THE GISBORNE HOSPITAL TROUBLE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 416, 13 February 1890, Page 2

THE GISBORNE HOSPITAL TROUBLE.

THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT. RESIGNATION 'of'tHS MATRON. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Hospital Trustees was hold last night, there being presentMessers Tucker (In ths chair), Nolan, Lucas, Hepburn, Harris, Coleman, and MoKay (Secretary). ; Ths various reports were read, and on ths Secretary’s report that Robert Holder had been a patient since June 26, it was decided to hand him over to the Charitable AM Board. The Treasurer reported having received subscriptions amounting to. £2O ISs (Including £l3 12s from the Walpire station, and £lO from the Park Company), and £l4 for patients' foes (mostly arrears). The accounts showed a credit balance of £276 13 2d, of which £l3O had bean placed on fixed deposit. The Surgeon (Doctor Pollen) had no written report, but briefly reported the oaess, He also took occasion to refer to the foot that ho understood the Matron had sent in her resignation, and to say that the Trustees were losing an excellent officer, who wu thoroughly conversant with her duties, and was besides a good surgical and medical ntirsc. She had always been at her post night and day. She had taken the complaints to heart a great deal, for. however trivial such complaints might bs, and had been in this case, they always loft a sting behind. Hs took this opportunity of expressing his opinion ot ths Matron, because he only thought it right to speak oi her u she had always appeared to him, The report ot Masers Tucker and Nolan, who had been deputed to enquire- into the complaint ot Mr Pater Milne, was read. Thia showed that Messrs Bull, Morgan, Warren, and Grossman had been interviewed, and tba report wound up:— "The conclusion at which we have arrived is that Miss Houldgate was not so gentle to Milne as a patient in hie condition would require a nurse to be. We think that, in thia particular case, the patient was hypersensitive and that Miss Houldgate should have made allowance, which shs did not, for hie condition. Wa think it only just to Mice Houldgate to say that Milne's behaviour and language to her were such as to warrant a belief that very gentle treatment would have been unnecessary in his case." Mr Lucas characterised the last eentenoe as ridiculous. It having been stated that Miss Houldgate had sent in her resignation, it was decided that there was no neoeeeity to discuss the report. Miss Hocldgate's letter stated that she had resigned because dissatisfaction had been expressed, and continued—“l beg to be allowed testate that I have always endeavored to do my duty conoientiously te the patients under my charge, and to give satisfaction to you. It I have failed I regret it j the patients have always been my first oare, snd I have considered them before the outside public who have oome as visitors. This I feel has perhaps been a source of dissatisfaction, but X have been guided by the Hospital regulations and in some oases by the Doctor's instructions.”

It was proposed by Mr Nolan (who expressed regret that the Matron had thought it neoeseary to send in her resignation) that the resignation be accepted. Mr C. C. Lucas seconded. Mr E. F. Harris, while endorsing the Doctor’s opinion as to Mias Houldgate's management, said he himself had always found everything very nice when fie can)!, but he could not but bs aware that the Matron was wanting in sympathy, and where tick people were concerned it was very grata. There had been continual complaints about the Matron oucaide, and they must remember A that however frivolous those charges mlgbtJ be it was on ths public ths Hospital depenaem foe support, and the public had to be’ considered in tho niattsr. Ho hsd never’ heard so many complaints in so short a time as there had been lately, and ho thought under tfie circumstances it would be bmor for Miso Houldgate-s oalfP it they accepted her resignation. _ Mr Lucas thought patients ibetM be treated as patients, They in general paid tor their treatment, And had a right to etpeol sympathy, rather than to bo need as priedMM or paupers might bo, They had ones, «a • previoue enquiry, cautioned the Matron to be more conciliatory in her manner. She bad apparently not hooded the caution, and bl thought her resignation should bo accepted. As for |ho argument thst she was < good manager, he admitted thst, but they bad bad good Matrons before, and there woe ng reason why they should not get them agedn. 4 Mr Hepburn also supported tho resolution, Ha had seen one young man who wm suffering with fever, who said ha Would sooner die than go to the Hospital. [The Chairman: Has he ever been there)] No, but it showed public feeling in tho matter, and he thought public feeling should be considered where the Hospital got its support from tho public. The motfoo to accept the resignation wee then put to the meeting and carried, the Phairmsr. and Mr Ooleman voting against it, It was deoiled- to immediately oall tor applioatione for the post. Miss Houldgate, by the terms of her engagemsnt, romaine for a month.