TAIHAPE HOSPITAL INQUIRY

Taihape Daily Times, 23 January 1919, Page 4

TAIHAPE HOSPITAL INQUIRY

At the meeting of the Wanganui Hospital Board on Tuesday, reference was made to the recent Taihape Hospital Inquiry. We are indebted) to the Wanganui Chronicle for the following report of the proceedings:— Mr Joblin took exception to the minutes of the Taihape Hospital Inquiry, when read, and explained that he did not <m,ove thjat the inquiry should be held in committee, only charges number one and Jwo. .

Mr Battle moved that the executive go into the matter of the honorary staff >at the Taihape Hospital, with regard to the present by-laws, with instructions to suggest necessary alterations to put them on satisfactory footing. Mr. Joblin said there was a lot of feeling about Taihape matters. He did not hold a brief for any medical man. He was not a member of the Board when the existing arrangements at Taihape were made, and could not be held responsible. What hedid want to know was if the conditions in regard to the honorary surgeons at Taihape were the same as at Wanganui. The Chairman: No—the honorary surgeons at Wanganui go to the Wanganui Hospital when they like. Mr Joblin considered they should adopt the same conditions at Taihape. A Member: That is what the notice of motion is for. Mr Joblin said if they found conditions as they should not be, they should alter them. Mr Battle said his motion, was so that they could go fully into the matter and report at the next meeting. Mr. Joblin said an account came up of £-i0 for the administering of anaesthetics at Taihape Hospital. The speaker pointed out that it was for Dr. Boyd's partner, and asked him why he did not call in other surgeons as.well. Dr.- Boyd replied: "I am treating them exactly the same as when I was out, and they were in."' His excuse was that he should do the same as they did. The speaker said he pointed out two wrongs did not make a right. If was necessary to remove any friction, and the only way was to appoint, honorary surgeons, on the same footing as Wanganui. If they put out one doctor to put another in , the trouble would go on. This was what Mr Battle's suggestion would mean. It was better to "take the bull by the horns," in an endeavour to get over the present difficulty.

Mrs. Comyns: Dr. Boyd had agreed that the honorary staff should come in and work in the institution. Mr Joblin moved that a house surgeon be appointed at Taihape, and that the honorary surgeons be placed on the same footing as formerly. This motion lapsed.

The Chairman moved that a committee of three Taihape residents be invited to work in conjunction with the Taihape executive. He pointed out that under the Act they had the power to appoint a local committee. Mr. Joblin complained that the Board was responsible for some of the shortcomings at Taihape, and was responsible for the breakdown of the water supply. For a year the Board had promised to do something, but nothing had been done. They had found fault with the food, but a previous cook h'ad told them that he had to draw the fires because there was no water. He considered they could get eight or ten men out of Wanganui

who could give splendid advice and they were ias much in need of it as Taihape. Mr Joblin moved that the Taihape Borough Council be asked to nominate delegates to assist the Taihape executive. Mr. Fletcher considered the resolution would east a reflection upon the electors. They had the matter in their own hands. If the Taihape electors had selected the wrong people, they would have another oppor-. tunity later. If the ratepayers dijp not take sufficien't interest in local bodies to appoint people to look after them, then they should suffer and not cast aspersions on the Board. Tlii thing seemed to be ridiculous. Mr Joblin said they had always put their wants before the Board. Mr. Pilkington considered the executive should be reconstructed tand he felt that ne was in a false position as he lived forty miles away. He apt< proved of a committee living close at hand which could visit the hospital. Mrs. Comyns asked if iF were true that during the epidemic the new buildings at Taihape were not used. The Chairman said the new buildings were not used, as they did not have the necessary staff. Finally, it was resolved to adopt the suggestion made, and the Taihape Borough Council is to be asked to nominate three delegates to assist the executive.