HOSPITAL INQUIRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1924, Page 2

HOSPITAL INQUIRY.

A DRAMATIC TURN. j EVIDENCE BY MOTHER OF | PATIENT. j AUCKLAND. Alarch 2 i Tiic most dramatic hour of the ma- j ternal mortality inquiry arrived yesler-J terday, when Airs Rhodes told the tragic story of the slow death of her only daughter. Airs Deliunore. in Kelvin, a fashionable Ronuiera hospital. The case was even more pathetic as Airs Dolnmore made the journey from the Afalay Peninsula so as to have the best care possible. Airs Rhodes, who Is connected with the well-known Auckland family of that name and also with Sir Heaton Rhodes, told her story in a voice vibrant witb emotion. Tears in her eyes always bespoke an imminent breakdown, but with clenched hands she held on until her whole story was told. "I had a great deal of trouble and work getting this commission,” eoneluded Airs Rhodes, “but 1 thought that if we women were going to sit down and allow this secret business between doctors and nurses to go on it would be a shameful thing.”

Opening her evidence Airs Rhodes said that when her daughter came out of chloroform she was astonished to find a strange doctor alongside her and wondered why Dr AA'illiams, who had been engaged, was not there. Dr AA*i 1 - lianis bad gone away and engaged l)r APCormick to take hi. place, blit neither witness nor her daughter had been informed of this. Airs Rhodes said she had something extraordinary to tell the 'Commission regarding the food given luw daughter on the day of her confinement. AVas it. a proper thing to give her mashed potatoes, turnips and gravy and pudding made out of sponge cakes? For tea her daughter had bread and butter, jam ami tinned salmon. Her daughter told her that after tea in the evening.

It struck you as very extraordinary? —lt did. I said afterwards when my daughter had dysentery, "Do you think it is likely to be caused by ptomaine poisoning?”

Witness, wlio at times laboured under profit emotion, said that a morning or two later she rang up the hospital from her resilience just across the road and asked about her daughter, who had seemed well and bright after her confinement. She was told that she was very well. Witness went out. When she returned home in the niternoon the nurse, who looked after her daughter’s little hoy, told her that she had been over to the hospital and that her daughter was seriously ill and could hardly speak. Witness went over and saw her daughter, who was already panting and of a yellow while colour. She only remained with her for a few minutes and then went out and saw the matron.

--•Who gave her chloroform?’ I asked, and the matron said she hail when tho doctor gave her a douche. I asked, 'ls she septicand the matron said, ‘No.’ ” AA itnoss had seen tiic chart of her daughter and that one night she had nearly died of heart failure, yet- the people at the hospital had not oven taken the trouble to .summon her from across the road.

“When .1 rang up on Saturday illuming,” said Airs Rhodes, “I was told my daughter was not so well. 1 went over to see my girl. Her mouth was black and dry. I was asked to get some ice for ' the matron could not get any. I went to a dairy and got a little and I went around to simps where they sold ice cream and got some more. On Sunday my daughter had the same dreadful appearance and in the evening the sister came out and said to me, ‘Alia Rhodes, wo think it is appendicitis.’ r l'he matron also .-aid it was that. Dr APCormick sal. at the end of the room and said, ‘I think it is a little flatulence.’

“On Alomlay morning,” said witness, speaking with great difficulty

"I unit into my dauehtor's room. I>y th" look of her 1 did not think thewould live tin hour. I railed the sister out of the room 1 said 'Sister, what is the matter with her?’ ‘The sister said, 'I think the doctors don’t know.’ I 1 lien went across the road and rail"; l)r Hull. I said ‘Doctor, i think liiv daughter is dyiii". She is slipping away. They tell me none of the doctors know wlmt is the matter with her. Jf that is so then for Clod’s sake "ct every doctor in Auckland until you fiml out.’ Dr Dull said, ‘Mrs Rhodes, we 1 • • > .>v wlmt is the matter with her. Wo have known since I saw her on Tuesday.’ I asked, ‘Wlmt is itP and the doctor replied, ‘lt is puerperal septicaemia.’ I asked, ‘Doctor, will she die?’ lie replied, T do not think she has a very chance, hilt I will do what [ c:m.’ lie then told me her heart was very had indeed.”

Witness wont on to declare there were no proper facilities for nursing her daughter at Kelvin. She complained that when the matron was asked who was looking after her daughter at night simply shook her head. AA'itness authorised her to engage another night nurse from outside. regardless of expense, which the matron said she did mu want to put her io. AA'lien the nurse came she was wearing pink and cream -lockings, and she had bangles on. Witness did not. like her. She asked Dr .APCormick to get another. Dr APCormick simply asked her what she would want next. Al.rs Rhodes then made a siatenu-nt (hat to her own knowledge. by her personal observations, -be- could say that bed pans containing virulent luattei had been emptied down the water closet which convalescent patients bad to use. '-AA'lien Dr AUC onniek opine over to niv house l asked him why be did not tell the truth.” she continued, i He said. ‘AVell, we use our discretion as to what we tell patients.’ 1 said,] ‘-AVell, whether my daughter recovers I or not, the matter will not end there ’ Dr APCormick left pm and went In Air Delamore’s mother. He told her that Mrs Del a m ore was ..offering from malaria and that he would not say she was not a little septic. AA'lien I asked him what right the matron had to give lay daughter chloroform he almost shouted that she had every right. ■'On Thursday night,” continued witness, with much emotion, “My daughTer called out, “Justice, justice, justice, just Then a gong sounded in the hall. I went out and saw the matron had just sounded it. ! told Dr APCormick not to let me see the matron any more or 1 would kill her. 1 did not see her any more. That night when niv daughter called out '-Justice" was the only time she was not clear in her head up to the time she called 'Mother, mother’ and died.” !

Mrs Rhodes then related how oil Monday morning she gave her blood for transfusion to her daughter in u last hope to save her. Her daughter said, after, “Thank you mother, you were good.” AA’itness thou related her interview with the Medical Officer of Health. Dr Hughes, when she learned that the hospital was to be re-opened. •"AA'liat are you going to do about Kelvin?’ she said. Dr Hughes said ••it has been fumigated twice. The doctors are satisfied and we are opening again in a fortnight.” AA’itness told him that she would have to protest in writing, and she did. She told Dr Hughes that Kelvin ought to ho burned down. “Dr Hughes told me that I would have to be careful and to look after myself,” said Airs Rhodes. "I told him they could not heal my

broken heart, bill that I could try and prerent other people's hearts being broken.”