HOSPITAL ENQUIRY.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 108, 17 April 1884, Page 2

HOSPITAL ENQUIRY.

In pursuance with a resolution passed at the last meeting of the Hospital Committee, an inquiry into the two accounts which were referred back for explanation was held last night. The members present were Messrs. Booth (in the chair), Jobson, A. Graham, Nolan, Brown, and McKay (secretary). Mr. Brown said he attended ex officio, and some discussion ensued as to that gentleman being a member of the Committee. The Secretary then read the minutes of the last meeting, and in answer to Mr. Nolan, stated that the inquiry had been called in pursuance of a resolution passed at the last meeting with a view of holding an enquiry into the internal management of the institution, and to hear explanation as to two accounts which had come forward for payment. He had asked the Wardsman, Mr. Chrisp, to attend, but he had not come at present. Mr. Brown said Mr. Harrop, who had acted as wardsman during the absence of Chrisp, was in attendance, but no blame could possibly be attached to him as he had nothing whatever to do with ordering the goods and only had to look after the patients. Mr. Nolan wished to know who had ordered the eggs. Mr. Jobson enquired where the meat and eggs could go to. Of course these things would not be sent in unless they were ordered by some one. Mr. Adair would like to see the Wardsman’s Report. Mr. A. Graham thought these two accounts should be gone into, and then a general examination should be made into the past accounts. Mr. Matthewson thought the management might be conducted more economically, and they should see if this could not be done. Mr. Graham said there had been a good deal of correspondence in the papers about this, and he thought they should go well into the matter so as to set things right before the public. Mr. Nolan (contemptuously): Yes, there has been in one paper. Mr. Brown said the papers were right in one sense, as the last Wardsman’s Report led them and the Committee to think there had only been one patient during the month of March, whereas there had been eight up to the 20th. Teat and Friar’s bill certainly looked large for the month, but there was £3 for coal. If this were deducted the account would not be much larger than usual. Mr. A. Graham thought they should inspect these two accounts and then go into matters for the past year. He did not think the expenses were great, and had only once to call attention to the milk bill. They could clear up these two accounts and then compare them with the previous accounts for a like period. Afterwards they should go into the cost of patients and see what they cost per head for food, coal, medicine and comforts, Ac. In answer to a question the secretary said he had no account of the number of patients who had been in during the last month. Mr. Matthewson remarked that they were entirely at the mercy of the wardsman, and had no check whatever. Was there no diet scale ? The Secretary said he had put the question to Dr, Pollen at the last meeting and he (the Doctor) had replied that they never even looked at it. Mr. Jobson and Mr. Nolan remarked that there had not been any previous complaints. During the course of some further remarks the wardsman entered. Mr. Matthewson said there seemed to be no check at all on the goods obtained. In reply to a question, Mr. McKay said there was a dietary scale, but it had not been kept up. Mr. Jobson said they could not blame the wardsman for that, as he was absent then. Mr. N olan asked how it was this extravagance had not been found out before. Mr. Jobson replied that no overcharge had been observed previously, except one item of milk.

Mr. Graham proposed that the account of Teat and Fryer be gone into. Mr. Matthewson seconded. Mr. Jobson asked if they had the accounts for the whole year, so that they could compare them with last year’s. Mr. McKay said the Treasurer had the receipted accounts in his possession. Mr. Brown (the Treasurer) said he could give the vouchers for every account that had been paid since 1874. Mr. Jobson said they all wanted the accounts for the last year, to compare with this year. Mr. Nolan thought it was no good going into them unless they had the sum totals. Mr. Brown could show the aggregate amounts that had been paid away in that time. Mr. Jobson said they had been charged with gross extravagance and he wanted to get at the accounts, to see if there was any extravagance, and if so, how much. Mr. Brown said he could give everything that had been spent on account of the Hospital, as everything was separate. Mr. Graham thought they could all go into the account of Teat A Fryer on the table, and see what each patient had cost. In answer to the Chairman, the Wardsman said he went through the account and evamined it, and found it correct. He did not give it special examination more than usual. Mr. Graham wished to know how many people there were in the Hospital to be kept, in the month of March. The Wardsman replied that there were nine people in the Hospital that month. The length of time they were in as follows :—lst, 4 days; 2nd, 2 days; 3rd, 19 days; 4th, 19 days; sth, 12 days; 6th, 31 days; 7th, 14 days; Bth, 31 days ; 9th, 31 days. This was exclusive of his two youngsters. There was also a woman there for two days. That was all.

Mr. Jobson said that would make about five and a-half patients for the full month. Mr. McKay said the meat scale was about 8 ozs., including bone. Mrs. Chrisp said the meat scale per day was about 12 ozs., including bone. The tripe, sausages, Ac., may be charged in excess, but they had to be obtained, as the doctor ordered them. They were for a sick woman. Mr. Brown did not think the last month was the right one to go on. Miss Wilkinson was looking after that portion of the hospital, in the wardsman’s absence, and she did not understand the run of things. The doctor stated that beef tea had to be thrown out in abundance, as the patients would not always take it. The treasurer remarked, in answer to questions put, that it took about £7OO a year to work the Hospital. There was medicine, and medical comforts, rations, Ac., to be found, and £266 went for salaries. The average butcher’s account was about £2 13s. a month, and medical comforts (liquor) about 10s. a month. Mr. Nolan said the account must be wrong, as there was an amount of £3 Is. 6d. on the last day of the month for coal. Mr. McKay asked if tripe was an extra thing. The Wardsman said that the amount for tripe and sausages in the account was about as usual.

Mrs. Chrisp said they could not always get tripe, only now and again. Mr. Nolan asked the doctor if he was aware how much tripe patients eat. The Doctor replied that he did not. Mr. Jobson said there was seven pounds of gravy beef in one day, and on several other days. That was reasonable, and they could not grumble at the account. There might necessarily be a deal more meat consumed than the exact rations. Mr. Nolan saw after all there was only a difference of 15s. and that was for the tripe and sausages. Mr. Graham said it was stated there were five and a half patients in the Hospital during the month of March. By the butchers account it appeared that there had been too many extras, as it exceeds the average by about five shillings, otherwise everything seemed correct. Mr. Matthewson enquired how it was now made out that there were nine patients in the Hospital during the month, when at last meeting in reply to a question put by himself, it was stated there was only one. Mr. Graham said the wardsman should weigh everything in future, and check the accounts. Mr. Matthewson said that this had been ordered some time ago, but no notice was taken of it. The Wardsman said he did weigh everything that came in, and entered it in a pass book, which could be seen at the Hospital. Mr. Brown said it was necessary a pass book should be kept for everything. He had moved that before and would do so again. Mr. Jobson and Mr. Nolan enquired what about the eggs ? Who ordered them ? The Wardsman said he could not furnish that information, there were plenty of people to eat them. Mr. Graham said they averaged about two eggs a day to each individual in the Hospital, or a little more than two. The doctor said everyone had eggs. The Chairman said that was extravagance and unnecessary. The Doctor said there was a woman in the Hospital suffering from consumption and she frequently had raw eggs, which were necessary for her. Mr. Chrisp said the patients had a good many eggs. Mr. Jobson said he did not care how many eggs were ordered if they were really required. The doctor had put them in a different light, and showed that they were required. Mr. Adair said the account seemed fair and reasonable enough. The doctor said, in answer to a question put by Mr. Graham, that the medical comforts averaged 10s. a month. He gave the orders for them. Mr. Jobson said this month was 12s. but that did not matter. The doctor said it was impossible to have a dietary scale. Mr Matthewson then thought it would be impossible to check the accounts. Mr. Graham then thought they would have to trust to the Hospital people. Mr. Jobson did not think it was the Committee’s duty to supervise everything that was obtained. They would have to trust to the Hospital people. Mr. Matthewson said if that was the case they could not do anything. At the last meeting they were given to understand that there was only one patient in the Hospital during the month, and now they .were told there were nine. Mr. McKay was of opinion that a dietary scale should be adopted. He did not see any difficulty to prevent it. Mr. Graham suggested that a sub-commit-tee should be appointed to enquire into the matter, and find the cost of the year, and compare it with past years, Mr. Jobson concurred with this. Mr. Nolan was not going to enquire 'into the past. He had done his duty and that was all he would do. Mr. Adair proposed, and Mr, Jobson seconded, “ That the accounts be passed, as they had been found not to be excessive.” Mr. Nolan enquired the meaning of a letter which appeared in the Telephone of the 12th instant, a paragraph in which stated that a patient had been charged £4 a week. He did not know of such a patient. He knew that a patient had been in, who had been charged £2 a week—2ss. for himself, and 15s for attendance. The doctor said that the patient had an attendant sleeping in his chamber every night. He had been treated as his private patient. Mr. Nolan thought such statements as these, which were untrue, should not go at random. Mr. Jobson said they could only disprove them by facts. Mr. Matthewson thought they should go into the question of the grounds of the Hospital. Mr. Johnson said they could not do so at this meeting. Mr. Nolan said another question they should decide was with regard to the fever ward, which was an immense building, and should be let as a residence. It had never been used since its erection. The Chairman thought something ought to be done with it, asit would turn in something. At present it was in a very dirty state, and required cleaning. Mr. Matthewson suggested that the expenses of the Hospital be reduced by dispensing with one hand. They did not require three people to look after five and a-half patients. They should also obtain a cow, instead of having to buy milk. After a great deal of unnecessary talk, Mr. Jobson moved, “ That a sub-Committee draw up a report, showing the average cost for groceries, meat, milk, firewood, medicine, &c., per patient during the past year. The Committee to consist of Messrs. Brown, Matthewson, McKay, and Graham, and to report at the next monthly meeting.” Mr. Graham seconded the motion. He though Mr. Matthewson’s suggestions good ones. If the fever ward was let it would have to be fenced off. Mr. McKay said he could not let it to any one before it was fenced off. Mr. Nolan said the best plan would be to insure it and then set fire to it. Mr. Matthewson said they could advertise it to let. Mr. Nolan said he could easily get a tenant for it. Mr. Adair thought, before they broke up, they should express their strong disapproval of the reports that had been circulated in the papers, which were very hard on the Committee. Some of the i eports stated that the Committee were working for interested motives. Mr. McKay thought it would be better to let the facts contradict the statements. Mr. Graham said they personally got no benefit from the Hospital. The Chairman thought they should take no notice of the statements. Mr. Matthewson agreed with that. Mr. Nolan thought the persons should sign their names. He would like to understand the Telephone’s leader. He had perused it several times but failed to understand the first part. He seconded Mr. Adair’s motion, Mr. Matthewson moved as an amendment “ That no notice be taken.”

Mr, Graham thought the report of the meeting would be sufficient* The doctor thought it beyeath notice* It was an attempt to injure thihospital* After some further table talk, highly condemnatory of the action taken by the Telephone in this matter, and stating that such reports should be put a stop to, and the papers made to tell the truth instead of lies, the matter then dropped, and the meeting adjourned.