ALLEGED DEUY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 April 1943, Page 3

ALLEGED DEUY

IN ATTENDING TO CHILD SERIOUSLY ILL

DECLARED UNAVOIDABLE. POSITION AT MASTERTON HOSPITAL. On account of staffing difficulties arising out of war conditions, the Masterton Hospital, Dr T. L. Parr (Medical Superintendent) stated at the meeting of the Wairarapa Hospital Board yesterday afternoon, could not guarantee to have a doctor available, in case of emergency, at a few minutes’ notice. The question arose when a member, Mr J. A. McLeod, asked for an inquiry into an alleged delay of an hour before a child, admitted seriously ill, was attended by a doctor. After Dr Parr and Dr Purdie had been heard and a discussion lasting over an hour had taken place, the matter lapsed without any action being taken by the board. LIFE & DEATH MATTER. Mr McLeod said the matter he wished to raise reflected on the efficiency of the hospital. On April 5 a child was seriously ill and Dr Budd, of Martinborough, who was in attendance, decided to have the child admitted to the Masterton Hospital. He put through an urgent call to the hospital to have arrangements made for the child’s admittance. When the parents and the child arrived at the hospital at about 7 p.m. on April 5 the parents' were told to take the child to the isolation ward. As it was dark and they did not know their way about, they lost their way, but after some delay a nurse who was off duty showed them the way. The sister on duty rang Dr Purdie and the relatives of the child were present while she spoke to the doctor. It was an hour before the doctor arrived to see the child, who only lived for two or three hours after admittance. Mr McLeod said the child was probably beyond medical aid when it arrived at the hospital, but he held that' there was inefficiency or inattention somewhere. In a case where it was a matter of life and death the delay of an hour was too long. If an improvement was not possible then it could not be helped, but if anything could be done in the future, it should be done. The child’s name was lan McLeod Sinclair.

STATEMENTS BY DOCTORS. Dr Parr gave details of the child’s history sheet. This showed that the child was admitted at 9.15 p.m. and that Dr Purdie had seen it at about 10 p.m. Dr Parr said the delay was not an hour, but three-quarters of an hour. He could not account for the delay, but it was not excessive as the child had to be put to bed and have its temperature taken. The time would seem' long to anxious parents. Dr Purdie had told him that he had come straight to the hospital as soon as he got the call. Dr Purdie was conscientious and honest and Dr Parr said he believed Dr Purdie. The sister on duty was one of the best junior sisters in the hospital, but as she was now on holiday it was not possible to tell the board at what time she had rung for Dr Purdie. Dr Parr, in reply to Mr A. B. Martin, said the doctor lived near to the hospital and it would take him about five minutes to get there.

Mr McLeod said it did not matter to him who the doctor was. The time lapse of threequarters of an hour seemed a tremendously long one for the doctor to get to the hospital. The sister had rung for the doctor when the child was in bed. Mrs S. Fletcher referred to the plight of the parents, especially the mother, losing their way in the darkness and knowing that the child was seriously ill. She thought that there should have been someone to show them the way. The place was puzzling to strangers at night. Mr J. F. Thompson said the same thing might happen again and he asked Dr Parr what was the position regarding medical aid during the night. Dr Parr said there were times, from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m., when there were no doctors at the hospital, but provision was made for an “on call” service. He referred to the long and heavy hours of work which the doctors had to undertake on account of the shortage of staff, and said it was impossible to improve on the present arrangement under existing conditions. Mr Thompson observed that it was the board’s duty to see if it could provide a medical staff to give a complete coverage if it were possible. Under the existing arrangement there was a possibility of life being lost. Dr Parr said it was impossible to get a house-surgeon. Mr McLeod said there seemed no way to bridge the gap in the present service.

Dr Purdie was called to the board room and in reply to Dr Parr said he had come across the paddocks to the hospital from his residence in Te Ore Ore Road immediately he got the call. It would take him a few minutes. He had not kept times and did not know at what time he got the calls. f RULE IN BIG HOSPITALS.

Dr Parr stated that it was not usual to keep times regarding such calls. He told the board that the case illustrated the excellent service given by the hospital. In one and a quarter hours the child had been seen by two doctors, and a good deal had been done to try to resuscitate the patient. It was an exceptionally efficient attempt. The rule in the big hospitals was that the patient should be seen before an hour after admittance. Dr Parr said he took credit to the institution regarding the case and added that he could not guarantee having ■ someone there in five minutes at any time. “Is that desirable,” asked Mr Thompson.

■Dr Parr said it was desirable in the ideal in the same way that there was an ideal that everyone should have a doctor on their doorstep in case of illness. “No one with common sense would suggest that,” replied Mr Thompson. The question was, he added, whether it was desirable or not that there should be a complete coverage of night service or if that were ; practicable.

The recent shipment of Aberdeen cattle from the Ngawaka stud of Mr John Ogilvy, Masterton, have been landed safely in New South Wales. The selectors, Messrs. Wright, Stepenson and Co. Ltd., have been advised by the new Australian owner that they exceed his highest expectations and he hopes to exhibit all three animals when the shows are resumed there. A further selection of three outstanding- heifers has just been made from the Ngawaka stud by the same firm on behalf of a Queensland client.