AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10535, 9 August 1912, Page 2

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

LIVELY MEETING OF THE BOARD. [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, August 8. The Hospital Board was again in a bellicose mood at this morning's meeting in committee. The first indication of the fact was given when a brush occurred betweeii Mr E. H. Potter on the one hand and the chairmaji of the honorary medical staff (Dt C. J. Pabst) and Mr K. M. M'Kay on the other. Mr Potter plied Dr Pabst with several questions concerning resignations of nurses. Had not ten resigned during the past month, and were not several .more resignations contemplated? ho asked.

Dr Pabst replied in tones of surprise to the effect that he did not know what the nurses contemplated, nor could he be expected to do so. Mr M'Kay vigorously protested against what he termed " the disgraceful attitude adopted by Mr Potter towards the chairman of the honorary medical staff."

A warm , exchange of personal opinions ensued between Messrs Potter and M'Kay, in the course s of which the former remarked that he was only asking for certain information to which the Board was entitled, and if Dr Pabst conld not supply it. he would move that the acting-lady superintendent should be called up. He was making no attack upon Mr M'Kay, and he claimed to have as much respect for the medical men of the institution as his fellow-members had.

Mr M'Kay: You are assuming a most antagonistic attitude towards the medical staff, and I will not sit quietly by while you attack their chairman so. The chairman (Mr H. Schofield) entered a plea for more orderly proceedings, and expressed regret that the subject had been introduced. Thereupon the attention of the Board was turned to less contentious matters, until a further breeze ensued, and matters took a somewhat sensational turn when the honorary medical staff reported, through their chairman (Dr Pabst), that entries reflecting upon sisters-at the hospital had been inserted in tlio confidential nurses' register in the handwriting of the late lady superintendent, and that •the entries related to matters which had eventuated since the resignation of the former official, thereby indicating that they had been made by the late lady superintendent subsequent to the date of her retirement from the service of the Board. The chairman (Mr H. Schofield) said h<i was sorry that, the report had com© forward, because he had not had an opportunity to inspect the register. He was not aware that the report was to bo brought up. Dr Pabst replied that he had spoken of the matter to the chairman yesterday morning and informed him. that the honorary staff had drawn up a report. Tho chairman: 1 was not aware that a report was to be submitted. It is not fair to me-

Dr Pabst: I took it for granted that you knew we would place the report before you to-day. The chairman : I move thatthe matter be referred to me to bring up a report, Sir Mackay: I move that it be referred to the Board. It is a matter for them and not for you, sir.

Mr Potter: That document is a statement reflecting on the late lady superintendent, and she should see it. It may be a case of damages against th© honorary medical staff. A voice: "Oh I"

The chairman: I feel that I want to look into this thing, so that I will understand the position. Dr Pabst said that it had been la{3 down that such complaints as those entered against the sisters should be read over to the members of Hfie staff to whom they referred. Several entries had been made of matters which had occurred since the late lady superintendent left the employ of the Board, and he wanted to know whether or not he was to read them over to the sisters to whom they referred. .

Mr Nerheny: The decision of the Board was that copies of such reports should bo sent to those concerned.

Mr Mackay then moved, and the motion was seconded—"That a copy of the report be sent to each of the asters complained of." Mr Coyle: Are you quite sure, Dr Pabst, that these entries were made after the late lady superintendent left? Dr Pabst answered that the entries referred to incidents that only happened after the departure of the former official.

Mr Coyle: If what has been said is correct, it is a monstrous proceeding, and seems to be quite outrageous. _ I would like to know by whose authority the ex-official got hold of the book to make such records? That book should not bo allowed to go out of the office, but should be impounded pending tn inquiry. "We may possibly ask our solicitors to take up a certain course in the matter. It is the strongest statement I have heard made since I have been a member of this Board. > I do not think that Dr Pabst, with his reputation at stake, would make such allegations unless he was sure of his ground. The chairman: I am sorry that this discussion has taken place before the Press. (Hear, hear). His attention, he said, had only been called to the matter yesterday morning, and he was anxious to ascertain whether such a thing had occurred. If eo, ho did not approve of it, in fact, he felt very angry about it. Mr Coyle moved that a committee should be set up to inquire -into the matter, and report to the Board, the committee to consist of the chairman, Messrs Mackay and Nerheny, and the chairman of the honorary medical staff.

Mr Mackay seconded the motion. Mr Nerheny declined to act on the committee" because of the nomination of Dr Pabst, whose report the committee was being appointed to inquire into. Dr Pabst said he had no desire to act on the committee. Mr Coyle consented to act in lieu of Dr Pabst, arid Mr Nerheny agreed to remain on the committee, which was then unanimously elected. Mr Coyle asked Dr Pabst when he first saw the records complained of. Dr Pabst replied that it was on Tuesday of the present week. He was supposed to review these records monthly, but as he had already explained to the Board, the lady superintendent had not nrovided any records for some months. He remarked that he had not yet re~d over the reports to the sisters coiicemed or informed them of their existence, and he desired direction in the matter. Mr Mackay was to speak again in favour of his resolution when the chairman expressed the opinion that further talk was unnecessary. Mr Mackay: Allow me, don't interrupt. Set a good example from the chair.

The motion by Mr Mackayin favour of sending copies of the entries to the sisters concerned was then put and carried bv a majority of. one. Mr Coylo asked if the committee were to be empowered to eeek legal advice. . Mr Potter strongly objected, and contended that such a decision should be left to the Board. The meeting now got out of hand, several members desiring to speak at once, and when the hubbub had subsided it was resolved that any resolutions carried to-day should be regarded merely as recommendations to the Board for consideration at next meeting, and that the Committee of Inquiry should not act until its appointment had been ratified by the Board. Further discussion was stopped by a motion from Mr Coylo to proceed with the next business. The chairman: Yes. We would talk about this matter for a week. The motion was carried.

Since 1730 nnrseraeing has been licit! annually at Epsom (England).