GISBORNE HOSPITAL ENQUIRY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11472, 26 February 1918, Page 6

GISBORNE HOSPITAL ENQUIRY.

[REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER. For Press Association. Wellington. Fob. 24. Tho report of Mr H. W. Bishop, S. M., who hold an inquiry into mntt.rs affecting the Gisborne Hospital, considers that the institution in the past was not efficiently conducted ; that the hospital provides ample accommodation, which perhaps is unduly strained at times of severe epidemics, but his should he provided for without undue strain; that, the cost to the ratepayers, in comparison with other hospitals, is reasonable; that the hyo-laws are amply sufficient to maintain discipline ; and that there is no reason to believe they are not being enforced. Regarding the reported unrest, there inis been an extraordinary amount of unrest in the institution for a considerable number of years. The trouble probably commenced six years ago, owing to tbs most deplorable lack of discipline. The Matron had outlived her usefulness, and the present Matron lias had h long uphill struggle, but, little by little, she broke down opposition, and, although tho difficulties have not yet entirely disappeared, tho whole tone of the institution has improved. Mr Bishop pays a high tribute to the courage and grit displayed by Miss Tait, tho present Matron. ' The Commissioner also considers that some of tiie unrest is due to tho action of some re actionary members of tho past boards, who outnumbered tho reformers, who, if they had had a free hand, would have obviated tbo necessity for this inquiry. The Board now, however, h>;s considerably clrmged, and might still be farther changed without loss of influence. Mr Bishop pqys a tribute to the work of tho past two chairmen, and believes the present chairman is also likely to carry on tho good work. He acquits the Public Health and the Hospital and Charitable Aid Departments of any blame in the matter, and finds that tho honorary staff is in no way responsible for the unrest at the hospital. Ho considers that if the Matron and Medical Superintendent work itogether, only good can result, but that has not been tho case in tho past. There is no doubt the Medical Superintendent lias been greatly overworked, and his physical health has suffered in consequence. Ho is not, at tho present time in such a condition of health as to make his retention desirable. He has done efficient work in tho past, but that efficiency has not been continued. A change of some sort is needed.

Evidence was given of neglect of I patients by nurses in the pvst, but 1 UOUO of tbc.y, nurses are now on the stall' of the hospital. There had been S°. resignations from the staff in the past live years. There was in the past no effective discipline of the nursing stall,' maintained by the rosnonsihlo officers, hut this .is gcnlnally being remedied, Training of pupil nurses is being conducted entirely in accordance with the regulations. Lectures are regularlv given hy the Medical Superintendent ami nurses. “There are seven private Hospitals in Gisborne, with aS beds, which is more in proportion thaw towns of similar population. There is no satisfactory evidence as to the amount of interest of medical men in these hospitals, except in one case. On the other hand, Drs Wilson, .Reeve and Kilieuberg have no financial interest in any private hospital. The mere fact that medical men have private interest in private hospitals at once raises suspicion in cases of unrest in public hospitals, as at Gisborne, some of which may be due to interested parties keeping it alive for ignoble motives. It so, the thing is so contemptibly mean and utterly ignoble that one may reasouanly hesitate to identify members of an honourable profession with any thing so dastardly. ’’ Mr Bishop considersSfthat no medical man who is interested in a private hospital should he eligible for a. seat on a Hospital Board. He 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 actions of one man, who made himself busy in espousing the cause of individual nurses who came under the Matron’s bun, and by talking in an indiscreet manner of what lie would and would not do. Such criticism would much better have been kept for the Boardroom. MiBishop considers that with a new and experienced Hospital Superintendent, working amicably with the Matron, nothing but good should result.

Tjio Commissioner, in concluding, hesitates to express any opinion on tho propriety of retaining the now regulations under the Nurses Registration net which provides that the training of pupil nurses may not bo terminated without the consent of the Registrar of Nurses, or whether it is indeed ultra vires, A great deal can he said both for and against its retention. It may be mischievous, or the reverse. Mr Bishop pro I'ers to leave it at that.