ST. HELEN'S HOSPITAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13071, 10 May 1913, Page 7

ST. HELEN'S HOSPITAL.

THE AUCKLAND INQUJRY.

.*Tjj . (Per Press Association.) -.- .,/' WELLINGTON, last might. |Phe report by Mr Kettle, S.M., on thel Auckland bt. Helen's Hospital incruyjry and the circumstances surrounding the death ot Mrs Laura E. Chamberlain was made public this evening. The document deals at great length with thS allegations ks to treatment m Mrs Chamberlain's case. ;The Commissioner expressed the opinion that Mrs Chamberlain's condition was '■ very unsatisfactory lmmediatelyjvafter she was confined, and as her c<mdition apparently -gijew worse, Dr; Injjjlis, the medical' officer, should have odj(isulted with Dr. Brockway, Mrs Chamberlain's family medical adviser, or;:some other experienced practitioner. Tie evidence, did ..not entirely satisfy; the 'Commissioner"" that every step was taken during the earlier stages Of the jjß&ient's illness.' .to ascertain the true cause of her high and increasing temperature. He was of opinion that it waa not advisable -'Hfiat" Inatrons iii maternity homes or mid wives m private practice should be 'perfiut-ted to suture ruptures," except m cases of absolute necessity, and when .the^serviees ofv'amedical. .practitioner cannot be . obtained. The -Commissioner says „_the-... building, is • unsuitably.', but. as. .to the!' general ! management of the "hospital tftdte i_i : iie: real ground for 'complaint! 1 Regarding Mrs Nicol's complaint as to the -treat.:] inent of patients, ; the * * Commissioner, finds the evidence " conflictuYg' '- iri; " 'sOtte i cases, and in c . others the ''aMe'ca't'ions^a^'e.; not established, ahd in'; oner the --inedfcal ! officer "Should have V.vi^'^'''-"''^-'-^^'^-after she had been m labor 24. houra,! andi conferred with :' the 'matroh "as to what, if anything, shpuld be done to relieve the patient. i iI _7 l<, 1 ..,.,-• The Cbmmis^ione^'.tnajjji^.^litifi^'er of recommendations, including' ttfev' erection of a new and'propid^^uipped^ ,'b.Ui'ld-. iiig, and revision or' S£^- A^ ir and -regu^ 5 lations governing, among, other things; consultations between raedical officers and other medical practitioners as to the treatment of patients incases, of serious illness 1 'or ' opera > ti^hs'. ,; '; Bte "also recommends that the whole of the costs of the inquiry "be paijj by the Hospital Department. , t r 7:;'?^^ r V*