THE PATEA HOSPITAL.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 498, 7 February 1880, Page 2

THE PATEA HOSPITAL.

(7b the Editor of the Patea Mail.) Sin, —Permit mo through your columns to call the attention of the public in geneial, and the managers of the Patea Hospital in particular, to the existing state of affairs at that institution known as the Hospital. On Friday last an order was granted to admit Mr J. Hansen as a private patient, who three weeks ago met with a very serious accident in Bedford-street, Ho was at once conveyed to the Hospital, where his friends felt satisfied that with proper care and treatment, combined with the well-ventilated room in which he was placed, hopes of his recovery might be favorably entertained. Orders were left by his medical attendant (Dr Keating) that he must receive the best of nourishing food, and the patron in charge of the building assured the Doctor that he should receive every attention.

But imagine the surprise of his friends (who called to see him on Sunday morning) to learn from him (Mr Hansen) that it seemed scarcely possible to obtain sufficient nourishment to keep bun from starving ; and this fact, to the mind of a casual observer, was fully borne out, for it was evident that there was nothing in the Hospital fit tor a man in the full bloom of health to eat, say nothing of a man whose very life almost hinged upon the treatment he received in the absence of his medical attendant.

Mr Wright, the patron of the Hospital, informed ns that an order had been sent the day previous to the storekeeper (who lias the contract to supply the Hospital) for two dozen eggs* and the storekeeper told him they were not to be had. Butter, too, seemed a very scarce article, and such as there was I have no hesitancy.hi saying it would have been considered a disgrace to have placed upon the table of any civilised family. Dr Keating was at once apprised of the foregoing facts, and as a wise medical man, he immediately ordered the removal of Ids patient, though not before the patient had expressed Ids desire in the most emphatic terms —in fact he assured all his friends that unless lie was removed at once, no iiopes of Jiis recovery need for a moment bo entertained.

Such a state of affairs at a public hospital, where those who are unfortunately, by accident or otherwise, compelled to sedc shelter, needs the closest investigation. I do not myself wish to lay blame to any particular person, but T do hope, in the name of humanity, that where the fault is, there let the censure strike. One thing is certain, that if the Fate i County Hospital is to be looked upon as an institution where human suffering can be alleviated, and the wants of the sick carefully and kindly attended to, a great change must take place ; for I must confess that in its present state it partakes more of the nature of a gaol, where patients are carefully sustained upon bread and water (to reduce their physical and mental activity), so that their presence in the institution, when once they leave, need never, be looked lor again. Now, I trust these few hints will he sufficient to stir np an investigation, and lead to the proper management of an institution which, above all others, ought to he managed upon humane principles.—f am, Szo.j F. G. MACE. Carlyle, February 3rd, 1880.