IS SYSTEM SUITABLE?

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1933, Page 8

IS SYSTEM SUITABLE?

HOSPITAL AND COMPLAINTS MEMBERS MOVE FOR CHANGE. PRESENT METHODS CRITICISED. Whether the present system under which complaints to the Stratford Hospital Board must be placed in before they are considered is sufficiently elastic was a question the board was called on to discuss at the monthly I^ ee “ _ ing yesitorday. Argument commenced alter a recommendation from the visiting committee was tabled. Reference; was made to a complaint that was lodged since the- last meeting and that was brought, before a meeting of the stan at the hospital. It was found that the complaint was unfounded, but was criticised at yesterday’s meeting by Mr. • Cormick who, with Mrs. M. T. comprised the visiting committee for tne month. They attached the following paragraph to their report:— , “We think the functions of the visiting committee as carried out at P r^ en * not sufficiently comprehensive. To he ox any value they should be considerably extended. We recognise that the inspections of the garden and outbuildings are important in their way, but the board members should visit the interior of the hospital and the patients should be aware of their coming so that anyone desiring to make a complaint to the board should be able to do so and should facilities providing for doing so. We further recommend that the lady members of the board should pay a visit to the maternity annexe, once a month for tne same purpose.” . . The visiting committee was entitled to visit any part of the hospital, said the chairman (Mr. W. L. Kennedy), but he did not approve of the section in tne report regarding the procedure propose for lodging complaints. . Mr. Cormick differed with the chairman, his contention being that facility should be provided to enable complaints to be judged.. Many people had the impression that they, could not get complaints before the board, and that idea should be dispelled. If anyone made a complaint to the visiting committee, supposing the recommendation were m force, the committee could refer the matter to the ma*-'on, who would be able to remedy it without any further action being needed. Mr. G. P. Harkness drew attention to the fact, that there was a resolution on the books requiring all complaints to be ‘put into writing before the board would deal with them. That was all right in its way, Mr. Cormick countered, but people could make complaints to a member of any other local body and the member would •bring it before that body. A. resolution requiring complaints to be in writing was, he had been advised, ultra vires.

MATRON AND DOCTOR IN CHARGE.

“The management of the hospital is in the hands of the matron and the medical superintendent,” said the chairman. “What sort of position would it be if jiatients made complaints to the board?” he asked. Mr. Cbrwick: It is not necessary that the complaints should be made to the board. A complaint that I made recently was brought .up at a staff meeting—an extraordinary business. As it happened the complaint was unfounded. Nobody should have known anythmg about it except the members of the staff airectly? concerned as the complaint coma hav-1- been referred to them and cleared up without any trouble. ... The chairman read the resolution regarding complaints. •, “If the matron and the doctor are in full charge of the hospital what is tne board for?” Mr. L. Bunn queried. The chairman: They are appointed to those positions because they are -competent to fill them. The board does not want to interfere with the medical staff. Mr. Bunn stated that though he had been on the visiting committee on two occasions he had not seen the, matroil. The visiting committee, he considered, was not treated courteously, for the matron should conduct the committee through, the hospital. All he saw at the hospital were the gardens, but of course the mateon might not have known the committee was visiting. Mr. Harkness: I generally let the matron know when I am going to the hospital and she makes it her business to be-there when we call. . “The matron told me that she wanted complaints referred to her,” remarked Mrs. D. Shannon. Mr. Cormick: That is what we suggest. Moreover, a definite method of investigating complaints should be laid down. • , . The chairman suggested that the matter be deferred till the next meeting of the board. The by-laws had been m force for a long time and it was apparent that they would soon have to be revised, so that any decision reached could be embodied during the revision. Mr. Bunn: What is the comprint? ■; The chairman: If we are going into that I think we should take the discussion in committee. “I object,” Mr. Cormick interrupted. “There is nothing Jo hide. The inquiry at the hospital completely exonerated the stafl: and the institution and I cannot see why we should not consider the matter in open meeting.” The chairman: I move we go into committee. I have your letter here,. Mr. Cormick. ,

Mr. Harkness seconded. Mr. Cormick: There is nothing in it worth going into committee for. “If there is nothing to hide there is nothing for which we should go into committee,” maintained Mr. Bunn. The chairman: There is nothing to hide as far as the hospital is concerned. It had been proved with regard to the complaint that a wrong statement had been made, Mr. Cormick stated. However, he agreed to go into committee while the letter was read. The board thereupon went into committee, the letter was read and the ensuing discussion occurred while the board was still in committee. No report was issued afterwards, but Mr. Cormick gave notice to move at the next meeting that the resolution requiring complaints to be in writing be rescinded. CENTRAL DIVISION FOOTBALL. RUGBY UNION TEAMS SELECTED. Rugby Union teams for to-morrow’s games in the central division include the following:— Tariki:—First juniors to play Toko at Toko: T. Kelly, A. Mahon, L. Corlett, L. Dombroski, I. McCullum, R. Loveridge, P. Mai-tin, B. Harkness, G. Goodwin, D. Evans, W. Keegan, J. Corlett, R. Rumball, E. Corlett, F. Hili; emergencies, G. Huzziff, D. Hogan, A. Knowles. Inglewood:—First juniors against Cardiff at Cardiff: Kay, Trigger, Drinkwater, Allen, Robson, Simpson, Shotter, Sutton, Chapman, Irving, Mackinder, Irving, Drake, R. Crossman, Drake, Patterson, Dodunski and Vickers. Third grade to play S.T.H.S. at Inglewood: Taylor, Borrie, Yeates, Mumby, Zimmerman, Susans, Crossan, Rumball, Brown, Arnold, Ladbrook, Ward, Ford, L. Trigger, Klermer, Gamlin and D. Herlihy.

CYCLE RACE TO-MORROW.

TO TE ROTI AND RETURN.

Stratford cyclists will race to Te Roti and back to-morrow, starting from Broadway South at 2 p.m. Handicaps are: O. Belk and D. Coleman scr, L. Volzke, R. Hosie, K. Mehrtens Im., E. Stockman, H. Phillips, K. Webb 3m., E. Winmill, C. Pittams, L. Pittams, W. Mclvor 5m., A. Mclvor, L. Standing, K. Stockman 7m. . ELTHAM COURT CASES. Judgment for £l4 for rent and £2 17s costs and possession of a tenement was given in favour of J. A. McKenna (Mr. T. B. Crump) in his claim against Herbert Owen Brown at the Eltham Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Judgment by default was given in the claims of R. E. Williams V. Joseph Romano for £2 16s 8d (costs £1 3s 6d), and for H. J. Mills v. H. Saunders for, £2 8s lOd (£1 5s 6d). On a judgment summons J. W. Uncles was ordered to pay Eltham Motors, Ltd. £l3 Ils, in default ten ’‘days’ imprisonment, the warrant to be suspended on payments of £3 a month.

TO STRATFORD BY PLANE. THURSDAY’S WRESTLING MATCH. George Walker, the New Zealand champion wrestler, is in great demand by wrestling fans all over the Dominion. On Monday he flew to Dunedin and on Tuesday to Christchurch. On Thursday all eyes in Stratford will be watching for his plane landing at. the aerodrome grounds in 'time for his bout against “Whiskers” Blake in the Town Hall in the evening. Walker and Blake have met in combat recently, but Blake was not satisfied that he was at his best, and promises to give “George the biggest struggle of his life on .Thursday night The committee of the Wrestling Association has nlade complete preparations for the big event, and the ring has been enlarged to 24ft to comply with the regulations. There will be plenty of room for the matmen to operate, and some great work should be witnessed. The proscenium in the hall has been altered to meet the requirements of the authorities.' A programme of local amateur events will precede the big bout. The keen interest being manifested in the proceedings is shown by the large number of seats being reserved at Rex Watson’s, Broadway. Amateurs have been matched as follow: Rowe 8.11 v. Conway 8.8; Jones 10.5 v. McDonald 10.0; Cullen 10.5 v. Watson 10.2; Beesley 11.1 v. McNeilly 11.0. ADVERTISERS’ ANNOUNCEMENTS. The Old-time Jollity Club will, hold a dance in the Eltham Parish Hall next Tuesday, when good prizes will be given in a waltzing competition. A euchre party will be held at Kapuni hall to-night. Good prizes will be offered. The final euchre and presentation of points prizes will be held on August 2 and a dance will conclude the season on August 8. The first public activity of the newlyformed Central Taranaki Council of the British Drama League will be the festival of community drama to be held at ths Town Hall on August 19. Entries for the festival close on Saturday.