CHARGE OF LAXITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21109, 17 February 1932, Page 10

CHARGE OF LAXITY.

MAN SENT TO HOSPITAL. TREATMENT DELAY ALLEGED. ALL NIGHT DOCTOR URGED. COMPLAINT TO BE INVESTIGATED. "There is evidently a serious lack of management of detail at the Auckland Hospital," said Mr. W. Wallace, chairman of the Hospital Board, when a letter was received by the board yesterday from the Auckland Aero Club alleging that there had been delay in the admission of Mr. R. J. Copley, the club's ground engineer, who was injured severely in an accident last week. It was decided to make a thorough investigation of the case and to recommend to the acting-medical superintendent that a resident doctor should be kept on duty at the hospital continuously. The letter stated that Mr. Copley had injured his left hand severely and the injuries were sufficient to indicate that he was suffering from intense pain pending treatment. Ho was conveyed to the casualty department of the hospital, where he was received by a member of the nursing staff at 6.10 a.m., but he received no treatment until 40 minutes later. "It would appear there is no organisation when it takes 40 minutes to summon a medical officer to the casualty department," the letter continued. Reports from Doctors. Reports regarding the alleged delay were received from the acting-superintend-ent, Dr. H. L. Gould, from the doctor who attended to Mr. Copley, and from a night superintendent and a nurse. Dr. Gould stated that the patient was admitted to the hospial at 7.10 a.m., having arrived at the casualty department at 6.10 or 6.15 a.m. He was attended by the night superintendent, who personally rang a resident medical officer. The doctor gave an injection at 6.35 to 6.40 a.m. l , occupying about 15 minutes in reaching the patient. Dr. Gould said he did not think that the'patient suffered intense pain. In her report, the doctor stated that she was at the hospital within 10 or 15 minutes of receiving the telephone message. The report of the nurse stated that the patient was admitted to Ward 1 at 6.50 a.m. "The letter reveals a very unsatisfactory state of affairs," said Mr. Wallace. "There is a confliction of evidence regarding the time of admission and it appears that a thorough investigation is necessary. Arrangements should be made that as soon as an accident case arrives it should be dealt with at once. A resident doctor should be on duty for this purpose all night if necessary." "There is at present a laxity of management at the hospital which is most deplorable," said Dr. E. B. Gunson. "We are continually arriving at decisions regarding the management and then we find that there is mismanagement." 1 Continuous Duty by Doctors. The Rev. W. C. Wood said it was inexplicable that a resident doctor was not readily available throughout the night. For urgent calls, it would perhaps be more advisable if lady doctors were not called upon. Dr. Gunson: The remedy lies in having a doctor always on duty. Mr. Wood said it was impossible for a nurse to suggest that a patient was not suffering pain. "One cannot say a man with several fingers chopped off is suffering no pain," said Dr. Gunson. ''lf he docs not show it, he is stoical." Mr. Wood said he had suggested having a resident doctor on duty all night to the former superintendent, who bad replied that this was not done. The condition of affairs was a very serious reflection upon the board. It could not be said that the mere fact of a nurse looking at the hand was medical attention. There was little doubt that the patient was in pain or the doctor would not have ordered an injection. Moments Sometimes Matter. Dr. Gunson said the doctor could not. be condemned —it was the system under which the hospital was working. Mr. Wallace said that no matter what by-laws the board passed, it had to rely to a large extent upon the medical superintendent. He had often been assured by Dr. Maguire that a resident doctor would be no longer than five minutes in getting to a case. Dr. Gunson: It should be five seconds. There are some accidents where moments matter. It was decided to refer the matter to the house committee, with Dr. Gunson, for a special investigation. On Mr. Wood's motion, it was decided to reconimend t to the superintendent that a resident doctor should be on duty throughout the night.