HOSPITAL PATIENTS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1510, 7 February 1901, Page 56

HOSPITAL PATIENTS.

THE DISPOSITION Or DISCHARGED INDIGENTS.

The Secretary of the Benevolent Institution at the weekly meeting on the 28th read a paragraph appearing in the “New Zealand Times” of the 16th inst., in which Dr Ewart commented unfavourably upon the attitude of the Benevolent Trustees towards indigent patients discharged from the hospital. The substance of the medical superintendent’s statement was taken from his monthly report to the Hospital trustees. There were no members of the Benevolent Trustees, two of whom are also members of the Hospital Boar,], pi ©sent at the meeting, and the doctor’s report was allowed to pass unchallenged, Speaking of patients without means, the doctor said in his report that they had frequently to remain in the hospital after they were fit to be discharged, they having no place to go to. The Benevolent Trustees refused to take charge of such cases, and the only place they had to go to was the Police Station. On more than one occasion lately, the doctor alleged, such cases had been discharged only to be brought back again m a, few days suffering from the effects of neglect and exposure. The Secretary said that the statements contained in the doctor’s repoi t were absoluteh r incorrect. The Benevolent Trustees had never refused a single Case, with the exception of one in which the patient was suffering from cancer. The local body responsible for, the case sent it to the Otaki Hospital. The patient, however, on his own initiative, came on to the "Wellington'Hospital. He was refused' admission, and handed over to the Ohiro Home author ities, who in turn declined to receive him. He was accordingly sent back to his own local body for it to deal with. During vlie past twelve months the Trustees had admitted thirteen cases of indigent discharged patients into the Chiro Home; every case sent to them. In the case of another man from upcountry, for whose admission into the Home an application from, a local body had been made in. the usual way, and which was duly granted- the man had chosen to come to Wellington by an unusual route instead of by the ordinary train. He was deaf and partially blind, and had been directed to the hospital. He was found wandering in the grounds there, was taken in, and the police communicated with. He was taken to the Ohiro Home at 5.30 on the same day. The train by which he ought to have arrived had 1 been met. Dr Ewart-, the secretary complained, ought to have been sure of his facts before publishing such a report. Strong exception was also taken to the chairman of the Hospital Trustee’s statement that “he had given instructions to drive such cases to the -Benevolent Institution, -where they ought to be taken charge of.” Such action savoured of an attempt to override local institutions. After considerable discussion it was decided to instruct the secretary to write to the Hospital Trustees and! say that the Benevolent Trustees would admit any indigent discharged patient into the Home provided he was a resident in the Wellington district, but ihey declined to receive parties from another district. The reason for making this statement to the hospital authorities is that it is the duty of the hospital authorities to send all outside patients back to the place from which they came, when discharged as cured. If the patient desires to go into the Home the local body responsible for his maintenance may make application to the Benevolent Trustees and pay the usual rates for his maintenance. Otherwise the Wellington ratepayers would be liable for the support of indigent persons from outlying districts.