A COMPLAINT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5367, 10 June 1878, Page 3

A COMPLAINT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sib,—l am constrained to bring under the notice of the public some most extraordinary conduct of. our Hospital authorities. Having, our little boy a patient in the Hospital, owing to the late accident on Lambton-quaj, his mother, who has herself been ill, and unable to go over to see him during the day, went to the Hospital at 7 o’clock this evening for that purpose, not having been able to do so since the night of the accident. One of the attendants, who said he was in “charge,” refused to .allow her to see her son, even for a few moments, stating that Mr. Monteith was not in. i My wife waited until the church was out, and saw Mr. Monteith go into hia quarters, but , upon applying again was' told that Mr. Monteith was engaged. The man added, in an impudent manner, that she could only see him three times a week, from 2 p.m. to -1 p.jn-, and that the boy was not dying, nor seriously ill, and she could not see Kim after hours.

She was herself suffering from severe face ache/ an d stood for-nearly au hour in the bold street. She had also reason to believe that Mr. Monteith was not engaged. She had walked a long way to see her serf, and had to come back disappointed. ■ ; . We all know that in hospitals there must be certain rules, but ! such a ridiculous and cruel “ rule ” as to refuse a mother the sight of her sick child for a few moments was never before heard of. The disappointment to the child was worse than to the mother, he being in expectation o£ seeing her.—l am, &c, - E. Estcoubt Wyatt. June 9, 1878.