WAIKATO HOSPITAL BOARD.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 327, 13 August 1898, Page 3

WAIKATO HOSPITAL BOARD.

The usual monthly meeting of the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held at the Council Chambers, Hamilton, on Thursday morning. There were present : Messrs W. Dey (chairman), W. P. Chepmell, N. I. Hunt, W. C. Ring. E. Allen, A. Bach, A. Furze, A. J. Farmer, R. J. McGuirk, \V. H. Thomas, A. Primrose, S. Steele, F. JVickers, and J. B. Teasdale. Balance-sheet. The balance-sheet was returned by the Controller and Auditor-General, and certified to as being correct. Charitable Aid.—The House Surgeon of the Auckland Hospital wrote with reference to two old friends of the Waikato Board, viz.. Lizzie Fitzpatriek and Maxwell, stating that a claim for their aid would be forwarded in due course. Refcge.—Mr N. A. Larney wrote, recommending that an old man named Daniel Forbes; 76 years of age, should lie admitted to the Old Men's Home.—The Board agreed to receive the old man into the Refuge. I Invalids Chair.—Mr F. Gaudin wrote, offering for sale an American self*propelling chair at a cost of £7 7s.—The Clerk said the doctor was anxious that the purchase should be made, as such a chair was badly needed in the institution.—The Board considered that it could not be urgently required, or it would have been applied for ere this, and decided to receive the letter. By-laws.—When the by-laws came up for consideration the Chairman said he wished to explain that when the committee meeting was held at the Hospital he was ignorant of the fact. He apologised to the Board for his absence, and said had he known of the meeting he should certainly have been present. —The Clerk read the alterations and amendments as recommended by the committee, and a very long discussion followed. — Mr Chepmell moved the adoption of the by-laws as recommended by the committee.—Mr Teasdale took exception to the portion relating to the examination of probationer nurses, and moved as an amendment that any probationer nurse who may pass her examination will be at once eligible for the position of charge nurse in the Waikato Hospital.—The motion as amended was then carried. The Surgeon's Report.—The report of the surgeon, in which the attention of the Board was called to the necessity for the establishment of a hot water supply at the Hospital was read.—The report, with the exception of that portion referring to Mrs Wilson, a patient, was adopted. A Sad Case.—The Doctor in his report stated that Eliza Wilson, an old woman over 70 years of age, who was suffering from a non-united fracture, refused to allow splints, etc., to be used and tore them off when put on. He recommended that she should be removed from the Hospital.—The Board considered they were helpless in the matter, as they could not turn the old lady away with a broken thigh, and decided to let her remain in the institution. • A Letter From Dr. Buewis.— To the Chairman Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.—Sir,—l was last week in attendance on a maternity case some little distance out of Hamilton. On making a visit I met vour House Surgeon leaving the house, and was informed that he had, without reference to me, visited my patient and advised that she should be removed to the Hospital. She was, I understand, takeu there that night, and, although the case was a serious one, was kept two days longer, presumably until some other doctor from a distance could find it convenient to come and assist, which certainly did not increase the chances of recovery. ■ Two days later she died. Possibly, if my case bad not been interfered with, the result might have been different. Apart, altogether, from considerations of professional decency, he had no right to visit my patient. It is against your by-laws to admit such cases to the Hospital, and he risked the life of his patient to gratify his animosity against me. This is only an instance of what is going on daily. Although your House Surgeon is paid to give his " whole and undivided attention to the Hospital," yet he appears to devote the greater part of his time to carrying on private practice throughout the district, and net only competes unfairly with me, but improperly visits my patients, or stops them in the street and endeavours by discrediting me to persuade them to go into the Hospital. If I send a patient there he contradicts my diagnosis, scoffs at my treatment,and tries in every way to injure my reputation, and if any further assistance is required, I, who have attended the case, am boycotted, and the patient is kept waiting semetimes several days until a stranger can be procured. The whole affair is a scandal, unfair to the patients and to me, ard none know better than the members of the Board that it is all the outcome of petty spite on the part of the House Surgeon, and although I cannot expect them to teach him the elementary principles of professional ethics, vet the Board can surely enforce obedience to the by-laws of the Hospital.—l am, yours obediently, A. Seymour Bbewis. —The Chairman moved that the letter should be referred to Dr. Kenny for an explanation.—Mr Chepmell seconded the motion.—Several members thought the charges were of a very grave nature. — Mr Teasdale "coincided .in this opinion, and thought it was a great pity the House Surgeon did not try and work amicably with Dr. Brewis, especially when the Board had requested him to do so.—Mr Ring said the charges were certainty grave ; but they had only heard one side of the question.—Mr Teasdale said that even Inspector McGregor stated that they should not have to send to Morrinsville every time chloroform was administered. —The Chairman said that he knew something of the case, but would prefer that the matter should be referred to the doctor before he opened the case.—Mr Furze thought an enquiry should be made into it.—The motion was then put and carried unanimously. Lot 266, Maxgaviko.— It was reported that the tenant of this reserve, Mr T. K. Davidson, had not complied with the conditions of his lease, and it was resolved that the solicitor of the Board be instructed to write to him requesting him to do what was necessary. By-laws—On the motion of Mr Chepmell, it was formally resolved to rescind the old by-laws. Finance.—The Secretary's report on the condition of the finances for the month was read. From this it appeared that the amount available for expenditure up to the 81st of March next was £2,713 10s lOd, made up as follows : ,]. H. Bertwhistle, voluntary contribution, £1 Is ; amounts due from contributing bodies, £1,006 ; Government subsidy, £1,270 7s 7d ; donations, £8 15s ; fees, £2lO ; rent, £45 ; cash in hand, £l7B 17s 3d ; less accounts to pay, £291 8s 9d, the balance available was £2.424 lis Id. Accounts. The t following accounts were passed for payment:—A. E. Manning £2l 3s lid ; Jno. Knox, £45 17s 3d;" T. Qualtrough, £l6 17s; E. J. Davey, £6 9s lOd ; J. 1). Melville, £0 ISs 9d ; A. Coyle, £ll 0s 7d ; J. Ridler, £ll 16s 9(1; Dr. Waddington, £9 9s; Dr. Murdoch, £3 3s ; Mrs Hayes : £5 ; T. Keep, £1 16s; Mrs Keunard, £2 Ss; L. Sutton, £5 9s (id; W. Taylor, 17s; C. Adams, £1 Is ; J. 8. Bond, £1 2s 6d ; R. V. Sandcs, £5 0s 6d ; D. Salmon, £1 Is 6d ; St. Mary's Orphanage, £3 IS* ; I. Slade, £lO 3s Gd ; J. Hammond, £5 5s 6d ; Geo. Mann, £1 10s (id ; C. Cowley, £lO Kis Gd ; staff, £39 4s 4d ; salaries (Dr.), £3B Gs Sd ; Secretary, £8 6s 8d ; charitable aid, £l4 17s ; total, £294 8s 9d. Donation.—A voluntary contribution of £1 was received from Mr J. H. Bertwhistle,]