AKAROA HOSPITAL.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 582, 10 February 1882, Page 2

AKAROA HOSPITAL.

At the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board on Wednesday it was reported that there were at present two patients in the Akaroa Hospital.

The following communication on the subject of the Akaroa Hospital were then read : —

' A paragraph appeared in the LyHelton Times on Dec 26, under the heading Akaroa, from a correspondent to the fol lowing effect:—'The local institutions of Akaroa appear to be well managed, but there is a noticable want when the hoepittil is visited. It is 'high time that the local authorities had charge of this institution, with a view to its being conducted at any rate on a humane basin. At the time of my visit, the place was in charge of Mr and Mrs Smart, who have to do all the work and nursing in connection with it, and there wan one inmate in a very nrecarions state of. health lying in one ward, while the dead body of a girl remained in the next room. The poor girl had to remain in the building alone during the whole night with the dead body in the next room. Why it was not removed to the morgue is a mystery, but it woiiltl seem an attendant is wanted to assist the the married couple who live apart from the building, and who have plenty to do in addition to the duly of nursing. .

•' lat oi;(.'i.; M j nl n. <.. opy of [his punigiviph to (ho mt.'dit.-id (f'lk>,-r in elurgti of the hospital, an I aU(j to the nia.-ter and matron, requesting an explanation, to which I have received the following replies*:—

" Akaroa, Jan. 29. 1882.

"Sir, in answer to your letter dated Jan. 2G, a4;i:ig .for an explanation re the paragraph that appeared in the Lyiteiton Times of Jan. 26, I beg to inform you—ls!, that the dead body spoken of was that of a girl who died suddenly in the Hospital, about. 6 p.m. on January 18. Not wishing to shock her friends more than absolutely necessary, I gave orders that the body should not be moved that night until her friends, who lived some live or sis miles out; of Akaroa, could be communicated with and brought over to yec her. The ether female (Hannah ].);i!ton) was immediately removed to the inaie ward, which was then vacant. The next day the body of the deceased was moved to the 'deadhouse' an soon as I could go down to the Hospital, though 1 was rather later in gelting there than I anticipated, owing to being called to a serious case some little distance out of Akaroa. 2nd. The statement, that ' the poor girl had to remain in the building alone during the whole night, with the dead bod)- in the next room.' lias not one wo id of truth in it, she never having , been Jolt one single night alone, even in the ward, without either Airs Ward or her daughter, who was on a visit to her, sleeping also in the ward. 3rd. The statement also that the married couple in charge live apart from the building is equally untrue. Neither Mr or Mrs •Smart have ever been absent from the Hospital at night, and I consider that the} , 'v:vr. done trverylhing , in their power to promote the comfort of the patients under their charge. I have never heard one single word of complaint against thorn since I have i een connected with the Hos- \ pital, and 1 have found them to be uniformly kind and attentive to the patients. The patient, Hannah Dalton can vouch for all I have said, as to the night attendance. How the writer of the article could arrive

at his information is a mystery, for lie i could, with very little trouble, have found > out the truth, if he had been so minded.— I am, &c,

" F. E. Corbet Singleton, "Medical Officer for the Akaroa Hospital

'" J E. March, Esq., Cbristchurcb "

Mr J. E. March .ilso wrote as follows

—" With regard to local management, I may state that in July, 1879, a letter was addressed to the Mayor of the Borough, stating that the Board would feel obliged if he would visit the Hospital from time to time, and report to the Board any suggestions or improvettifuts ho might deem necessary to offer, also stating that the medical officer, Dr G-uthrie, had been good enough to consult the Mayor on all matters appertaining to lay management, t would add that I have frequently re coived assurances from the lats Mayor, Mr Ganvood, that the present master and matron were performing their respective duties exceedingly well, and only two days before this paragraph appeared he again gave me this assurance."

Letters were also received from Mr J. Smart and the patient Hannah Dulton on the subject.

The Board considered the s.atement satisfactory.