DEATH OF HOSPITAL NURSE.

Shannon News, 21 March 1922, Page 3

DEATH OF HOSPITAL NURSE.

ALLEGED UNHAPPINESS AT INSTITUTION.

The Wanganui Hospital Board held a special meeting recently at which the press were not present, as the outcome of the death of Nurse Edna Hales on January 26. > The Medical Superintendent reported that complaint had been received from friends of the late nurse, specifically as follows: ■ 1. That she was very unhappy here because of, her relationship with the matron.

2. That recently while on night duty she suffered from a succession of septic outbreaks that she reported to the matron but no action was taken. 3. That her final illness was a direct outcome of these.

4. That members of the nurses’ staff are afraid to report sick on account of unsympathetic reception and prefer to remain on duty.)

The nurse’s parents had no complaint to make.

With regard to the complaints the medical superintendent reported:

The late nurse was unhappy here, for what cause I ; cannot certainly say. That she did suffer from septic fingers while on night duty; that the matron was cognisant -of this, and that it was not reported to me. That -death was due to influensal pneumonia, aggravated possibly by her sepUc condition. That Nurse Hale remained op duly two or three days after the onset of her final illness and in the end was compelled to report by one of the ward sisters. I have always impressed the need- of the nurses reporting any illness. If there was fear to report it is very regrettable, but -I have not enough information to report lurther.

The matron in her report* stated

1. That a nurse’s relationship with ■ the matron could be a cause of lasting , to her I cannot under- 1 stand. The relationship is not intimate and personal. Correction of faults : common to youth and in nursing nstitutions do not cause lasting unhap-* piness. I had every hope and belief I that the late nurse would he a success i and I had been gratified by her pro- j gress. I had reason to believe that j any unhappiness was due to a different cause. j 2. I had no knowledge that the late nurse suffered from sepsis while on night duty in December. Had these been known to me it would have been immediately reported to the medical staff.

Concerning the reporting ol illness nurses’ directions are posted in the nurses’ home. Twice recently they were assembled and instructed to report any illness. As to the fear to report I trust that the hoard will discuss it with each mefnber of the nursing staff. The fatal illness occurred when 1 was absent on leave. When I ielt 1 believed no sickness existed amongst the nursing staff. The first) intimation of the illness of Nurse Hales received on the day after I left by the deputy-matron. After hearing the evidence the board cfame to no decision.

At a subsequent meeting of the Board a motion asking the Matron and sub-matron to resign was opposed by several members and was eventually held over pending a fuller enquiry.

Since then 26 hurses and sisters at the hospital have signed letters (t) assuring the Board of their confidence in the matron and' sub-matron and indignation at the statements made in regard to them, and (2) assuring :he matron of their loyalty to her. Two nurses declined td sign the first letter and one refused to sign the second.