WARD SERVICES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23491, 31 October 1939, Page 6

WARD SERVICES

INFIRMARY PROBLEM SUPERINTENDENT'S VETO INTERESTS OF PATIENTS DISCUSSION BY BOARD The prohibition by the medical superintendent. Dr. E. L. of religious services conducted in wards at the Auckland Infirmary bv young • people of the Auckland Baptist Taber.-f' nacle was discussed at the meeting of : M the Auckland Hospital Board last night. ' ? • The minister of the tabernae'e, the f ; - Rev. Dr. A. Hodge, in letters to Dr.? " Fitzgerald and the board, expressed the hope that no hindrance would be placed in the way of the services' . which liad been carried on for the past : 11 years. Dr. Hodge said lie under-'. Y stood that £> suggestion had been made that the services, which occupied -only about ten minutes, should be held in i the chapel. This privilege, however ' would not meet the spiritual desires Y'Jj of people who were confined to their beds. . V

Chapel Services Suggested - "The position now is that- this in-. stitution is a chronic hospital and must' bo considered as such," stated Dr Fitzgerald in a report. "We have a •- very large proportjpu of extremely i){ people who require rest and quiet, and it has been found necessary to control - the many religious bodies—Salvation Army, Plymouth Brethren, Church of Christ and many other official and un- ' official religious denominations—in re _" ... spcct to the times and place of ger- ; vice." .v'.vYv

Dr. Fitzgerald added that, while he appreciated the motives of the people 4 concerned, he considered that public services in the wards were not in the interests of the greater number of patients, some of whom frankly objected to them. Every facility' given for the transport of patients to ' tlio chapel for services, and for interviews by ministers with individual patients at all reasonable times. However, it was not possible to differentiate between religious denominations '; in this matter. In til- case at issue 20 or 30 young people made tours of ' the wards during visiting hours and sang. This-might have been suitable when the institution v\ A as a home for the aged and infirm, but it was not desirable in a chronic hospital.

l . Inquiry of Patients The Infirmary Committee recommended that the medical superintend'' dent's action be confirmed and that a copy of his report be' sent to Dr Hodge. : ;r The acting-chairman, Mr. V Macky, and Mrs. M. M. Dreave'r declared themselves opposed to interference with the services. Mr. W. A. Bishop said that the board's by-laws gave the' medical" superintendent power to regulate religious services and the board could not intervene,, unless the by-laws were altered. '

It was decided tliaf tlia matter be' •. deferred and that ihe chairman of the - committee, Mr. G. T. Parvin, .and Mrs. Dreaver, should make inquiries of ' the patients in order to find out how the services were regardec}.. " -