GISBORNE HOSPITAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1918, Page 4

GISBORNE HOSPITAL.

REPORT OP COMMISSION.

■ WELLINGTON, Fel). 24

The report of Mr ST. W. Bishop regarding the Gisborne Hospital, considers that the institution in the past was not efficiently conducted, that the hospital provides ample accommodation which is perhaps unduly; strained at 1 limes of severe epidemics, but this should he provided for without undue strain, that the cost to the in comparison with other hospitals is reasonable, that the by-laws arc amply sufficient to maintain discipline, and there is no reason to believe that they are not living enforced. .Regarding the reported unrest, the report says there has been an extraordinary amount of unrest in the institution for a considerable number of years. The , trouble probably commenced six years ago, owing to the most deplorable lack of discipline. The then matron had out-lived her usefulness, and the new matron had • a long up-lrilf struggle, hut little by little sbe broke down the opposition, and although the difficulties had not yet entirely disappeared, the whole tone .of the institution had improved. Mr Bishop pays a high tribute to the courage and grit displayed by Miss Tait, the present matron. The Commissioner also considers that some of the unrest is due to the action 'of some reactionary members of~past hoards, who outnumbered the “ reformers,” who, if they had had a. free hand, would have obviated the necessity for this enquiry. The Board now, however, was considerably changed, and might still be further changed without, loss of influence. Mr Bishop pays tributes to the work of the past two chairmen, and believes that the present chairman is also likely to cany on the good work, lie acquits the Public Health Hospital and Charitable Aid Department of any blame in the matter, and finds that the honorary staff is in no way responsible for the unrest at the hospital. He considers that if the matron and medical superintendent work together, only good can result, but that that has not been the case in the past. There is no doubt that the medical superintendent, has be'fn greatly overworked, and his physical health suffered in consequence, he being not at the present time in such a condition of health as to make his retention desirable. He has done efficient work in the past, but that efficiency has not been continued. A change of some sort is needed. Evidence was given of the neglect of the patients by nurses in the past, but none of these nurses are now on the st’aff of the hospital. There have been eightytwo resignations from the staff in the past five years. There was in the past no effective discipline .of the nursin'* staff maintained by the responsible officers, but this is gradually’’ being remedied. The training of pupil nurses is being conducted entirely in (tiCcordan.ee with the regulations. Lectures are regularly given by the medical superintendent and nurses. There are seven private hospitals in' Gisborne, with fifty-eight beds, which I is more in proportion than towns of similar population. There is no satisfactory evidence as t# the amount of the interest of medical men .in these hospitals, except in one case.' On the ! other hand, Drs Wilson, Reeve, and Kahlenberg have no financial interest in any private hospital. The mere fact that medical men have a financial interest in private hospitals at once raises a suspicion in cases of unrest in a public hospital as at Gisborne, some «f which may be due to interested parties keeping it alive for ignoble motives. If so the thing is so contemptible mean, and utterly ignoble that one may reasonable liesi- y late to identify members of an honourable profession with anything so dastardly. Air Bishop considers no

medical man who is interested in a private liostpital should he eligible, for a seat on a Hospital Board. He says that one cannot, -ignore the fact that the general public rightly or. wrongly attribute the greater part, of the unrest being kept alive to the action of one man who made himself busy in ejspOusing the clause of individual nurses who acme under the matrons ! ban and by talking in indiscreet maiiI net- about wliat he would and would I not do. Such criticism had much better been kept for the Board room* He .considers that with a new experienced m hospital superintendent working amicably with the matron nothing hut good should result. The Commissioner, in concluding, hesitates to express any opinion upen the propriety of retaining the new regulation under the Nurses’ Registration Act, which provides that the training of pupil nurses may not he terminated without the consent of the Registrar of Nurses or whether it is indeed ultra vires. Aiid a great deal ean he s;iM both for and against its retention. It may he mischevious or the reverse. Mr Bishop prefers to leave it at that.