HOSPITAL MATTERS.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 January 1919, Page 4

HOSPITAL MATTERS.

, Q y ACTION BY MR. JOBLIN. LETTER TO MINISTER OF HEALTH. Mr. A. J. Joblin has sent the following letter to the Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Health: Sir, —Some very serious charges were lately made against the management of the Taihape Hospital by a certain Nurse Reid. The Wanganui Board, who control the Taihape institution, held an inquiry into these complaints and decided on the writer’s resolution, by six votes to five, that the charges were unproved and unfounded. This decision has been adversely criticised and there is very strong feeling here anent this trouble, and as the writer is chairman of the Taihape executive, and the only resident member, he feels a very serious responsibility resting on his shoulders, and he respectfully but earnestly requests you to have the matter re-opened and an investigation held by the S.M. for the district, Mr. Hewitt, of Marton, or some such capable officer. If the decision the Board arrived at was a Wrong one there is every reason to have it reviewed at once. If the Board’s finding was right, it would strengthen the position' and allay public feeling and unrest to have the Board’s action endorsed by an outside and judicial authority. The writer regrets now, that the course suggested here was not adopted in first place as the charges are very serious and it looks as if the Board desired to sit in judgment on themselves as they are primarily responsible for the staff in charge at Taihape.' Thist letter is writ ten on the writer’s initiative and the opinions expressed must be accepted as his only, not the Board’s. The Board docs not meet again until the 19th of February, but the circumstances warrant the writer in pressing on you the urgent necessity of looking further Into this matter. It is l believed Miss MaoLean (of your Department) has seen tho charges referred to and is acquainted with Nurse Reid*

NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr Joblin has given following notice of motion to bo moved a tthe next ordinary meeting of the Hospital Board to be held on the 19th February; “That the Board is of opinion that the time has arrived when the present hospital District should be divided and a separate district be declared for the Main Trunk area with headquarters at Taihape,”