GISBORNE HOSPITAL INQUIRY

Otago Witness, Issue 3337, 27 February 1918, Page 40

GISBORNE HOSPITAL INQUIRY

THE COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. SEVERAL PLAIN SUGGESTIONS. WELLINGTON, February 24. The report of Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., who presided over a commission of inquiry into the affairs of the Gieborne Hospital, considers that the institution in the past was not effective. The report continues as follows: —"That tho hospital provides ample accommodation, which perhaps may be_ unduly strained at the time of severe epidemics, but this should" be provided for without undue strain; that the cost to tho ratepayers in comparison with other hospitals is reasonable; that the by-laws aie amply sufficient to maintain discipline, and there is no reason to believe they are net being enforced. " Regarding the reported unrest, there has been an extraordinary amount of an rest in the institution for a considerable number of years. The rrouble probaoly commenced six years ago owing to a larsi deplorable lack of discipline. The tIiCU matron had outlived her usefulness, and the nov/ matron had a long uphill struggle, butlittle by little she broke Jownthe opposition, and, although the difficulties have not yet entirely disappeared, the whole tone ot tho institution has improved." Mr Bishop pays a high tribute to the \ourago and grit displayed by Miss Tait, the present matron. The commissioner also considers seine of the unrest due to the action .if some reactionary members of past boards, who outnumber the " reformers," who, if they had had a free hand, would have obviated trio necessity for the inquiry. The board ha<* now, however, considerably changed, and might still be further changed without losa of influence. The commissioner payb tributes to tho work, of the past two chairmen, and believes that the present chairman is also likely to carry on 'the good work. He acquits the Public Health, Hospital, and Charitable Aid Departnuit of any blame in the matter, end finds ihe honorary etaff in no way responsible lor th-i unrest at the hospital. He oisiders that it the matron and tr.e medical superintendent work together only good can resuit, but that has not been ihe case in tli-3 past. There is no doubt that the medical superintendent has been greatly overworked, and hi 3 physical lu; iith has siii p prod in consequence. He is lot at the present time in such a condition of health to make his retention desirable. He has done efficient work in the past, but that efficiency has not been continued. A change of some sort ia needed. Evidence was given of the neglect of patients by nurses in the past, but-none of these nurses is now on the staff of the hospital. There had been 82 resignations from the staff in the past five years. There was in the past no effective discipline of the nursing staff maintained by responsible officers, but this is gradually being remedied. The training of pupil nurses'is being conducted entirely in accordance with the regulations. Lectures are regularly given by the medical superintendent and nurses. There are seven private hospitals in Gisborne with 58 beds, which i 9 more in proportion than in towns of similar population. No satisfactory evidence was tendered as to tho amount of interest of medical men

in these hospitals except in one case. On the other hand, Drs Wilson, Reeve, and Kahlenberjr have no financial interest in any private hospital. The mere fact that medical men have a financial interest in private hospitals at once raises suspicion in eases of unrest in a public hospital, as at Gisborne. some of which may be due to interested parties keeping it alive for ignoble motives. If eo, the thing is so contemptible, mean, and utterly ignoble that one may reasonably hesitate to identify members of an honourable profession with anything so dastardly. Mr Bishop considers that no medical man who is interested in a private hospital should be eligible for a seat on a hospital board, and says he cannot ignore the fact that the general public, rightly or wrongly, attribute the greater part of the unrest being kept alive to the action of ono man, who made himself busy in espousing the cause of individual nurses who came under the matron's ban, and by talking in an indiscreet manner about what he would and would not do. Such criticism was much better kept for the board room. - The commissioner considers that with a new and experienced hospital superintendent, ■ -forking amicably with the matron, nothing but good should result. The commissioner, concluding, hesitates to express any opinion as to 'the propriety of retaining the new regulation under the Nurses' Registration Act, which provides that the training of pupil nurses may not be terminated without the consent of the registrar of nurses, or whether it is indeed ultra vires. A great deal can be said both for and against its retention; it may be mischievous or the reverse. Mr Bishop prefers to leave it at that.