BULLER HOSPITAL BOARD’S VIEW OF PRESS INFORMATION

Grey River Argus, 17 September 1948, Page 8

BULLER HOSPITAL BOARD’S VIEW OF PRESS INFORMATION

Widely differing from the decision of the Grey Hospital Board, the Buller Board at its monthly meeting decided that its staff continue giving information on accident cases to the press. Asked by Mr T. X. O’Neill for his opinion on the decision of the Grey Hospital Board s not to give information on accident cases to the press, after a recommendation to that effect had been made by its Medical Superintendent (Dr Barclay), Dr D. R. Ryder (Medical Superintendent) said that the ruling was legally correct, but other aspects had to be considered. . By co-operating with the press, he had* found that it prevented reports which might be inaccurate and cause anguish to patients and theii- relatives. Often laymen gave false reports to pressmen, and it was better for all concerned that they should be corrected. “I have never known a patient to complain of a report being given to the press of his or her condition ', added Dr Ryder. “Similarly, I cannot see any patient making a claim against the Board for telling the press of the effects of an accident — an illness is a different matter”. BEEN PESTERED?

He added that when the press was told that an accident victim was seriously injured or otherwise, it helped the relatives who might have heard distorted or garbled accounts. Dr Ryder felt that Dr Barclay might have been pestered by the press at Greymouth, but he certainly did not have that experience at Westport. Hon. W. H. Mclntyre said that the Board had decided that the Matron and Medical Superintendent should give such information as they con sider advisable to the press on accident cases after, it had been found that a previous matron had not been very co-operative in that direction. THE INSURANCE COMPANIES

Dr Ryder said it was a different matter giving information to companies, and he had been accused of not being co-operative by one firm. Mr Mclntyre said that the Hospital Boards’ Association had investigated complaints of insurance company representatives getting information from hospitals which they later used against patients. “I was told that such information had often been given at Westport”, said Dr Ryder. Mr Mclntyre, said that should have been something for the Board to consider.

Dr Ryder gave an instance of a case in which rumour described a mafn as having lost. two arms, when he was merely suffering from a thumb injury. i