A SOLDIER'S WIFE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17163, 16 November 1917, Page 3

A SOLDIER'S WIFE

COMPLAINT AGAINST HOSPITAL. EXPLANATION BY THE AUTHORITIES. At the meetißir of the Otago Hospital and Charitablo Aid Board last night the secretary of the National Welfare Association wrote, by direction of tho executive, with reference to tho case of Mrs Hensloigh, a patient in the Hospital suffering from varicose veins. She had been sent to the secondary hoepital at Cavcrsham. this being a part of tho Benevolent lastitution. When visited by a sub-conunitteo of the Association, Mrs Hensleigh was much troubled at the fact that she was in her present surroundings. Sho felt that her husband, who enlisted a few months ago, would be much shocked to know of her present location. At the same time, the attention given to her was of the best, and the sisters and nurses were most kind and considerate. ■ Sho made no complaint on 'that score, but the association felt that it was an outrage that a soldier's wife should bo sent to this branch of the institution. When Mrs Hensleigh's letters were readdressed "care of Benevolent Institution" it. brought homo to her her unfortunate position. The association had ascertained all the facts, and deemed; it its duty "to bring them before the public by means of an indignation meeting. Meantime it wished to know tho board's version of the matter. Mr Queleh said that no fault attached to the medical officers. The woman tried to gain admittance to the Hospital, which was overcrowded, and was sent out to Caversham. He was sure the board would not, except nnder special circumstances, send a soldier to Caversham. The institution there was, of course, part of the Dunedin Hospital, but the fact remained that it was the Benevolent Institution, and people did not like being sent there. The same prinoiple should apply to soldiers' wives. ■ It was hard on a soldier, who was prepared to give his life for his country, that his ■wife should be sent to the secondary institution at Caversham. - ! Mr W. Begg said he agreed largely with what Mr Queleh had sasd. Ho hoped soldiers! wives would bo given the best attention and. treatment they could receive. It had been suggested that soldiers' wives might be accommodated in one or other of the country hospitals, each as Lawrence. He had in his possession a letter addressed to Mrs Hensleigh and readdressed io "the Benevolent Institution, Caversham."

Dγ Roberts said that, cases requiring simple treatment could not be expected to take places in the Hospital when those places were for urgent cases. The department 'to which Mrs Hensleigh was Bent at Caversham was quite apart from the Benevolent Institution. He recognised that this was a matter of sentiment, and that the sentiment was increased in this case because the woman wae. a soldier's ■wife. The .woman was well attended to,as was admitted, and it was only a question of being a patient of what was called the Benevolent Institution.

Mrs (Ferguson said she thought it was tmfortunate that tho_ woman was sent to the Benevolent Institution, or the secondary iospital. Casea of the kind might well be sent to a country hospital. Mrs Jackson said Mrs Gordon had made arrangements to send Mrs Hensleigh to the Victoria Jubilee Convalescent Home at Waikonaiti for four months when she was fit to.leave the institution.

The Chairman said- he was in accord with fee suggestion that cases of the kind should i» sent to Lawrence. . There were_ a number of beds available in that institution, -which were well arranged and poseessed very fine sarroandings. He would Eke to point out that the woman was admitted to the Infirmary Ward on October 16 on the recommendation of the medical superintendent, who had received an application for her admission to the Dunedin Hospital from Dr Emily Nees, but on account of the overcrowding of that institution she could not be admitted. The Dnnedin Hospital was for necessitous patients afflicted with acute diseases or suffering from, accidents, but it was explained that Mrs Hensleigh principally required rest, and that her complaint could be as well tre-ated at the Infirmary Ward. The funds for the maintenance of the Infirmary Ward and even the Otago Benevolent Institution were provided in exactly a similar way to those for the Dunedin Hospital, and it bo happened that this ward was situated on the same ground as the Otago Benevolent Institution, bat the ward was run separately and was part and a ward of the Dunedin Hospital. Soldiers were occupying the women's ward, otherwise—and possibly —Mrs Hehsleigh might have been accommodated in the Dunedin Hospital \ Mrs Hensleigh's trouble principally required rest, which could be obtained, as well as necessary attention, where she was now inBtead of occupying a bed required for an acute case. It'> appeared that the time was- coming wheoi the Government would bo called upon to provide for the aceomisodation of soldiers outside of the civilian hospitals. No doubt there was a question of sentiment in legard to Mrs_ Hensleigh being a eoldier'e wife, and going to the •ward where she now was, but the present times were abnormal, and if the v/arcl ■were to be given back to the use of women, it would mean that the soldiers could not bo accommodated in the Danedin Hospital, so that as far as sentiment was concerned, it was either accommodation, for soldiers er for • soldiers' wives. , _ Mr F. G. Camming said erer^/hole and corner of the hoepital was taxed with patients—indeed, the place was shamefully overcrowded—and the woman had either to go home or to the secondary hospital at Caversham. It -was purely rest that the •woman required, . and she was well attended to in her present position. He could not see that there was any hardship in the case.

Mrs Jackson: Has the woman complained? Mr Camming: No. * Mrs Jackson: I am told she is Cfuite happy. , " . Mr Qasnning said the woman*; was receiving the beat of attention, ancflpnly toolr exception to -the manner in •which her letters were re-addressed.

It was resolved that the chairman and the secretary should Jeply to.athe association's letter.- . .j> - - ' ' '