SERVICES TERMINATED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20600, 26 June 1930, Page 12

SERVICES TERMINATED.

MATRON OF HOSPITAL. BOARD DEFENDS POSITION. [bt tblbosaph.—ot/m corbssfonmnt.] COEOMANDEL, Wednesday. Criticism of the Coromandel Hospital Board's decision id terminate the engagement of the matron of the Coromandel Hospital has been officially replied to by three members of the board. They deny an accusation of unfair treatment of the matron which was based on an allegation that the board had more or less summarily dismissed her because-of an illness occasioned •by the act of an irresponsible patient. ; It is stated that although the matron has had leave on full pay skico February 2 no official report of any injury suffered ■while on duty, or even of the nature of her illness, has been laid before the board, nor has her name appeared in the list of hospital patients, as is usual when members of the nursing or domestic staff require medical attention. The chairman of the board, Mr. James, said hp had lately held a conversation with the matron, in which she attributed her illness to a blow received from a patient of the hospital. No medical confirmation of this was laid before the board and five months was allowed to elapse before the chairman was informed of the matter. However, as the. board did not wish to be inconsiderate, a further month's leave on full pay was allowed. When, at the end of May, a medical certificate appeared from Auckland to the effect that three months' further was required, a majority of the board" decided that, in fairness to the ratepayers tho matron's engagement should be te> minated, with the usual notice.