HOSPITAL MATTERS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1722, 6 April 1882, Page 2

HOSPITAL MATTERS.

{to the editor.] Sir—l desire for the information of the public, to make a plain statement with regard to events which have occurred recently. My -wife has been hi a most critical state of health for some lime, and I was desirdus of having netadmitted to the Kumara Hospital. Od the 6th of last month, t applied to menlbers of .the Committee", arid to the Secretary, for a tickfctj a't tne darile time offering £,{ hi payment: The ticket was refused to me, and I was informed that this was in Consequence of a cohclusion hiving been arrived at that the illness of my wife was chronic. It was also stated that there was no place to put her in-, and that the mate ward was overcrdw'ded. A boy injured by an axe, had bfeen put in the female ward; The medical officer of the hospital, Dr. Porter, attended my wife afc my residence, arid informed me that she should not be lefc alone in the state in which she was, at the same time recommending that I shdald take her to the Greymouth Hospital: In accordance with the advice so given, I took her to* Greymouth by the tram, and, having placed her in an express, eouveyed her to the hospital, having obtained art order for admission frbrii Dr. Achesori, and Mr Yarrall, one of the Receiving Coniniittee: On arriving at the ho£ pital, Mr R"ugg, the dispenser, told trie that my wife, having ccime from Kumara, would ridt be admitted unless I could get someone to guarantee the payment of 30s a week: < I theu offered him tlie sum of £6. This was refused; and I was told to take my wife td Kumara. This was about three d'clock in the afteruoon. I tdok her back, to Greyirionth town, dnd tried at several places to get accommodation, but' was refused by three" holders 8f publicans 5 licenses, although I offered lo pay be. forehand. It was raining heavily dfc the time, and we' had to remain in the streets np to $ o'clock in the evening when Mr Brirrible, of the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, received us. While waiting in tlie pouring rain, a youn«*' woman who had observed the almost dying condition of' my wife, brought her a cup of tea. Dr. Smith came td see her about 10 o'clock that evening, and informed me that he would coifr municate with the Hospital Committee, and let mo know the result. Dr. Achesori and Smith both told me to take my wife back to Kumara, and leave her at the hospital there. I obeyed these instructions, and left Her in the Kumara Hospital ort Saturday evening: Shortly after mid-day on the following day, the Wardsm£o took her' out into tlie road, she being only partly dressed at the titfie. She . was utterly unable to walk or stand; and she' weSs placed with her legs in the' gritter by the side of the road. I may mention that when, gome time' ago, the Hospital Committee advertised for thirty cordil of firewood, I offered to do the work without payment, on condition that the value should go as against the maintenance of Mrs Birch in the hospital, If they would receive her. This was re--fused.--I ami, sir, yoiirs, obediently, .Jakes Bißck Kumara,' April 5, 1882.