NAPIER HOSPITAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 180, 1 July 1937, Page 2

NAPIER HOSPITAL

CONTINUATION OF INQUIRY. EVIDENCE AT AVELLINGTON. Per Press Association. AVELLINGTON, July 1. “I must say that this inquiry has been a revelation to me and, speaking as a layman, there is something iundamentully wrong somewhere,” said All- E. D. Mosley, chairman of the Royal Commission which has been investigating the affairs of the Napier Public HospitfJY when the inquiry was concluded at AVellington to-day. The Commission, belaid, had much better material than lie’had anticipated would lie available on which to found its report to the Governor-General.

The only witness to-day was Dr R. A. Shore, Director of the Hospitals Division of the Health Department. He produced the plans of the hospital before the earthquake of 1931 and pointed out that alter the visitation the only parts left were two storeys in the middle of one ward. Plans wore prepared for rebuilding and things were going ahead when the question of establishing a base hospital at Hastings altered the whole outlook. There was a public demand for single-storeyed wards, which' caused some delay in completing the reconstruction programme.

It was decided, said Dr Shore, to provide 50 general beds at Hastings plus 14 maternity beds. The question of isolation accommodation arose and it was decided to erect a two-storeyed ward on the site of the old Rohjohns ward, which made the arrangements more compact and efficient for administration.

The Health Department approved of these arrangements, although it was concerned regarding the provision for future development in the face of the unanimous public opinion. However. it was hardly within the powei of the department to refuse. T'lie department's policy was always to visualise on 11113- hospital site provision for doubling the existing accommodation.

Sir James Elliott: There were very efficient isolation wards distant from the main buildings, as at AVellington.

Dr Shore said that the modern practice was not to depend on distance for isolation, but to rely on ward technique. In the proposed ward no patient would he in contact with another, but would be separated by glass screens. Air N. A. Foden (for the DirectorGeneral of Health) said that the inquire at Napier had perhaps not done justice to the department in its efforts to safeguard the health of the nurses.

Dr Shore said that the question of the .nurses’ health had engaged the attention of the department for some years past, owing to the increased incidence of tuberculosis among nurses. He gave details of circulars sent out by the department regarding the prevention of 1 his and other diseases and early detection treatment; also recommendations to boards on the subject.

In reply to Mr Mosley. Dr Shore said that the department had had complaints during the past lew months that the number of applications • lor training was decreasing. The worst period for tuberculosis: in the female generally was between twenty and thirty years and in the case of nurses between 19 and 20. Dr. Shore said that girls were taken as young as 19 vc.ars for training. Sir James Elliot asked if witness thought, a girl was as resistant to infection .at 19 as if she were a few years older. Dr. Shore said that the incidence appeared to be greater. •Sir James asked if without a large inspectorial staff the department could make a thorough inspection of the hospitals from year to year. Witness replied m the negative. . Mi- Mosley asked if witness did not think it might be advisable to tighten up the control of public hospitals in some way or other. Dr. Shore: 1 was going to ask the Director-General to answer that. Concluding the inquiry, Mr Mosley said he did not know enough about the matters before the inquiry to he able to put his finger on the trouble hut, personally, lie would like to see the position altered, if it was within the hounds of practical polities. “AVe have the hardest task before us,” lie added.