SOLDIER OUT PATIENTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 March 1943, Page 3

SOLDIER OUT PATIENTS

TREATMENT AT MASTERTON HOSPITAL PROPOSALS BY ASSISTANT AREA OFFICER. EXCEPTION TAKEN BY BOARD. I Strong exception was taken by the Wairarapa Hospital Board at its meeting yesterday afternoon, to a letter written by the Assistant Area Officer, Masterton, to the Department of Health regarding the treatment of soldier outpatients at the Masterton Hospital. It was decided to ask the Assistant Area Officer (Lieutenant G. R. Jackson) for an explanation through the Department of Health. The Department of Health forwarded a copy of a letter received from the Assistant Area Officer, Masterton, and the Director-General, Dr. M. H. Watt, stating that he would be pleased to have the board’s comments on the letter and asking for an early reply. OUTPATIENT FACILITIES. The letter, under date of March 5, 1943, stated: “Re outpatient facilities, Army patients at the Masterton Public Hospital. “(1) The present system of dealing. with outpatients causes monetary loss to the Government by reason of the fact that many soldier patients are unable to return to their homes the same day and have to be supplied with board and lodging for at least one night. “(2) In some cases soldiers with disabilities of a serious nature, e.g., broken limbs or spinal cases, have to wait until the civilian cases are attended to, entailing sometimes a three-hour delay. “(3) There is a new ward at this hospital with every convenience for the care of sick soldiers, and at present part of it is used for the women patients, whilst the other ward is being renovated. “(4) Application to the Medical Superintendent at the Masterton Hospital (Dr. Parr) has been met with the statement that no admission to the new ward can be obtained until authorised by the Health Department. “(5) Every care is taken by the Army to prevent undue fatigue and strain in the attention to soldier patients and in view of the greater opportunity offered in this respect by using two rooms at the new ward for office and out patient department, would it be possible to have the use of same at an early date? “(6) Authority has been granted to install an Army phone in the new ward and every care will be taken to supply trained staff with a knowledge of hospital routine, who will be of assistance to all concerned. “(7) Authority for the use of two rooms in the new ward is urgently needed.” SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT. The medical superintendent, Dr. T. L. Parr, submitted a report to the board, part of which reads as follows: — "With regard to the paragraphs of Lieutenant Jackson’s letter:— “(1) The only alleviation I can offer in this difficulty is that I can arrange with Dr. Berney to see military outpatients by appointment on Tuesday mornings between 10 and 12, provided this time is used only for men who have to come from a distance, and would not be able to return home after the afternoon clinic, and provided also that the military clerk could be present. This arrangement could only hold while we have Dr. Berney for this work, and should we lose his services morning clinic would not be possible. “(2) The statement here is very exaggerated. The only ’broken limbs’ that attend these clinics are old and minor fractures in plaster casts, and the only cases that could be designated as ‘spinal cases’ are the questionable ‘sore backs’ that take so much investigation. The work is almost always through by 4.30. It is rare for any patients to be there after 5, and as the clinic is set for 3 p.m. the talk of a three-hbur delay is ridiculous. “(3) Although the new ward was built to increase our accommodation because of the extra load of military work, I am not aware of any undertaking which limits its use to sick soldiers, or places its facilities at the disposal of the Area Officer.” (Dr. Parr denied the accuracy of the statement made in Lieutenant Jackson’s fourth paragraph). “(5) It will not be possible to allocate outpatient accommodation in the new ward until the structural repair of both Ward 4 and Ward 3 is completed, and 1 do not think that is like'ly to be for several months. “(6) and (7) are redundant.” NUMBER TREATED. Dr. Parr said that approximately six soldiers a day were treated as outpatients. Most of the cases were men on sick leave from camp, some were returned and some were discharged from the Army, but were on Social Security. Some were “cranky cases.” There were “query malingerers,” and some with vague complaints which took a lot of investigation. The cases were all sorts of oddments. The Army had imposed outpatient work on the hospitals and the treatment had become a hospital liability. Mrs S. Fletcher said she could not sec any grounds for Lieutenant Jackson’s stand. Dr. Parr said there was a good deal behind the matter. The Assistant Area Officer at Masterton was a difficult man to deal with. He wanted medical boards to be taken at the hospital, but, Dr. Parr said, he objected to that. Medical boarding work was done by Dr. N. H. Prior and partly by Dr. H. B. Berney. Boarding was entirely outside hospital work and he said he did not want it to get mixed up with hospital work. The time doctors were employed by the Army and by the Hospital Board was kept separate. Dr. Parr said he was rigid in that matter. The Army clerks and the Assistant Area Officer had told him that medical boards should be held at.the hospital because Army Headquarters had arranged with the Department of Health for boards to be taken at hospitals. Dr. Parr said he was not taking their word for that. If the Department of Health had committed the hospital then the hospital should be notified. Dr. Parr said Lieutenant Jackson wanted to run the hospital without any authority that he could see. Lieutenant Jackson was exceeding his authority. He wanted the hospital to fill in his forms and suit his convenience.

EXPLANATION SOUGHT.

Mr H. Thomas said that the allegation made by Lieutenant Jackson that spinal and bone cases were kept waiting for 3 hours for attendance looked serious. He thought Mr Jackson should be asked for an explanation and be asked to furnish dates and names regarding the men being kept waiting. Mr A. Clarke said he agreed with Mr Thomas. Mr Thomas moved and Mr Clarke seconded that Lieutenant Jackson be asked for an explanation-. “I think it is a waste of time. The. answer will probably be that it is a military secret,” observed Mr J. F. Thompson amidst laughter. “It is not for a military officer to make accusations against our staff without bur protecting them,” said Mr Thomas. From Lieutenant Jackson’s complaint the matter looked serious. The discussion then lapsed.