ST. HELEN'S HOSPITAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1648, 15 January 1913, Page 5

ST. HELEN'S HOSPITAL.

INQUIRY AT AUCKLAND. ;

COMPLAINTS AND SUGGESTIONS. . (By TflleeraDb.—Press Association.) ,'-,'' ■;., Auckland, January 14. The Commission of Inquiry relating to * ■' the administration of St.''Helens Hospital;' Auckland, was'commenced at'the.Arbitration Court this morningi -before Mr;; C C. Kettle, S.M., sitting as. Coininis-,: eioncr. . , ..-'.-. -'"■ - '•".»■-; Complaints- were preferred by Mrs. Emily Nicol (represented bj;.Dr. Bani-i ford), and by the Auckland Timbor Workers' Union (represented by Mr. A. E. ' Skolton). -.Mr. Sclwyn Mays represented: the Department of Hospitals,. the matron, and Dr. Tracy Inglis. " '.■■',<• -, '■: Tho Auckland Timbers Workers' Union ! complained:—. > (1) That in respect of the death of Mrs. Laura Elizabeth Chamberlain: oh September 9, 1912,' Mrs. Chamberlain sustained injuries, but that the matron failed\ to Bend for or obtain the services of a medical practitioner until tho third day after 6uch injuries were sustained., (2) Tha.t-: the matron further failed in her duty-.to call in medical advice when '; she 'discovered that the patient .was suf'ferjng from, puerperal septicaemia'. . '(3) .That- tho matron, without tho assist- .-'■■ ttnoa of a medical practitioner, Bntured ■ tho'torn.'part.of jerinaeum in some three or four places. ■ (4) Tracy Inglis, that in his caoacity of medacal offioer to such, institution ;ho declined; to allow Mrs. Chanir ; berlain td'Sbe examined or her',: condition ■:' 'to bo ascertained 'by another : registered ■ medical practitioner, when a request for -such examination was made by the'husband of Mrs.' Chamberlain 1 at the tiino .'• 'when her;life.was in-great danger. ■_ (5) As to)administration, that the insti-. tution,'br;portion of it, is not suited for the purpose ofa; maternity, home, by reason -that a .portion of it is constructed I in wood, .and that tho walls are papered, thereby-affording.opportunities for toster- . ■ ing (if disease arid septic germs. ■' "'.".• -.-■•' (6) That during the confinement; of Mrs. - ■■ Chamberlain the', matron .■: failed ;to . pro- '.'■', yide her -with lie necessary and ordinary : -'-'comforts and requirements of such'a case, (and that in consequence' Mrs. Chamber..lain sustained ;Unnecessary pain and. suf-. 'fering. :■'■':■ •'■■ '' '.'' -.'''•'.'. -. ■.' , ''-, Mrs.'Emily Nicols complained:— , . •(1) ThatiiVthe case,of. one Mrs. Porch tho patient was :placed' iii the isolation , ' ward immediately after :tho -remoVal at. •the body of a woman (Mrs..-Chamberlain) who had died from septicaemia, and,was attended by same mur£« as had at- . tended:deceased. ''.. -:''■-..; ''-' r ' ._ r '. ' (2) That':in thecaso of one, Mrs. Marsh, ■the relatives of tho patient were wrongly '■'•. informed ; : that she was .suffering frota jcarlet;fever, and further were, not noti- - &ed insufficient time before the patients death -.to -'enable them, to -.communicate - with her. ' .'■•"", ■'-' ■'• ••• '-■•'■■■'■.■' ; -: : ;:' '■'.'■ '• (3) That ; the matron has on several oc-'.j.'c'asiQns-Tefused'to admit patients, unless at;lcast'ii was"paid/and that this prac--tice should be.discontinued, - ■' .; ; ■'•" .(4) That/in tho case of one, Mrs.'.Reid, Application 'made for her'admission was - refused, although' 'her ';husband':is.-ih. poor. ■'■:• circumstancesi and ilives In a ..congested, -'■ area (Freeman's Bay), and the case was : ; -: a' 'proper 'one' for admission; 1 .. ."■■:•;,-,'-. - .Complainant also, directed attention to •- the following points:— ~i "." " ; J .";.-. : ; (1) The ..need .for > the, appointment of' a •resident medical,officer. 1 ;■-. ;■: \ .-Y•-.; '©The ;undesirability ; of . the medical i officer being, in 'outside.practice as a sur- '■['■*' geori-'-.. .:; 'v .■'■;.''. •...•.'■:•■■.' . |i... : (3) The desirability of: appointing/a - ■.' visiting 'inspector'; to ascertain the.posi- '.' tion and means of persons seeking a'dmisVeion to.th« hospital. ' ! .••«-. • ; . :■'-:''■ (4) The' Necessity, for admitting patients .-,' at' an ; : earlier stage than they are'ad- 1 ■ mittcd at .the present l time. '. -;> : -'-.■■■•' (5) The linsiiitability of the present, hospital, and -the desirability of re-establish-:i . ing' it-as :an adjunct to-the General ■■: Hospital.*!', ',''■.-. '.' ; : ;"' ■ ■"- ■■'■'.■"■:. Evidence .was .taken in-support of the ' charges, - and the inquiry adjourned till ' ..^to-morrow;'-':-:>.'",!''■,;'.' ; .!,.'' ■-■:■..■);