REINSTATING A NURSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20114, 27 November 1928, Page 10

REINSTATING A NURSE.

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL CASE. BOARD REVERSES DECISION. SECRECY OF THE POST. "A LEAKAGE SOMEWHERE." Strong comment upon the violation of the secrecy ordinarily observed regarding letters placed in tho post for delivery was mado by members of tho Auckland Hospital Board last evening, when Nurse E. A. Blackie, who was recently dismissed by a special committee for writing to a prisoner in Mount Eden Caol after ho had been a patient at the hospital, appeared before the board with a request that her case should bo reconsidered

After hearing the contents of Miss Elac'kio's written explanation, members declined to take tho responsibility of punishing her. This attitude was adopted on tho ground that the document forwarded by her to tho prisoner should never have been placed in tho hands of the medical superintendent, Dr. C. E. Maguire, and it was unanimously decided that, provided Nurse Blackio made an apology to the matron. Miss A. Taylor, about whom she admitted making a rather indiscreet statement, she should be reinstated in her former position. On Nurso Blackie's statement being read, Mr. A. M. Laing asked whether the letter to the prisoner had been forwarded officially to the medical superintendent by tho gaol authorities. "Tho letter was shown to me by a perBon from tho gaol," Dr. Maguire said. "Then it is very plain there is a leakage somewhere," remarked Mr. Laing. "It seems very strange that anyone should bo able to hand this letter to the hospital authorities without the sanction of the governor of the gaol. Is there no secrecy iri regard to letters?" No Right to See Letter.

Mr. S. J. Harbutt said there was no justification for a copy of such a private letter being broadcast. It was the property of tlie postal authorities. It was agreed tho police and the gaol authorities had a right to censor any letters going to the prison, but they could not justify the contents being made public. Mr. M. J. Savage said some effort should bo made to trace the person who placed the letter in the hands of Dr. Maguire. Otherwise the board would only be beating the air in discussing tho question.

" 1 do not think this board has any right to act 011 that letter at all," said Mr. J. Deinpsey. " The board had no right to see it.' Whoever sent that letter from tho gaol to Dr. Mngnire was committing a breach of the postal regulations, and it was a very serious breach at that. Anything sent through the post is supposed to be confidential, and unless them was something of a criminal nature in this letter no one had a right to divulge its contents. I do not think the gaol authorities knew their business when they let some one outside the prison read it, and this board should not. taKe the least notice of it." Authorities to Investigate.

Mr. Savage: What are we here for in the first place? I think we are in a blind alley.

" If you think that Dr. Maguire had tto right to hiding this matter before the board, that is an end of tho matter," said the chairman, Mr. W. Wallace. Mr. Savdge: Wo liavo a right to know where it came from. ' " I do not think it is for us to question how the letter came to be revealed." said Mr. J. Rowe. "I am given to understand the gaol authorities will be asked to go into that question. Whoever is responsible for. the letter getting out will be brought to book." Mr. Laing said ho understood Nurse Tilackie had a day's leave stopped for staying out late one night. " I have never stopped tho nurse's leave," said the matron. Miss Blackie: Oh, yes, Miss Taylor, I ■was sent before you and you stopped my leave for one day. " If her leave has been stopped that is the end of it," said Mr. Laing. "We cannot keep 011 punishing persons for the same offonce." Tho Chairman: I havo no desire to penalise tho nurso. Victim ot Circumstance. "The sooner we get over this business the better," said Mr. M. J. Covlc. He added that Miss Blackie admitted she had committed an indisci et.on 111 referring to the matron as she did. In any rase, tho reference was not such as to cause alarm and she had a perfect right to make it in what she thought was going to be a perfectly private note, "llie nurse merely said the matron was 'soit,' and the matron took exception to that," Mr. Coyle said. "I suppose if she had railed her a 'hard old thing' the matron would have taken it as a compliment. ,'Wo cannot blamo the girl for an indiscretion and if the board punishes her for it liier whole life will bo blighted." Mr. Harbutt said the board would be performing a very serious action in din missing tho young woman and running the risk of ruining her character for all time. The board had been the victim of circumstances and a mistake had been made. He would <iti 11 like to know tho real reason for tho nurse's dismissal. Dr. Maguiro: It was on account of tho letter.

"There is no doubt tho spcrpcy of tho jiost has been violated and I think we can urr on tho sido of leniency," Mr. Harlmlt milled, "The caso is 0110 in which wo can well retrace onr steps." Hasty Decision Reached.

Mr. Savage thought nn innocent person was running tho risk of punishment. It wus admitted those in charge of tho hospital had to have sorno control, but a mistake had boon made on this occasion In reversing its previous decision no reflection would Ijii cast on the olTiccis of the hoard. Mr. Dempsey said that, like memTiers themselves, tho hoard's ofliceru had apparently received a wrong nnjiressiou of the case and had come fo a hasty decision. Nurse Blackin ihad a perfect tight to correspond with the prison?! every day if she wanted to. Ho recalled 'that a former governor of the .1 had informed him that in cases where letters to prisoneis were not thought to l«; advisable the V were always returned through the registared post. Mrs. hi- A. Kidd said those who entered the Nurses' Home or any such train ing school learned first to show loyalty to the institution, hiyl she considered that in the present case Nurse Blackie had been in the wrong in violating her trust. Mr. Howe said that although the hoard bad heard" a lot; about the punishment meted out to Nurse Blackie for staying out late 0110 night it had not been told about, tho 14 other young women who were also out until the same hour on the same night. He felt very hitter every time be recalled a certain "decision made by the hoard in punishing a woman ill another case, and he would never allow the same mistake to he repeated as ho considered had been made on that Occasion. On tho motion of Mr. llarhutt, seconded by Mr. Coylo, it was decided to rescind ♦ho previous motion dismissing Nurse ißlaekio. A resolution moved by Mr. Coylo to tho effect that sho should he reinstated on condition she made an . apology to tho matron was then carried •unanimously. "I am sorry tho nurse was dismissed ■without » hearing," said Mr. Wallace rl thought tho matron and I)r. Manure Jhad spoken to her and that she had explained tho position., hut it. appears sho Iwl not rondo any explanation at all."