TRENTHAM HOSPITAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 265, 5 August 1919, Page 5

TRENTHAM HOSPITAL

OFFICIAL REPORT ON CONDITIONS

REPLY TO ALLEGATIONS

The Director-General of Medical Services (Brigadier-General D. J. M'Gavin) issued a statement yesterday in reply to certain allegations made last week regarding the treatment of soldiers in the Trentliam Military Hospital. Ho stated that he had received a detailed report on the subject from Colonel D. S. Wylie, I'.M.G.. C.BE., officer commanding the Trentliam Hospital. Colonel Wylio formerly commanded No'. 2 New Zealand General Hospital at Brockenlmrst. In Iris report Colonel Wylio stated that when he saw the. report published the morning after the narrator's visit, he immediately gave instructions that no clothing was to be removed from the wards, and no alterations made in the arrangements, and himself went round and made' a very complete inspection. This inspection was made within- twentyfour hours of the visit in question, and therefore before any of the causes of complaint could have been removed, Colonel Wvlie as a result of his visit replied to the various charges made as follows:—

(1) That the underclothing supplied in Ward I was insufficient in quantity, poor in quality, and dirty, Reply: "Each man in this ward inspected by me this morning, mid his underclothing carefully examined. In no case was it anything save satisfactory, and the statements concerning quantity, quality, *nd cleanliness are quite contrary to fact."

(2) Insufficiency of washing appliances. Reply: "There are four wards in use at present. In the washing lavatories there Were basins as follow i at the time of my inspection :—Ward I, 12 basins; Ward 11. G: Ward lII', 11: Ward IV, 6." (3) That in Wards A and B there was a gap under the oaves. Reply: "This was specially left there for the purpose of securing cross-ventilation. Ward A is not a surgical ward, as stated, but is used for isolation purposes."

(1) That patients contracted colds as a result. Reply: "T):ere is only ono patient in tlio two wards complained of receiving treatment for a cold, and he returned from peace leave with one."

(5) 'That the doors are without knobs or handles. Iteply: "There is only one door in tho block minus a handle. This is being repaired. Whenever the patient enters a waid he has a variety of entrances open to him, and it is not necessarv for him to use the one door without a handle."

(0* That tho bath was used as a slopsink bv the nurses. Reply: "Slops are not emptied into the bath.

(7> That there is no barber. Reply: "'Even- endeavour is being made to obtain a barber, and applications have been made to the U.S.A., to the Barbers' Union, and elsewhere to get one." (81 That blood-stained and dirtv sheets and Billow-cases were seen. Reply: "All the linen, dirty and clean, in Wards A and B and in their linen cupboards was seen by me to-day and none has been removed since .yesterday, and I can only sav that tho allegation is quite contrary to fact. No sheet evil-smelling and blood-stained was to be found anyhere in tho wards, and no blood-besmeared pil-low-cases were found by the men. Neither have any been seen by the sisters of the ward concerned, and no, complaints regarding the issue of such articles have been made bv the men." . M That offensive matter was left lying about. Reply: "This was material awaiting pathological examination, It was in no way offensive. It is kept in proper containers on a shelf in the lavatory for this purpose." (10) That the hot-water system is deplorable. R-epiy: "To carry hot water from . the bathroom and kitchen, a distance of a few jards, is not a hardship." (11) Issue of socks. Reply: "Plenty are available from Red Cross and other sources, and there is no occasion for any patient to go about with odd or defective socks." (12) Supply of firewood. Reply: "For the past six weeks firewood has been cut bv detention labour. WheiKtlie wood is carried into ths wards, it is only done bv 'those capable of such work, and is a matter of ordinary hospital routine, involving hardship to no one. • Np patient who is unfit-is ever asked or permitted to cut ov carry firewod." General M'Gann eoid it would be seen from the above how far the charges were merited. He had no objection to investigating any charge that might be preferred. and to having the fullest publicity given to the same in tho publio Pross, but-he questioned very much whether 6uch publicity was in tho interests of the men and their relatives. . He did so for tho following reasons: (1) That such publicity in the public Press was unsettling to the patients in hospital, and therefore not good for them; (2) that it disturbed and upset the staff; and (3) that until the reply was given it was alarming the relatives and friends of the patients. In the case in question now (ho public would bo able to see whother such alarm was justified, and whether tho proper course had been pursued. He emphasised that every opportunity was always given to the men to complain, and that in the present, instance no complaints, such as were lodged by an outside source, were received.