DEATH OF A NURSE.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1919, Page 5

DEATH OF A NURSE.

ALLEGATION BY FATHER. DEPARTMENTAL NEGLECT. Archdeacon Ensor, who returned to Christchurch on Sunday last from Te Araroa, East Coast, North Island, where his daughter, Nurse Ensor, died on November 13 from typhoid, complicated by pneumonia, which she contracted while acting as a volunteer nurse for Maoris suffering from typhoid, intends taking legal advice with regard to proceeding against the Department of Public Health for contributory negligence (states the ; Auckland Herald's Christchurch correspondent.) Early in October last the Department called for volunteers to nurse the Maoris at Te Araroa, suffering from typhoid, and Nurse Ensor, who was at the time in Auckland, and another Auckland nurse volunteered. The other nurse, however, missed the steamer. The place where the Maori patients were located was about two miles and a half from Te Araroa. There was no place for nursing them except a Maori meeting-house. There were at least 17 rases, and Nurse Ensor was assisted by a district nurse, who was, however, much run down owing to the arduous duties she had been called upon to discharge. No provision was made for assistance. The people of Te Araroa had pitched a tent for the nurses at such a distance from the Maori meeting house, where the patients were accommodated, that it was absolutely useless, as the nurses ould not leave their patients day or night. When Nurse Ensor arrived there was no provision for cooking or for washing the patients or their clothes. Until, another nurse arrived, Nurse Ensor was working 14 hours daily, and did the cooking for the patients and herself on an open fireNo bedsteads were provided, and Nurse Ensor was under the necessity of sleeping on a table—the only furniture in the room—and owing to the leaky condition of the roof she was wet through on three m'ghts. When the other nurse arrived.a protest was made, and a kerosene cooking stove was provided, but nothing else was done. The nurses were under the necessity of washing the patients' clothes. None of the Maoris who were well would touch the clothes. When Archdeacon Ensor learned from his .daughter's communications to him of the state of affairs he telegraphed to the Health Department. He started for Te Araroa, but on reaching Welling'in he received news of his daughter's death. She was buried the following day, and Archdeacon Ensor arrived at Te Araroa too late for her burial. After visiting Te Araroa and investigating matters on the spot, Archdeacon EnsoV has decided to tnke legal advice in respect of proceedings against the Department. He alleges that the neglect of the Department in respect of health matters at Te Araroa has extended over a period of two years, and that representations by the Wainpu Hospital Board and by people at Te Araroa wore not heeded.