CONDUCT AT HOSPITAL

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1926, Page 9

CONDUCT AT HOSPITAL

TARANAKI INSTITUTION RATEPAYERS’ COMPLAINTS. EGMONT COUNTY DISCUSSION. Is there a lack of confidence on the part of the public in the New Plymouth hospital? This is a question that arises from the tone of a discussion at the meeting of the Egmont County Council yesterday. The discussion arose from the reading of a communication from the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, which notified that it was proposed to incur an estimated expenditure of about £BOO to replace and purchase new apparatus for use in the hospital. It was proposed to finance the expenditure by way of bank overdraft, to be repaid during the next financial year. The chairman, Mr. W. C. Green, said the expenditure in connection with the New Plymouth hospital had gone up by leaps and bounds as compared with fourteen years ago, and he was afraid that the hospital was not giving the satisfaction to the ratepayers of the district that it should. Ratepayers, he thought, were losing faith in the hospital and that should not be. He did not know whether it was because the hospital lacked the facilities or not, but people were going to private hospitals who should go to the public hospital where they would be good paying patients. He “had received dozens ana dozens of complaints” as to the treatment received at the public hospital, which they bad said was different to that received at private hospitals. Cr. Tosland considered that Cr. Young and Mr. Sinclair, members of the board, should be asked to take the matter up. As representatives of the ratepayers they must see that the hospital was efficient and that the ratepayers who went there as patients were well treated. The chairman said he eould assure the two representatives that the public were losing faith in the management of the hospital. A PATIENT’S VIEWS. Cr. J. D. Shepherd said he did not know whether the complaints were justified. Personally he had been in the hospital on two, occasions and had little to complain of, the attention being all that he could wish for. There were a certain number who went to the hospital who were “born growlers” and were not satisfied with anything. They thought because other received more attention than they did, that they were being neglected, whereas, perhaps when they were seriously ill, they received more attention than did others not so ill. He thought if the complaints were investigated it would be found there was nothing in them. Cr. Gibson said that he was quite prepared to make specific complaints to the Hospital Board in open session that the public was losing confidence in the ’ capital. He agreed that the expenditure had grown out of proportion to the increase in population, but the hospital must be kept efficient. At the hospital the rules were too hard and fast, it being assumed that all patients were or the same temperament and physique, but every one of common-sense knew they were not. He was quite prepared to put specific complaints before the board at its next meeting. Cr. Tosland said that in relieving the sick the expenditure of money became forgotten in the necessity for obtaining the utmost efficiency. Their representatives had to keep the balance between the ratepayers and the medical profession. The chairman said that he had been very sorry to hear the rumours regarding complaints. They should certainly be investigated, as it would be a great pity if the public were to lose faith in sueh a fine hospital.

REASON FOR GREATER COST. Cr. Young, as a member of the Hospital Board, said that in comparing the expenditure with that of fourteen years ago it must be remembered that there was a big increase in the number of patients. He had heard no serious complaints. As the hospital was now under new management it was hardly fair to criticise it until it had been properly organised under the new medical superintendent, who was an excellent man with the work of the institution at heart. He pointed out that the hospital was held up as a model throughout New Zealand. The expenses of charity, he said, had gone up by leaps and bounds, though the Hospital Board had collected a bigger proportion of maintenance dues than any other hospital in New Zealand. He urged members to be absolutely sure of their ground before they believed any reports. The board was out to uphold the medical officials and at the same time to safeguard the interest of the ratepayers In running the hospital as reasonably as possible, without jeopardising the lives of patients. Indeed, he could assure them that the members of the board had the interests of the hospital and of ratepayers equally at heart. To the chairman Cr. Young admitted that one or two people had complained to him, but he did not think there was much in the complaints. The chairman said that it appeared to him that there was “too much rel tape.” If a person in the county wished to visit a patient in the hospital on other than visiting days “it took about half a week to get there.” Formerly one had only to go to the doctor and he received permission to visit the , atient, but* now the rules were too hard and fast, though he admitted that it was necessary to have restrictions on visits. Complaints had also been made that people with relatives in the hospital had been told one day that the patient was well, and next day, when they inquired, were told the patient was dead. That should not be. COUNCILLOR WH.LING TO MEET BOARD. Mr. T. H. H. Sinclair said that as a member of the board he had received isolated complaints but he had always asked those complaining to back up their complaints by coming to the board table, or at least to put them in writing. He considered that it would be most unbusinesslike for a member tc carry a complaint to the board unless it were backed up in such manner. The complainants had never given him the support asked for, so he had not placed much credence in them. As stated by Cr. Young the hospital was held in high esteem by the authorities, indeed, on his [recent visit the Director-General had complimented the board on the efficient

manner in which it was conducted. The proposed expenditure was necessary so that the hospital could be fully equipped. The superintendent had stated that if he had had the oxygen lutfit one life might have been saved. Country members of the board were not m as elose touch as the town members, but the chairman had stated that the new superintendent’s one aim was the care of the patients. The board felt that the appointment of the new superintendent would effect savings that would more than compensate for the expense of the appointment. Cr. Tosland thought the Hospital Board should invite Cr. Gibson to make his complaints before the open board, so that the matter could be investigated, and if there were any cause for complaint it could be rectified, or the board eould be exonerated. When ratepayers went to the hospital they did so because they expected it to be the best equipped institution, where they eould obtain the best treatment without undue extravagance. Cr. Gibson said that he was quite willing to meet the board, as there was no doubt that dissatisfaction did exist at present.