HOSPITAL AFFAIRS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 405, 18 January 1890, Page 2

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS.

THREE COMPLAINTS. The Hospital Trustees met at tbe Hospital on Thursday evening to consider complaints against the management, lodged by Mrs Laverock and Messrs Burch and Milne. There were present: Messrs Tucker (in the chair), Watson, Lucas, Brown, Harris, Hepburn, Nolan, and McKay (secretary). Tbe Chairman explained that the meeting waa called partly in accordance with the request of the contributors to enquire into certain allegations made in a letter signed by- Mrs Laverock, which had appeared in the Standird, end partly to consider two comp'ainU which had been lodged against the Matron by Messrs Burch and Milne, who had been patients of the Hospital ■

THE CASE OF BFFIE SPRATT. It was decided to take the complaints in rotation, that of Mrs Laverock, in which aha complained of the treatment of her daughter Effie Spratt, being first. Before going into the case. Mr C. C. Lucas said he would like to make a personal ex. planation. A letter had been written to the Standard, in which the fact that he had voted against the enquiry had been commented on, and it was suggested that having done so ha should not Bit on this erquiry. _ His sole reason for voting against the enquiry was that a formal complaint should have been lodged before the Trustees were called upon to go into the matter. He was not prejudiced against the enquiry in any way, and now that it was to be held, would give the matter every

consideration. The complaint ot Mrs Laverock was then read. This had been reduced into writing, in accordance with a request from the Secretary, and contained three charges, namely:—Want ot attention, injudicious use of morphia, and that the child had been treated tor a disease he had not got. A fourth charge waa subsequently introduced that tbe mother had been ordered out ot the ward and lets in the kitchen for three quarters of an hour. Mrs Laverock waa called in and examined

by the Chairman in the presence of tbe matron and Dr Pollen. She said that the deceaud had not been attended to properly. Tbe girl bad been often left alone. The only sustenance given to the child was milk end lime water. According to the bast works on typhoid fever—even had the disease been such—this was not sufficient. On one sees, sion she had asked the matron to give the child some nourishment, but she said she would not do co unless the girl wee awake. At this time she was not asleep, but only in a stupor from the use ot morphia, On the day bafore the child’s death, she (the mother) had left at tour o'clock in the more, ing. Before she left she gave her a drink ot water. She returned about half-past three in the afternoon, and the child asked for a drink of milk and water—she did not like the lime water — and said she bed nothing since the morning. The matron refused to give the child the milk without lime water, and it was only when the mother said that Dr Innes had allowed the milk and water, and that she would taka the responsibility herself, that the matron consented to give her a little, The child had asked, io the presence nf the matron, to be taken home or she would be starved in that institution. The child bad also asked for an enema, and had said aba had asked for one for two days but could not get it. She did not say who it was that refused it. It was only against the matron that these matters were alleged, for the child spoke very highly of the other nurses. With reference to the mother being ordered out of the ward hy the matron, Mrs Laverock had made no demur, but she thought it harsh that she should be turned out while the child waa sinking. She had not asked to ba allowed to stay. She was kept in the kiteneo—to which she had to find her way alone—for three quarters of an hour. With reference to the charge, of the injudicious use of morphia, and the disease with which the child was affl cted, these being matters really requiring professional knowledge to decide, the Trustees frit themselves unable to go into them, and the complainant was asked what evidence she intended to adduce in support of chose allegations. Mri Laverock said all she could bring were works which she produced. These were the best works on the subject, and would explain the symptoms of typhoid, and the treatment, it was explained that the Trustees could not decide in that way, because tha books could not be expected to refer to the particular patient, while not only the surgeon of the Hospital, but Dr Innes, were of opinion that the disease was typhoid fever. Dr Innes' order for the patient to go to the Hospital was read, and was as follows :— '* I hereby recommend Effie Spratt, suffering from typhoid, as a fit in patient for the Hospital.— John F. Innes." In reply to Mr Harris, Mrs Laverock said the child had complained to her about not having an enema. She was well acquainted with its use, and would therefore know what she was asking for. THE MATRON’S REPLY, The matron (Miss Houldgate) said that the child had never been left to herself for more than five minutes at a time, except when the nurse was at dinner, end then she

(the matron) was in her room, where she could have beard the slightest noise if anything had been wanted. She had been ordered by the doctor to give the child milk and lime water, and a little whisky. On the day mentioned by Mrs Laverock, tha child had had milk and lime water several times, besides which there was always something within her reach. Mrs Laverock said the child would not have been able to reach it even if it had been there. In reply to the Chairman, the Doctor said that he did not think that for 24 hours before she died the child could have reached it. Bhe might have been physically able, but not conscious enough to know that it was gooi for her, Nourishment it invariably kept alongside the patlente. The Matron, continuing, said the had on one occasion given way and let tbe mother give the child a little milk, and tlji consequence was vomiting was brought on. The lime water was to prevent the vomiting, I he had refused to awaken the patient to give h-r nourishment because she seemed to ba sleeping so soundly that she (the matron) was reluctant to wake her, and it waa a standing rule in such cases that a patient was not to be awakened for food or medicine unless the doctor expressly ordered it. The child had thought an enema would be good for her, but she would not give it without tha dobtcrlt orders. Enemas had already been ofderad and given, and she had reported them to'tha doctor, She admitted having asked Mrs Laverock to go into the kitchen. It was thg practice to ask the friends of patient) to leave the ward while the doctor is going hie rounds, but Mrs Laverock was certainly not kept anything like three quarters of an hour. She (the matron) had acted on the doctor's orders throughout. Miss Mudgway said that Mrs Laverock had come into the kitchen shortly after 9 o’clock and had remained there 10 or 13 minutes. M>es Hird gave similar evidence, &n« said she had told Mrs Laverock she mlght go featf to the ward, The doctor had told her to OG this, and she had done it directly aha wai told. Dr Pollen aaid the child had died from typhoid fever and peritonitis. He had seen the patient after she wm admitted. He had a lot cf experience of typoid fever, and this did not seem an extraordinary cose. It wae usual for him to give special instruo tjoris for d patient to be Wakened for food q» medicine, and unless such instructions were given, the patient was not to be disturbed • He had not given such instructions in thia case. He had ordered enemas, and the matron had reported that the child had had them. Twice on Thursday he had seen tha child, and the night before the patient died he had fully explained to the mother what the child waa suffering from, and wW might be expected, and the mother .earned satisfied. It Was usual for the patient's friends to leave the ward whilst he waa giving instructions to the matron, and on the occasion that Mrs Laverock referred to it was not more than a quarter of an hour before he sent word that she might oome back to the ward. .... , . , “ Mrs Laverock was asked if the had any more evidence ta oaljl and having replied iff the fifgAtivCj the Trustees ooaaidered U»

matter, and unanimously agreed : " That haring heard Mrs Laverock in support of her allegations, and given her every opportunity to call any further evidence, we are of opinion that the chargee have not been sustained.” kb bcbch's complatst. The Trustees next proceeded to consider Mr Burch’s complaint. He alleged that he was prevented from sleeping for two nights owing to the matron shaking him. He had a habit of talking as he was dozing off, and every time he did so the matron would shake him, until at last he concluded that as he couldn’t go to sleep without muttering he would have to stay awake. He said he had complained to the doctor, and the consequence was that he bad to put up with all kinds of petty inconveniences, such as having a book put out of his reach, the blind turned down when he wanted to read. He tried to light hie pipe in the morning, which be admitted was against the rules, but because he refused to give up the pipe he had been given a black draught “ strong enough for a horse.” This draught had neither been ordered by the doctor or himself and was given to him by ths nurse. His son had been kept waiting an hour at the door until the visitor’s hour. In reply to Messrs Harris and Nolan Mr Burch said he had made no complaints to them when asked if he bad any complaints to make. The reason was he found it only made things worse. Dr Pollen said Mr Burch was a patient that required a lot of looking after, and bis habits would be annoying to anyone, Burch had complained to him about some small matters, such as not being allowed to smoke, and about the blind being pulled down. He bad given Burch permission to smoke, but only within certain hours. He asked the pext patient whether the blind being up interfered with him, and on being told that it did he told Burch he must put up with it. He did not remember telling the matron that Burch bad complained. He had told Burch that his eon might come up and see him, but he had forgotten to tell the matron to admit (he son before the usual hour. The matron said she had never shaken Burch ft night, but at 4 o'clock one morning she Shook him to as to stop him talking in his Sleep arid disturbing the other patients. She might bare taken a book away but only in arranging the-bed, and not so as to deprive him of it, The blind had been turned down because Burch had raised jt Kfore hours and the other patients objected to the Ijgb', She did not remember ordering a black draught for Mr Burch, but although in some cates ehe Would order it on her own responsibility, in Burch’s case she would only give it on the doctor's or Burch's own order, It was certainly not given on account of any spite, After consideration tba Trustees decided (bat the acta of ths matron complained of jr*re necessary for the other patients* oomfort, pod that Mr Burch had no real ground tor pomplaint. MB PETBB MlbNls’s COMPLAINT. Mr B. E- Milne wrote complaining of “ harsh and cruel treatment received at the

bands of the matron. 1 ’ On the first night after hia admission be had asked fur a drink of water and when he had finished it the matron said “We can’t be attending to you all night.” He replied that be did not want per to, and asked her tp put the cup on a chair where be could reach |t. She then caught bold of bis hand and roughly forced it towards the chair, giving him great pain in doing so. The next day he complained about p hollow in the bed. but the matron took no notice of the complaint, saying it was all right. He lay thus some considerable time, |fraid to complain for fear of further rough treatment, until, the pain getting unbearable, he managed by catching hie feet in the iron. woik of the bed, to raise himself jn the bed, This brought the matron to bis side, and she otdered him back and tried to fore-- him down, and gave him pain in doing so. He lost control of himself and swore at the matron, and when she saw be was deter mined she allowed him to have a spring mattress. When the other mattress was being removed he noticed that there were two pillows under ft. He had no complaints to make of the doctor or nurses, all of whom were very kind and attentive to him, Mr Milne reiterated the statements core tained in his complaint, and said Mr Burch was alongside of him at the time. Miss Houldgate admitted catching hold of Milne's band to try and put it to the chair. He bad the feeder in his band and she said Just see it you can’t reach it?” She had used no force. The Chairman remarked that it seemed to him unnecessary that the matron should take bold of a patient's hand at all. The matron said she had done it naturally to try if he could reach. Mr Burch said the matron had jerked the arm roughly (illustrating), to show Milne that he could reach. Mr Milne, in answer to the matron, said he did not remember getting up and giving him drinks of wine or anything, except milk once or twice. Mr Burch had heard Milne complain that there was a hollow in his bed. The matron shook him up, and he swore, “ and," added Mr Burch. " I would have done the same, and so would anyone else.” The bed was afterwards changed. Mr Milne said he complained on the second day to the doctor that he had been roughly treated, and the doctor said he would see about it. He must have done so, as the treatment changed. Dr Pollen said Milne came into the Hospital very badly bruised, with his ribs and collar bone broken, and hia right shoulder hurt. He was very feverish, and the pain was very great —so great as to nearly madden him, and his brain was somewhat exalted. He thought the matron had not been so kind and gentle as she might have been, but he fancied it was in ignorance of bow much Milne was suffering. Milne complained to him about the hollow in the bed, and he shifted the pillows. Milne was restleu with the pain, and threw hia legs about, and the matron said something which caused Milne to swear at her. He (the doctor) thought she had been harsh, and afterwards remonstrated with her. He told her she should not take so much notice pf Milne because he yyas scarcely Uocountnble for hi» actions, owing to what he Was suffering. Milne, he had said to her, Was not a man likely to complain without a gause, The pressure on the lungs was suffocating the patient. In reply to Mr Milne, the doctor said that it would have given Milne pain to move his arm in the manner stated. The matron asked if the doctor had told her that Milne had ooniplainod, and he said that he had done co. Mr Milne had had nothing to complain of since the doctor had spoken to the matron. He left earlier than he onght to have done go account of the matron's handling. Aftgr j,h« doctor had spoken, the matron shunned Aim altogether. The matron asked, if she had not been Bear him what caused him to leave, and Mr Milne was understood to say it was because of the treatment he had received. The matron called in the other patients who wore in the ward with Milne. Two of them were too faraway to know anything tf the tough treatment’ alleged to have taken place on the first night, but Holder, Who waa in the neat bed, remembered Milne laying " Put it where I can reach it,” and the matron replying " Very well, put your arm out to see where you can reach it.” She caught his hand and stretched out the arm gently. Milne cried out when the arm was stretched out. 8* The matron made a statement to the effect that Milne had complained about the bed, and she changed it for him- Others had slept in the same had, and had never Complained, Replying to a question from th" •natron, Milne said he swore at her he wtM treated roughly. He had never been treated SO roughly in his life. Terdim (a patient) stated that on one SMasidh Milne had called for something tc gslisve hie pein, and ths matron had said "very well," She called him (Jordan) to gin afhand to inject some morphia. Milne wai very irritable, and swore at the matron, using very foul language. He did not think Milnt would US* juch language were he id bi* right jane**, and be thought at th* time he was ■ Ml Mirloaf. i Mr Milne did not remember the occasion Or the Being ef th* language. t i. Kiigcur (MtoUms patient) genebonlat HaWa*sl>

The matron thought that after the way in which she had been treated, it was no wonder that ehe had been cool towards Milne. Dr Pollen said Milne was in a state of nervousness and over sensitiveness.

Some question here arose as to whether Milne bad been conscious of everything that had gone on. He remembered seme things and had forgotten others. Mr Milne was asked if had any more evidence. He said there were the two friends to whom he had complained, and there was also Mr Gilbert Bull, who could speak as to the way he was treated when he first came in. He had not asked them to come because he he did not know whether or not they would be allowed to speak. The notice sent by the Secretary had not reached him. After consideration the Trustees thought it would be bast to get Mr Bull’s evidence before giving their decision, It would be useful in testing Milne’s memory of the matter. Messrs Tucker and Nolan were appointed to interview Mr Bull and the meeting then adjourned.

Messrs Tucker and Nolan yesterday saw Mr Bull, and will report to the Trustees, A representative of this journal also saw Mr Bull. He was very reticent, but said that he would not like to be treated himself as Milne had been on his reception at the Hospital.