HOSPITAL ENQUIRY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18219, 1 November 1924, Page 12

HOSPITAL ENQUIRY.

DR. BARNETT'S EVIDENCE. (PRESS ASSOCIITIOH TELEGRAM.) PALMERSTON N., October 31. At the Hospital Enquiry this morning,'tho case for tha honorary medical staff was continued. Counsel, on behalf of Dr. Barnctt and tho staff, addressing tho Commission, said that his clients felt tho public hospital was an institution for tho benefit of those members of the community wh could not afford to pay for privato treatment. It must be perfectly clear to tho Commission that Miss Bryco was not a suitablo case for a, public hospital. Dr. Barnett did tho obvious thing, and refused to givo an order of admission. Tho operation was not one cf urgencv, and had the case been acute, Dr." Barnett would have operated. Regarding the question of tho complications which developed at Feildjng after the operation, Hiss Bryco had had two attacks of rheumatic; fever long before tho illness forming the basis cf the present charge. The attack of rheumatic neuritis was not duo to treatment in tho hospital. Giving evidence Dr. Barnett said that when 3lr Bryco asked him to operate on his daughter in tho Palmerston Hospital, ho expressed astonishment and told Mr Bryce that tho honorary medical staff gave their services free. Before he issued an order of admission ho would have to satisfy himself of, Bryce's inability to pay. Witness finally told him an order for admii*. sion could not Ixv given. , Later Misa Bryco admitted. Witness examined her and she was recovering from a bad attack cf appendicitis, but at the time of the examination it was practically over. "Witness denied an alleged conversation with Mr, Stevens, a cousin of Mrs Bryco, who had said that when he asked witness why he had not

operated Dr. Baruett had replied that Stevens must remember that the honorary staff gave their services free and he went away laughing. What he had asked was where wero they taking Miss Bryce to, said witness. Following the evidence of Dr. Begg on behalf of the British Medical Association the enquiry was concluded.