PALMERSTON HOSPITAL BOARD

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1424, 26 April 1912, Page 2

PALMERSTON HOSPITAL BOARD

PATIENT ALLEGES NEGLIGENCE. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Palmcrston North, April 25. Tho monthly meeting of the Palmer' slon Hospital Hoard was held to-day, Mr, J. G. Wilson presiding. The plans or (he proposed consumptive annexe* for women woro received from Dr. Frengley. Permission was granted for somo nl' the members of the Methodist' Christian Endeavour Society to visit tho hospital rnce a. month (o sing wellknown hymns for tho patients. Tho Government Insurance Department wrolo that owing to the amendment to tho Workers' Compensation Act, it lind been, found necessary to increase the rales for accident insurance. Tho Secretary for Education intimated that the Department was in communication with tho police ra payments by parents for children in industrial schools.

Mr. Edwin Dymock wrote complaining that he had been refused admission to the hospital, and had suffered permanent disablement through tho alleged negligence of tho hospit.il staff. Tho fncts ns stated in the letter were that tho writer had cut his wrist on a broken bottle at n picnic, and had been taken to the hospital, but had been refused admission when ho first presented himself. Subsequently he saw n doctor, and was admitted, but the wound did not do well. A letter in reference to the same matter was received from tho secretary of Court Manawatu, A.0.F.. of which Mr. Dymock was a member, asking why ho had not been admitted. Dr. Martin wrote on the same subject, stating that Uvmock had omitted to mention a number of facts. The man asked ovcrv morning if he could leave the hospital' to attend his work, to which the doctor replied that they had no authority to keep a mini there against his will,, but if ho left he did so at his own risk, mid was advised to stay. Further, there vera many cases in which an operation would not bo performed until a number of days after an accident, instead of 21 hours, as stated bv Mr. Dymock. It was muto possible that if he had been operated on imiwtlintelv the result might have been different, liut he might also have lost his arm from blond-poisoning, as it was neressiit lhal a wound should be prnptrly cleaned before an operation was performed. Dr. Martin nlw stoteil lhal he, had at all times found the nur«es and matron 1 svnip.'ilhetic and thoroughly capable mid 'efficient in every way . Mr. J. A. Nash moved that Mr. Dymcck be. asked to attend the next, meclins of tho board.. The motion was seconded,by Mr. J. It. Hornblov. who slated that .there wa« ft rule providing for the admission Ip tho hospital of patients who were soriously injured without a doctor's certificate. . The resolution was carried.