ILL-TREATED PATIENTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 September 1926, Page 1

IL L-TREATED PATIENTS.

LONDON, July 21 Strong comments ou the treatment of patients and nurses in many nursing homes and on the need for stricter control over such homes are contained in the report of the Select Committee on Nuriug Homes (Registration) published yesterday. (Stationery Office 4d). tho committee “ are of opinion that the existence of a genuine need for the registration and supervisor of nursing homes is fully established. . “ .Many homes which cater for surgical cases are without any form of operating theatre, and consequently operations have to be carried on in the patient’s bedroom, with all the attendant difficulties in regard to lighting, heating, ventilation and adequate disinfection. The kitchen arrangements are inconvenient, and, it is stated, in a certain class of home frequently insanitary. “ in some eases the rooms are quite unsuitable for use as bedrooms. -Matrons are often completely unqualified. Several cases have been reported where it is alleged that the matron or person in charge is frequently drunk. PATIENTS NEGLECTED. “ Owing to insufficiency or lack of qualification in the staff, patients, particularly of the senile chronic type, are stated to be left entirely to administer their own wants although often quite incapable of doing so. No adequate protection is taken to prevent dissemination of contagious and infectious diseases. . . Elderly and senile patients practically put away in a cheap home by relations who take no further interest in them, suffer great indignities, are very unhappy and too Lightened to make any complaint.” Converted dwelling houses, the committee state, are poor and expensive substitutes for specially built hospitals. Provision for paying patients should be made by equipping private hospitals and extending the paying-ward system in the existing big hospitals. Early legislation is recommended providing for some form of supervision and inspection. Supervision should he by courftv and county borough councils, and inspection by* medical officers of health, helped by other technical officers. All nursing homes, including maternity homes, should be brought under one comprehensive scheme.