HOSPITAL METHODS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 11 August 1908, Page 5

HOSPITAL METHODS.

COMPLAINT'S AND EXPLANATIONS

An ex-patient*of tho Wanganui Hospital has requested us to ventilate certain, alleged grievances in connection with tho management of that institution. The lady in question desired it to bo clearly understood that in what sho had to say she wished in no way to reflect on tho members of the staff. J'rom the doctor, the matron, and tho nurses, she said, she had experienced nothing but tho utmost kindness and consideration. The complaints she had to make related exclusively to the system pursued-'in1 the institution, a-sys-tem, sho understood, duo to tho numerical insufficiency of tho staff. Briefly put, the chief grounds of complaint were two in number—the unreasonable hour at which the patients were washed m tho early morning, and the changing of tho outer bed coverinjr of the bed at the same time. The complainant averred that it was tho regular practice, so far as her exp?rien:e went, for the night nurse to commence washing the patients and making the beds soon after midnight, work which kept her employed up till about 6 a.m Tho .making of tho bcd 3 involved the taking oft of a warm rug and the putting on~ m its stead, of a white counteroane of lighter texture. -The effect of this was sho said, extremely, uncomfortable for the patients, especially on cold winter mornmnrs. At 6 a.m.. the complainant continued, tho ■ probationers started to sweep and beeswax tho wards, so that, what with ono thing and the other there xrsts very little chance for sleep! Another objection voiced by our informant was the presence of child patients in tho adult wards, a. fact which she regaraod as objectionable both to the littlo- ono3 and to tho adults. The time had arrived, she considered, for the establishment of a children's ward. Her chief complaint, however, was what she regarded as the unnecessarily early ablutions and the changin- of the bed rug.

She look the opportunity of bringing theso matters under the notice of the matron, of. the hospital, in tho absence *r t1 1° time- of tn<? housa surgeon. Misa McKennv was Inclined to look u-on the complaints as trivial. With regard to the washing;, she said that it was quito likely that in the cage of a restless patient the nurse in attendance would wash her and make her bed. at midnight or any other hour. This was clone, not. as a matter of ■• routine or convenience, but solely in the interests or the patient, and with a view to promoting restfulness and ease. No pationt, said Miss McKenny, Avas awakened for the purpose-of'being washed. The : hi>ht nurses had strict instructionson that point. A stb the omplaicnt about the.substitution of a thin quilt for a heavy rug,. Miss McKenny said that ib really amounted to nothing, for one covpriiis: was quite jis warm Es tho other. In their own interests the nurses were noi; likely to do anything so foolish or so entirely opposed to the ethics of nursing, because such an unwise change of covei-insr would nrovoke chills aud other complications entailing far more serious coiisequeii'Cfts than tho mero discomfort of tho patients. The institution, concluded . Miss McKenny, was certainly not understaffed in. comPalJson with other similar institutions;. Ihe Matron's explanation was subsequently confirmee? hy Dr Fer/^ns, the House Surgeon, who expressed the opinion that the proper course for our informant to have taken, would be to have complained at the time either to himself or the matron. There was, added Dr Fergus, no room, for complaint on the score of understaffing. Th<*v had twenty-two nurses on the staff., with -.•■•a da il^v average eof :55 patients, .worked^ one' hurso to every:-^:T»atiehts; —Ho did not think a more satisfactory proV portion would hs> found in any other hospital.