Inquiry

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 141, 1 July 1937, Page 5

Inquiry

-Press As'aooiatloil. )

ta™i of evidence concluded 1 — — ( "Something Fundamentally Wrong Somewhere" DR. SHORE'S TESTIM0NY

( By 1'elegtaph-

WELLINGTON, This Day. "I must say that this inquiry has heen a revelation to me, and speaking as a layman, there is soinething fundamentally * wrong somewhere," said Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., chairman of the Royal Commission wihicli has heen investigatiiig the affairs of the Napier Public Rospital, when the1 inquiry concluded in Wellington to-day. The Commission, he said, had aiuch better material than he anticipated would be ayailable on which to found its report to the Govemor-General. The only witness to-day was Dr» R. A. Shore, Director of the Hospitals Division of the Health Department. He produced plans of the hospitai before the earthquake of 1031) and pointed out that after the visitation the only patts left were two storeys in the middle and oue ward. Plans were prepared for .rebuilding, and things were going ahead. When the question of establishing a base hospitai at Hastings altered the whole outlook, there was a public demand for aingle-Storey wards, which caused some delay in completing the reconstruction programme. It was decided to provide 50 general beds at Hastings, plus 14 maternity beds. The question of isolation accooimodation arose, and it was decided to erect a two-storey ward on the side of the old Robjohtt ward in Napier, which made the arrangements more compaet and efiicient for administration. The Health Department approved these arrangements, although it was concerned regarding prOvision for future development in the face of unanimous publie opinion. Howcver, it was hardly Within the power of the Department to refuse. The Department 's poliey was always to visualise on any hospitai site proyision for doubliUg the existing accommodation. Sir James Elliott: There were very efficient isolation wards distant from the main buildings, as at Wellington. Dr. Shore said that modBrn practice was not to depend on distanoe for isolation, but to rely on. ward technique. In the proposed ward no patienc would be m contact with an- , other, but would be separated by glass screens. . , , . -A-* I'oden shiu. LliG iD."* quiry at Napier perhaps had not done justiee to the Department in its efforts to safeguard the health of tho aurses. . Dr. Shore said that the question of the nurses ' health had engaged the attention of the Department for some years past, owing to the increased iacidence of T.B. among nurses. He gave details of citculars sent out by the Department regarding prevention of this and other diseases and early deteetion of treatment, also recomoiendations to boards on the sub^In reply to Mr. Mosley, Dr. Shore said that the department had had complaints during the past f ew months that the number of applications for training was decreasing. The worst period for T.B. in a female was generally between 20 and 30, and in the case of nurses between 19 and 20. Dr. Shore said that girls were taken as young as 19 for training. Sir James Elliot asked if witness thought a girl was as resistent to infection at 19 as if she were a few years older. Dr.S'hore said that ineidence appearecl to be greater. SiSr James Elliot asked if, without a large ' inspeetorial staff, the Department eould make a thorough inspection of hospitals from year to year. Witness replied in the negative. Mr. hfosley asked if witness did not think it might be advisable to tighten up the control of publie hospitals some way-or other. ]ir, Shore: "I was going to ask the Director-General to answer that." Ooneluding the . inquiry, Mr. Mosley said he did not know enough about the matters before the inquiry to be able to put his finger on the trouble, but personally he would like to see the position altered if within bounds of practical politics. " We have the hardesi task bfore us," he added.