THE HOSPITAL TRUSTEES

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1959, 15 December 1906, Page 2

THE HOSPITAL TRUSTEES

(To the Editor of the Times.)

Sir, —A great deal has been said lately i in your columns of the imperfections of , our local Hospital, Will you allow me to appear in defence of that excellent insti- ■ tution and its worthy matron ? During this year I have spent over three months within its walls as a patient, and I have had in other ways an excellent opportunity of knowing what was going on there. I found the staff, both matron and nurses, to bo uniformly capable and conscientious in their work, and kindly and considerate in their treatment of the patients, in Juno and July the Hospital was full, and it was short-hafnled, and there was a rush of serious operations, so that I saw the organisation strained to its uttermost. I can only say that I would be a proud man if anyone told me that I do my work as well as Miss Stewart and the nurses did theirs. They ran themselves to tho verge of breakdown (one of them did breakdown and may never enter a ward again); hut they kept every patient well attended to, I did not hear a grumble nor sec tho slightest cause for complaint; hut I did hear many expressions of wonder and admiration at the way in which matron and nurses were rising to tho occasion, Now, sir, you are calling for an enquiry into the Hospital. I have lived here all the time we have had Miss Stewart as matron, and I have frequently heard old patients discuss the Hospital, but 1 have never found ■ a mau of them who had not the highest respect for Miss Stewart and her nurses. In my own case I owe them a great deal for ihe care and the skill, the kindness and tho unfailing courtesy I received 1 from all of them, and I shall be delighted to lind any opportunity of showing it.— Yours, etc., ' TIIOS. TODD.