MEDICAL AID AT NIGHT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 7 January 1944, Page 1

MEDICAL AID AT NIGHT

COMMENT AT INQUEST Auckland, Jan. 6. “This is by no means the first case in which distressed relatives have tried frantically and unsuccessfully to obtain medical aid at night,” said the coroner, Mr F. K. Hunt, at an inquest into the death of Leonard Graham Fincham, aged 54, labourer, of Franklin Road. “I suggest that the Auckland Hospital Board should reconsider its decision not to allow members of the staff, or at least the younger members, to attend outside calls, particularly at night. I understand that the young men are willing, in fact anxious, to do so. Besides being good experience for them, they could be paid for it.” Mr Hunt did not suggest that earlier calling of medical attention in this particular case could have materially altered the conclusion, but he added: “It may have. The evidence showed that Mr Fincham had an attack of severe pains in the chest on Wednesday night. He went to bed, but the pains increased in severity. Apparently his wife attempted to obtain medical attention,” said Mr Hunt, “and finally called her son, who lived nearby. The son said he endeavoured to call a doctor about 7 o’clock this morning. After repeated attempts he drove his father to the Auckland Hospital in a motor-car abo it 8 o’clock. On arrival at the casualty department he was told that his father was dead. “The medical profession is labouring under a great disadvantage,” said Mr Hunt. After the deduction of those doctors who were purely surgeons and those who were on active service there were few enough left to attend to the needs of the public. These few were in most cases attempting to carry on the work of two doctors. “The public is entitled to medical service, and it is high time the question of night medical services in particular was faced up to. Th only solution I can see at the moment is the altering of the hospital boar’ds decision,” concluded Mr Hunt. The inquest was adjourned pending a post-mortem finding.—P.A.