OPUNAKE COTTAGE HOSPITAL

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1922, Page 7

OPUNAKE COTTAGE HOSPITAL

APPOINTMENT OF MEDICAL OFFICER. QUESTION OF MANAGEMENT. The affairs of the Opunake Cottage. Hospital were discussed at some length at the meeting of the. Taranaki Hospital Board yesterday. The matter was raised by Mr. A. H. Halcombe, who stated that he had been reported as quoting Dr. E. A. Walker (medical superintendent) to the effect that maternity and surgical cases could be treated in tJie same ward at the cottage hospital and that Dr. Watt had stated that he would not attend cases at the hospital. What he had said was that Dr. Walker stated that maternity and surgical cases could be treated in separate wards, while Dr. Watt’s remarks had been that if both types of cases were sent to the hospital he would refuse to attend them as the risk was too great. The matter was prominently before the public at present and the speaker would like to have the matter cleared up. Mr. S. Vickers said that a committee had gone down to Opunake to arrange for medical attendance at the hospital. Dr. Watt had been reported as saying that the board did not know what it intended to do, and as he had declined to attend maternity cases at the hospital, the committee could not do anything further except refer the matter back to the Opunake hospital committee to. «ee whether they desired the hospital to be used as a maternity or medical hospital. He thought it should be made clear that there were two wards in the hospital which was built to take maternity and casual cases.

A DANGER INVOLVED. Mr. Halcombe said that the Opunake people must realise that the cottage hospital was only a feeder to the New Plymouth hospital, and that any septic cases should be sent on to New Plymouth. There had been some muddling, but the doctor was quite right in regard to the septic cases. There would be a danger to the maternity patients if the septic crises were treated, particularly as there >as only one nurse. Members expressed the opinion that Dr. Watt was only too willing to do the best he could for the hospital. The chairman (Mr. M. Fraser) said he thought it would meet the position if the sister in charge was given instructions not to accept any cases where there was a danger of septic poisoning. There was a danger of even only a slight wound becoming septic, and getting to the maternity cases. Mr. Halcombe thought that another nurse should be provided for the hospital. If they lost a maternity case through sepsis contracted in the hospital from another patient, the moral responsibility would rest on the board.

In reply to Mr. M. O’Brien, it was pointed out that if a man sustained a wound he would be given the first dressings at the Opunake hospital and then sent on to New Plymouth. The chairman mentioned that if they had a case of puerperal poisoning at the hospital they would never get another maternity case. A motion that the sister be given power to refuse septic case's was then carried, while it was pointed out there was a probationer at Opunake besides the sister in charge, and, if there was urgent need for further nursing assistance, a call could be made on the New Plymouth hospital. Mr. O’Brien mentioned that there were four casual eases in the hospital at present, at which the chairman remarked that they should have been sent on to Now Plymouth. The Opunake hospital was really a first dressing station. Continuing, Mr. O’Brien said that the Opunake people would raise sufficient money which, with the Government subsidy, would provide extra accommodation. He thought the difficulty would be got over by having a resident medical officer. Mr. J. Sutherland pointed out that it was not a question of the appointment of a doctor, but of accommodation. QUESTION OF A SURGEON. Later Mr. E. Gilmour moved that applications be called for the appointment of a house surgeon at Opunake, with the right of outside practice. He had aeen the report of an interview wiXh Dr. Watt, who was reported as saying that he had had no official communication from the committee, and that he did not know what he intended to do, nor did he think the board knew what it was doing either. Several of the reported statements were contrary to fact. He would like to hear what Mr. H. R. Cattley said with regard to the attitude of the friendly societies at Opunake in the appointment of a resident medical officer. .

Mr. Cattley said that he had no doubt that a strong lodge could be formed at Opunake. There was a good sum in hand to start a lodge, and he was sure that if one were formed it would support the board. Mr. Vickers said that the resolution brought them back to the time when the committee had met the Opunake people and Dr. Watt. Dr. Watt had objected to the use of the hospital for mix.’ed patients. He thought it would be unfortunate to keep on deferring action in calling applications for the appointment of a doctor to the hospital. Consideration should be held over until November 24. and in the meantime, a special committee could be appointed to go into the whole question of the management of the hospital at Opunake. Tf the resolution was passed, that committee could give effect to it after they had considered the matter, and call for applications for the appointment. Mr. O’Brien objected to any further delay, and considered that the appointment of a doctor should be proceeded with at once. The people of Opunake were very satisfied with what the board had done for them, and the only trouble was in connection with the appointment of a doctor. It was eventually decided that the matter be left in the hands of the house and finance committee, and that applications be called for the appointment of a medical officer for the hospital. RESIDENT NURSING SISTER. The following resolution, passed at a meeting of the Opunake hospital committee on the 4th inst., was forwarded 'by the secretary (Mr. T. H. H. Sinclair): “That the Taranaki Hospital Board be requested to retain the services of Sister Shirtcliff as sister in charge of the Opunake cottage hospital.”

The matter wn« held over until Sister McFadgen returned, the chairman and others mentioning that the Opunake people would have to show good «ause why she should not be reinstated.