REWA HOSPITAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1922, Page 1

REWA HOSPITAL.

RESULT OF ENQUIRIES,

(Grey Star.)

Glowing reports concerning the management of the Rewa Maternity Home anj the treatment of patients there wore made at a special meeting of the Grey River Hospital Board held this morning to consider applications for positions of assist nurses at Rewa, rendered vacant by the resignation of tlie present staff. There were present: Mr J. W. Hannan (chairman), the Revs. A. ,T. pnrnell, and T. N. Cuttle, Messrs F. Williams, A. Robinson, and W. H. Parfitt.

In addition to the consideration of the applications the meeting received a report from the visiting committee set up .at the last meeting of the Board to investigate the conditions at the home. Mr J. Irvine, chairman of the committee was unable to attend, but had forwarded a report. The discussion centred around the adoption of the. report-, which was as follows: “As Chairman of the Visiting Committee, to which was referred to investigation the various complaints made in respect of the administration of “Rewa’ Maternity Home, T am instructed liy the Committee that it lias made very full inquiries into the question of the administration of the institution and into the rumours that have boon circulated in reference thereto. In the course of the investigations, the Committee interviewed members of the staff T)rs Mcßroartv and McKay, the patients of Rewa, and the majority of those who have been patients there since the institution >vas opened by the Board.

“\s a result, of the inquiries the Committee is satisfied that the rumours that have been circulated in reference to the poor quality of the food supplied to patients and the inefficiency of the nursing attention are quite unfounded, atul that the patients’ diet both as to quantity and quality has been all that could be desired and that the nursing staff has throughout been most attentive.

‘•There has been some dissatisfaction amongst tbc nursing staff, duo, in the opinion of the Committee, to the unsatisfactory sleeping quarters provided for the nurse on night duty, but this has in no way interfered with the efficiency of the staff. As it is desirable that the accommodation provided for the nurses ho such as to enable a complete rest to be had after night duty, the Committee rceommenods that the Board consider the urgent question of providing better sleeping quarters for the night nurse. “Tile Committee desires to add that in the course of its investigation it was confronted by many rumours as to the unsatisfactory treatment received bv

(patients whist inmates of “Rewa,” but though it made most searching inquiries. in no ease were any such rumours substantiated, but on the contrary, the patients spoke gratefully of the kindness and attention shown them by the Matron and nurses and the Committee is of opinion that the statements made in reference to tho unsatisfactory administration of “Rewa” have been circulated maliciously by persons who have no actual knowledge of the institution and with intent to detrimentally affect the carrying on of the institution.”

Tlie Chairman said that it was quite evident that the reports which had been in circulation wore quite unfounded. The names of several women had been mentioned and ho had interviewed them and found that they were all well satis. Tied. The only unfavourable statement was one made by a woman who had not been in the homo for five veai-R! (Laughter). Both medical practitioners were of opinion thnt the TTomo was well managed, and had stated that when they read the report in the newspapers that there was trouble at Rewa they were surprised. Tt was therefore very strange that such extraordinary rumours had been in circulation. The women who had been in tlie Home were more than pleased with their treatment the doctors had not noticed any friction and the one condemnation was that of a woman who had not been in the place for five years. “That is a long time!” said a meml>cr. The Secretary read two letters from recent patients, both of whom were highly pleased with tlioir experience of the Home and greatly indignant at the rumours circulated concerning it. One stated that she could not have boon better treated in her own home, and that the sight of the matron ns she went smiling through the wards cheered everybody.

Mr Parfitt in moving that the report lie adopted, said the Visiting Committee were to he thanked for the trouble they had taken in securing the report, which certainly put a now light on conditions at the Home.

Other members .concurred, and tbo report wa adopted, with a recommendation that it he handed to the Press.

Several applications, accompanied by good credentials, were received for the vacant positions and it was sonic time before th o final selection was made. On the motion of Mr Robinson, seconded by Mr Parfitt, Nurses Nancy T. Ross (Wellington), and Jessie Johnston (Christchurch) were appointed. Miss Ross, after completing general training at the Wellington Hospital, was sister-in-eharge of Wairoa (Hawkes Bay) Hospital. Sho later took a special course in midwifery at the Wairnu Maternity Hospital, Blenheim, on.completion she was appointed sister-in-charge of tlie institution. She is residing in Wellington at present. MiRS Johnston was attached to the staff of Rewa as sister-in-eharge before the hospital was . taken over by tho Board. She has had five years’ private experience and is also qualified as a Plnnket nurse. Sho is at present in Christchurch, and wns formerly a resident of tlie West Coast.