and, lie.left-the'rotfm. ■...■' ;:.

':■-. Dr Pabst then protested: in behalf i»of-.. Dr pi-rant. He;.. said it was cowardly to attack a nian in his -absence..' , :• ■'.'. '■■■'-.' ■ ,'.' •''' ■■" '.-..".

;_ Mr Nerhenny retorted that Dr Pabs^ himself was a coward, and for • a few1 minutes the; air became -electric.

'■■■■■■■ Mr Nerri^tmy and Dr Pabst eventiially wi^hdreF tieir respective reiriarks.^ :'"->':'-::;'■;" :■■>■■■. '-.-'. ..