WANGANUI HOSPITAL BOARD.

Taihape Daily Times, 19 December 1918, Page 5

WANGANUI HOSPITAL BOARD.

COMPLAINTS FROM TAIHAPE. \ .„ I At the meeting of Wanganui Hospital Board on WeT&esday various matters in connection with the recent influenza epidemic were ventilated. We are indebted to the "Chronicle" I for the following information: Nurse M. M. Reid, who acted as 1 night nurse at the Taihape Hospital, | 1 wrote saying: "Up to the present I I '• have Been obliged to provide myself | ] with various articles of food, owing i hto the fact that the hospital fare is I shockingly inadequate. I do not know ' . if you are aware of tne condition of things, but I unhesitatingly say that ' this institute is a disgrace to the community. From observations I made, patients on liquid diet received Tonly milk and water; coffee and cocoal were made with water, and soup—the most essential thing—were something unheard of." This matter was referred to the f Taihape Executive. Mr A. L. Arrowsmith, Mayor of Taihape, wrote stating that they dealt with patients as far north as Karioi, and as far south as Ohingaiti. The 'public hospital was scandalously understaffed, and the epidemic ward useless for the want of a staff and beds. Finally he added: "Our representative on the Board was continuously labsent from Taihape from te stari of the trouble." This letter was also referred to the Taihape executive. ' Mr Joblin said he strongly protested against the insinuation made. He also went down with influenza and | had to take to his bed, and no effort ' 1 was made to communicate with him. ' j "Some people lose their heads," he ' added, "and it is time the Mayor got ' his back again." The report by Dr. Mitchell was as follows: On Wednesday, December 6, I was ' asked by the Board to proceed to Ohakune that day in comp'any with Nurses Wells and Giflord-Moore and Mrs Pargeter. On our arrival that night we 5 found Nurse Drummond in charge of j five or six patients in a large cottage •' hospital, when had been commandeered as a hospital. By ararngement with Dr. Feltham, of Ohakune, I took charge of the work 1 at Ohakune Junction (where our hos- " j pital was situated) and the following I townships with their districts: Ranga- j taua, Karioi, Tangiwai, Quin's Siding, ' Horopito, Pokako, etc. Every assistance was rendered by the Railway Department, under Mr 1 O'Loughlin, who saw To it that I was never held up through want of nieans ' of communication Trom one place to another. On December 9th a wire was received from the Public Health Dee I partment, saying that two military doctors and four nurses were being ' sent to relieve, that night. In this we were entirely disappointed, .because not only did no help arrive, but no explanation was received from the Deu partment. To relieve Nurse Wells, who was now working single-handed, a V.A.D. ' under orders for Auckland, was com- ' mandcered from the train. On December Dr Elizabeth Gunn was promised us from Wellington, but in this we were again disappointed, for Dr. Gunn failed to realise. From December 10 to 12 both Dr. Feltham and myself were out of action, but on the 13th inst, we were I ,<again able to take up work. { Raetihi appealed to us for nursing i assistance, and one V.A.D. was sent : J " j on, s'h'e being the only one who could ) ' i {be spared at the time.

The epidemic quickly slackened off, and when I left Ohakune on December 16 very few, if any, fresh cases were baing reported, and the position was well in hand. I must add my appreciation of Drummond, than whom a more self-sacrificing and thorough nurse could not be imagined. Although only a nurse from Auckland Hospital, she exhibited nursing skill worthy of a much more highly-trained person. Her devotion to her work and her solicitude for her patients really undermined her. already delicate constitution, and precipitated the fatal issue which resulted from her illness. Her relations afifl fnenTs may perhaps find some small comfort in realising that she died that others might live. The Board recorded its appreciation of the late Nurse Drummond's heroism, and are sending to her relatives the above quoted extract from the doctor's report.