“Paupers" in Hospitals.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6240, 12 June 1890, Page 3

“Paupers" in Hospitals.

At the meeting of the Christchurch Hospital Board yesterday Mr Parish enquired if it was customary for visitors to be informed whether patients were paupers or not. Was it the nurses, duty to do so. He maintained that the Hospital, being supported by public money, was open to tbe poorest in the land. No invidious distinctions should be made, and he wished that the nurses should be informed that they had no right to make distinctions, but should treat all patients alike. He. knew of a case in which a woman had been ordered a medical bolt, and it was not supplied for a month. When saw the nurse about the matter, she said “iou know she’s a pauper, and paupers must wait,” Ho would like tho nurses to be informed that they were not to make distinctions between patients. —The Secretary said he had never given any information to the nurses as to the position of patients—Mr M'Millan thought that it was a pity Mr Parish had not spoken to the Secretary about the matter, instead of taking up the board’s time with a trifling matter. —Mr Parish did not consider it a trivial matter that one of the nurses should refer to patients as paupers. It was the distinction which she had make that hostrongly objected to. The matter then dropped.