HOSPITAL MATRON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16669, 14 April 1916, Page 2

HOSPITAL MATRON

REIIATIONIS WEES THE BOARD. A REGRETTABLE INCIDENT. Tho relations between tho matron of tho Hospital and tho Hospital Board came up for discussion again last evening, in consoquenco of a letter sent by the matron to the secretary of tho board in the following terms: — iiiit, —Li reply to your letter of the 50th ult., requesting me to continue my duties in tlio Ouiiedm Hospital, 1 luwe lelt tho position 1 have been placed in by tho Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board very muoli, but have been appealed to by tho Hon. G. W. RusseLl (Minister oi Public Health) to consider tho matter carefully, on account of the patients and nurses in training, eto. I have decided, under tho circumstances, to remain in tho meantime. I shall not, however, consider any request should anything in ' future of a similar nature ooour. It was moved and seconded that tho letter bo reeeived.

Mr F. G. Gumming asked what the letter was in reply to. The Chairman: A communication from tho secretary to the medical superintendent. Mr Gumming: Nobody over dreamed of tho matron leaving the board. 'There was no call for any letter. The Chairman read the terms o£ the resolution carried at the previous meeting: "That the board desires to acknowledge its appreciation of the work performed by the medical superintendent and matron, and trusts that, though the board has in this instance taken exception to the recommendation with regard to tho two probationers, they will continue to carry out their important duties at the institution as heretofore."

Mr Cumming: That docs not suggest what is contained in the reply to the letter. Mr Scurr said that he could not help remarking that the last paragraph of the matron's letter was impudent. The suggestion was that, so long as the board behaved, everything would be all right, so far as tho matron was concerned. That was clearly what the words meant. At tho previous meeting of the board a resolution was carried by arrangement with Dr Valintine (Inspcctor-generai of Hospitals) in order to close the incident as nicely as possible. The resolution was drafted in such a way that there would be no necessity for a reply, and especially such a one as they had now received, it was an impudent reply_!rom a servant of the board, and he would move as an amendment "that the secretary write reminding the matron that she wis a servant oi the- board, and that the board expected that she would carry out tho instructions of the board." 'Ihe amendment was seconded by Mrs Jackson. ■The Chairman said it was certainly a little regrettable that the matron had brought the matter up again. He had thought, mat the last meeting would have closed the matter. Ho certainly thought that the matron had been unadvised in drafting out the letter. He oould only say that tho members of the board had, as far as they could, acted to bring to a termination a very unpleasant episode. He realty cons.dered that the.matron should have left tho matter as, it stood. Mr Quelch suggested that Mr Scurr and others m:ght be acting under a misapprehension. Ihe matron's letter was badly worded, and it was quite possible that the last .clause referred, not to any request on the pan; o; the board, but to a request she had received from the Minister. Mrs Ferguson expressed the belief that tliat was so. Mr Scurr held that the words contained a veiled threat." . Mr J. Gumming said ho thought that Mr Scurr was certainly making too much of the matron's expression. Mr Scurr: The veiled threat is quite clear. The. Chairman said that Mr Scurr could modify his motion. The wording was uncalled for. The matron was the servant of the board, and, as such, the board expected her now, or at any time, to obey instructions. There was absolutely no occasion to tell her that she must do so; she must do so in virtue of her position under the board. The motion was superfluous. Mr Scurr said ho was satisfied. He had had his say. and would consent to any modification thought desirable. Mr F. G. Cumming said that it would bo sufficient to receive the letter. The letter was accordingly received.