AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21112, 20 February 1932, Page 12

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

Sir, —Jt is with some indignation that, I read in your paper the account of the proceedings of the Hospital Board in regard to the complaint from Mr. Spencer Mason, president of tho Aero Club, as judging from the press reports the board appears to have given very little consideration or protection to their own staff. Although sitting in judgment, they appear to have no personal experience or knowledge of the work of the hospital staff, or the emergencies the staff have to contend with, both from the inside as well as from tho outside, or the magnificent and efficient manner in which their onerous and often unpleasant duties are carried out. Apart from the merits or demerits of the particular complaint in question, it is not a fair thing in view of one complaint—which may or may not have any real justification—for the board to condemn their staff in such a wholesale fashion, particularly in view of the many hundreds of experiences to the contrary, and I am sure that if the members of the board took the trouble to visit tho hospital, and get first-hand evidence and observation of the work that is being done, they would be in a better position to weigh the pros and cons of any complaint such as the one before them. Taking my own case, I cannot spea'k too highly of my treatment. , When admitted to the hospital a month ago, as the result of a slight accident,, I was attended to immediately on arrival by the nurses and doctor on duty and within a few minutes was in the operating theatre. What happened there I was fortunately in blissful ignorance of, but on taking the first opportunity afterwards, to make an inspection of myself. I was well satisfied with the rapid and efficient manner in which I had been handled. This, I feel quite sure froni my observations during my enforced sojourn here, "must be the experience of the vast majority of the patients admitted to this hospital. Not only that, but the constant attention and supervision that is given 24 hours a day to the wellbeing of the patients, and the pleasant and cheerful manner in which tho whole of the nursing and medical staff carry out their duties, is something that has to be seen and experienced to realise. So far as my personal experience. and observations go, the Hospital Board and the Auckland public have every reason to be satisfied with and proud of the Auckland Hospital staff. J. 11. Hayes, Ward 3. (Of Glen Eden).