1927-11-30 — Page 12

VEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1927.

HOSPITAL SCANDAL, ment of cases in the whole hospital: Surgeon allotted to the Surgical

DENIAL OF "ENDANGERED LIVES."

CONTROVERSY IN PENANG.

side of the Hospital.

These cases at the present time number on an average 200 dafly. General An To The Staff. In addition to this taak, he has to The Committee consider that the attend to all Government Oficials, situation is a very serious one and medically examine candidates for that immediate steps should be Government Service, attend Medi- taken to rectify the deficiencles. enl Boards, and to act as anesthe-It is obvious that with an inauth- tist to the Surgeon.

cient staff proper attention cannot It is absolutely indefensible that be given to patients, numbering The papera connected with the upon one Medical Officer this bur-150,250 spread out in a dozen nang Hospital controversy are den should be cast. No one could different wards. The position is w made public. They consist of do it and in trying to do it, much even more serious at night than report by the Committee to the of his work not be hurried, per-day, The whole trained staff at ospital Board based on a visit functory, ar done under a con-night on duty consists of one Sia- The treatment ofiter, one nurse and two dressers mments of Drs. A. S. McKern and patients is b.and to be neglected, with one dresser in the admission mes Gossip: A covering letter and we have no hesitation in say room. This is obviously quite in- bm the Realdent Counellering that in several cases it actually adequate.

de on June 7, 1927; the written stant strafı

nang; and a Memorandum by the has been: the position of the one In the above circumstances it is incipal Chief Medical Officer. Medical Officer, or rather of the not surprising to hear of unfortun raits Settlements, and Chairman, available personnel of the establish-ate eplaodes in the hospital.

apitals Board.

ment, is however rendered in-Patients after operation for whom The Visiting Committee expresses finitely more serious by the groan special nurses cannot be provided opinion that "human lives are inadequacy of the subordinate are found out of bed or out of ing endangered without excuse staff. As to this, we find that the position. d that the Hospital is, to speak following is the actual state of Treatments are also neglected inly, a scandal and a disgrace things at the hospital just now.. land medicines not given regularly. the Colony." To which comment

In short it is impossible to exag- P.C.M.O. replies that the Hos-

The establishment provides for 7gerate the seriousness of the posi cal “la not a senndal or disgrace sisters but at present there are only tion,

the Colony and lives were not

are not being endangered; ere without excuse.

Resident Councillor's Office,

Penang, July 9, 1927.

Bir have the honour, to for-

rd a report made under section

(3) of Ordinance No. 119 by the neral Hospital Committee which

(b) Sisters.

6, of whom one is alck.

General,

THE CHINA MAIL,

(5) One Pathologist, who is also consulting phyalelan to tho General Hospital, and one Assistant Surgeon Pathologiat; these two officers perform the major bacterio- logical and pathological work for the Settlement.

The Pathologist's staff was and is neither "insufficient nor in- efficient." They are well trained and the laboratory la modern and well equipped.,

While the qualified staff was short at the General Hospital, the Pathologist did a quantity of the routine clinical work which 'docs · not normally fall to his share, and which can usually be done in the laboratory at the General Hospital.

In the Instances quoted by the Committee, I ascertained that any delay which occurred was due to the officer who complain- ed, and not to the Pathologist or the Government Analyst, (0) There was an Analyst for the Settlement, with the necessary staff and equipment.

The Government, including my- self, has made every effort to fill the sanctioned posts and though

There is one sister In A Block The staff is grossly inadequate, vacancles still exist, the staff has for both floors. There is no re-the buildings antiquated and un- steadily grown in numbers and serve of sixtera. No allowance is satisfactory, and the equipment efficiency. made for aisters being ill or on insufficient.

leave. There is frequently no sis- The Committee consider that

Nursing Staff.

ter at all in C Block where there human lives are being endangered (1) Sisters.-The

committee's

tablishment provides for seven

are about 170 cases to be treated. without excuse and that the hos-opening sentence runs "The es At night only one sister is on duty pital is, to speak plainly, a scandal, Sisters, but at present there are

and a disgrace to the Colony.

in the whole hospital for Blocks A, B and C.

only five, of whom one is sick,"

Dy Apron heat

John Begg

JOHN BEGS

HAVE LAP

| Starvan Wester

BLUK CAN

on

s been sent to me for transmis n to the Hospital Banrd. 2. His Excellency the Governor inted the Committee as interview June 30, after he had personally pected the General and Maternity spithis. On July 1, His Excel- jcy visited the District Hospital. copy of the report had been für hed to him before he visited the spitals. His Excellency has in-

med me that he has written of things should be remedied at Board. muta on the subject of the ho- once. We consider that (1) the Preliminary. als and will discuss it with you

his return to Singapore.

V. The Committee request that

This is incorrect; the establish- Block B is left in charge of a this Report be placed before His

ment provides for nine sisters, of dresser and, as there are female Excellency the Governor, eases in Block B, this is obviously! (Sd.) A. R. Thorntor, P. Pimpson, these one was en leave in Europe undesirable.

E. E. Chambers, Arthur S. MeKern and eight had actually been

duty during part of May, Two There is a nurse on duty in Cand J. Crabb-Watt.

sisters got sick at the end of May: Block and one dresser to look after P.CM.O.'s Memorandum. 175 patients. There is no per-

Memorandum by the Principal one of these returned to duty the manent theatre sister and this is Civil Medical Officer, Straits Settle-day after the committee's visit, and a sister who had been granted an absolute necessity. This statements and Chairman, Hospitals short local leave returned on June

1. The comments which I have

make at the presgat time are t-

*) The District Hospital could

I be made a European Medical

The Principal Civil Medical

Officer, Singapore..

Copy of Remarks.

establishment. Is inadequate and The Report of the Committee (2) that the establishment such as made as a result of a visit to the it is, should not be depleted as it General Hospital, Penang, by three has been.

much uncasineas.

.

of its members on June 7, 1927, is dated June 29, and reached me on:

14. The Matron and Ave Sisters

were working on June. 7.

(2) There were 3 trained stuff nurses as sanctioned, and 9 proba- tioners of a sanctioned staff eleven..

of

(3) Dressers.-There were ten

ward duties.

Surgical Side. The committee state there is no

$1

JOHN BEGG

FOLD GAR

· SCOTLW WHORE, T

HOLD VAP

TEK JUPERIOR BOOTCH WHISKY WHICH HAS FOR THE PAST. EIGHTI TEARS MAINTAINED 173 BINJILARLY FINE QUALITY AND FLAVOUR.

Dye Ken John Begg.

YE DON'T! THEN GO TO

DONNELLY & WHYTE

Who will be pleased to supply your requirements.

accommodation

in the

11

WATER SUPPLY.

Storage of water in Reservoirs on November 1, 1927:-

Storage in millions and decimals of gallons.

1926 389.12 334.45

11.75

Wong Nei Chung Fokfulam

not and are not being endangered | October.

It is, to use the words of an unofficial member Consumption there without excuse.

1927

8.02 195.00

1,405.08 1,036.00. 17.15 18.00 64.88 56:40

1926 1927 285,80 804.94

20.6

23.9

Consumption per head

per day old Full Supply in all Rider Main Dis tricts during October, 1920 and 1927.

3. As the report is addressed to e committee, I have circulated it

the local members for any re- (c) Nurses. rks before forwarding to you. I The same utter inadequacy of July 11 with the comments of three dressers, four of whom performed ach a copy of their remarks. I staff is apparent in the number of the Penang members of the Hos- under the impressions that the nursus. We, find that in A Block pitala Boards, the Resident Coun- titutions, Dr. McKern refers to, there are during the day two cillor, Dr. McKern and Dr. Gossip

not built or maintained by the nurses under the sister, one of (which are also published). therlands East Indies Govern- whom is a staff nurse or frequently I had until the latter date no in-permanent theatre sister. Both be- nity but by the Planters' Assecla- an acting staff nurse. We believe formation us to the committee's re-fore and since the date of their n under direct instigation from that not even two are available in port or visit, which was the first visit there has been a permanent

Government.

E Block.

paid during the present year.

sister detailed to the theatre. Ex- This leads us to perhaps the After consultation with the cept during rush periods the sur- most lamentable result of the pre-higher authorities, I visited the gery has not sufficed to give her sent administration which we de-Northern Settlement early

in full employment and she therefore (a) I am of the opinion as a aire to emphasise. It is manifestly August and fully inspected the runs the nursing home mess in man that the medical staff is impossible to provide special nursen General Hospital, the numbers in addition. dequate at present, being short for operation cases. After opera-which then averaged 200.

As regards the operating theatre. Establishment,

tion à nurse, is put on merely till I found then that there was no in Penang, work has been rendered (b) Even with a full establish- the patient regains consciousnesa lack of instruments and equipment more difficult in the past few nt the staff of sisters needs add-end does not remain on after.to hinder the work of the hospital months partly by increase in opera-

to.

There have been several deaths in proceeding efficiently, and that, ex-tions but mainly by the Acting (c) The Surgeon requires as the last few months in the hospital cept for the want of a second Medi- Surgeon's departure from the or tance both for surgical and after operation which have caused cal Officer, the staff were at the ganised method followed by the

iological work.

time able to carry on all the or-permanent incumbent of giving due

(1) Nursing Staff.-On July 25porary d) The Pathologist should be (d) Probationers.

dinary duties.

notice to the staff and doing all his telegram was sent to the Secre- grounds of the District Hospi- ieved of medical and administra- The establishment provides for

There was evidence that the staff set operations at fixed hours in the tary-of-State-asking-for-6-nursing--tal. This-expedient-was-necessary- a duties in the District Hospi-14 and the actual number fluctuates. had been overworked, but none that mornings,

sisters for Singapore and Penang, in Singapore. Bulidings. No great reliance can of course be lives had been endangered thereby. e) There is a shortage of As-placed on 'untrained people..

I put up reports to Government (1) Certain modern amenities

additional to, the present staff in (7) Singapore, owing to its the Colony. tant Surgeons.

The nursing staff is so short that immediately on my return to head-are absent, but there is nothing in who arrived early in November are

Two of these sisters College of Medicine, bas probably a larger, and more elaborate staff 1) The operation theatre no "special" nurses can be provid-quarters and made proposals for the buildings that endangers the

uld have a Surgeon's room and ed for serious enses without neglect building new General and District lives of patients, or that is likely posted to Penang.

than any other hospital in British Tytam. The nuraing establishment in Crown Colonies or Protectorates. Tytam Byowash ilities, if, it can be arranged. ing other cases. In English hos-Hospitals in Penang.

to retard their recovery: though Penang for 1928 has been increased Certain cases will doubtless always Tytam Intermediate, 106.00 pitala special nurses are provided Covernment approved an in- there is much that renders the work by one Matron for the District Hos- be sent to Singapore as they are mak for all serious cases for at least 48 crease in the nursing staff before of the staff less easy than in apital and three Sisters, two for the sent from the provinces to London leer's appointinent, in any case hours.

my departure for Penang..

modern hospital. re is a shortage of Assistant (e) Surgeon.

The Hospitals Board were satis- (2) Early in 1921 Government Maternity Hospital.

General Hospital, and one for the and a few other large centres in

One is to England. The Surgeon, who is also the fied that the recent rise in numbers considered the building of a new have X-ray experience. rgeons,

Total 2,024.28 1,944.27 have, etc., Sd./- R. Scott, Resi-Radiologist.. is severely handicap-of in patients had rendered both an Penang General Hospital, including it is also hoped to provide from Penang, is not a scandal or a dis- and Hill District in millions and de

In future (8) The General Hospital, Consumption of water in the City · t Councillor, Penang.

ped by shortage of staff and an increase in staff and the provision first class maternity accommoda-Singapore the relief for Sisters grace to the Colony and lives were simals of gallons during the month of The Hon.,.

pliances. His own permanent staff of a new General Hospital in tfon. The Architect of the General consists of one Tamil boy. A sis- Penang imperative, and they ap- Hospital. Singapore, went to Penang going on home leave. ter or staff nurse is allotted by the proved of the measures already with me in March and prepared the Colony is to increase the Probationers.--Our present policy Matron when available. There is taken.

They unanimously

alte plans. Later Government de- number of probationers as patients of the Hospitals Board, who speaks Estimated population 405,900 416,220 considered cided that for financial reasons it This report is a very sad but true no doubt that the Surgeon should

mentary оп

bureaucratic have, as in Singapore, one Eurasian that by requesting two full written was impossible to proceed with the increase, instead of adding to the from personal experience of both hargy and inefficiency, The Assistant Surgeon, one Theatre reports from two medical men proposal. Dr. A. E. Horn, C.M.G.. number of dressers and attendants, hospitals, better than the

ang Hospitala from every point Sister, one Staff Nurse and two junior in the service, the Visiting then serving in Malaya as Director Provision has been made for 23 General Hospital, Singapore, was

probationers in the General Hospi- four years ago. view are by far the worst I have boys. The care of the Theatre is Committee had far exceeded their of Medien! and Sanitary Services,tal, Penang, in 1928, as against 11| Its replacement would have been wledge of. A few miles across a full time post for a highly train- undoubted right to question any then visited Penang with me in We think that in Government servant employed in September to consider a scheme for

Aв nurse probationers | carried out at the same time as the Straits there are hospitals beau-ed sister.

of the Singapore lly constructed, wonderfully modern times a Surgeon cannot be the hospital and that the Inaccuracy improving and adding to the existare trained it is intended to increase rebuilding ipped and staffed by bodies of considered as an individual but as of the Information thus obtained ing hospital, using the existing the number of Staff Nurses also. Temporary accommodation outside husiastic workers.

Be- the guiding brain and chief execu-had weakened the committee's re-buildings as far as possible. ·

the hospital must be found for ad- In my report to Government on ditional nursing staff. se those at the head of affairs tive of a staff, which should be port.

They considered that accurate that occasion I wrote. "It is the re are out to give to the people adequate and highly trained, and

beat medical sciences can offer on the Surgeon's shoulders rests the written information of matters Director's opinion shared by me, already been allotted to the General Dressers. One extra dresser has for the concerning staff administration and that had funds been available, a a idle nonsense to suggest that ultimate responsibility

Hospital. cannot have an absolutely first patient's life or death. We under building could and should have completely new hospital on modern

Attendants and Toties.-Four hospitals system here-stand that the Surgeon's estimated been obtained from the Chief Medi- lines should have been erected." have been added to the 1928 este- Ted by men. and women amply annual programme is 450-500 opera-cal Officer, Penang.

As it was a programme involving They were also of opinion that the expenditure of about $300,000 blishment. leient in number and keen and tions and 1,000-1,100 radiograma.

(2) I have asked for one Iclent at their work. It is an For a Surgeon, however good, to be the committee's action in request was undertaken. alt to our race--and an insult I required to work with an inade-ing the above reports, though fr-

The Public Works Department additional medical officer so that erly resent to say that Dutch-quate staff and also insufficient ap-tended to improve hospital condi- decided not to introduce a modern the Pathologist may have no ad- can accomplish what it is im- pliances (to which we will refer tions in Penang, was detrimental to sewage system or extensive electric ministration duties in the District

Hospital. aible for Britishers to aim at later) is to risk human lives for the discipline of the medical de fittings and we consented.

partment. the sake, presumably, of economy.

(3) Proposals were submitted former would, I understand, have achieve.

Surgeon

Staff. As Radiologist, the The great lack on our part

been impossible and the latter diff- by me to Government at the end Imbition and vision on the part should have also adequate ass1st- The qualified staff in the General cult, and both were considered too of August for a new General Hos- there at the head of affairs, ance. At present he has none. In Hospital, Penang, on the date of expensive owing to the financial pital and a new District Hospital in Penang. Sites have been consider se in authority are apparently Singapore the Radiologist has one the Committee's visit was

(1) One Chief Medical Officer, The scheme was carried out and ed, and a trial site plan of the fering from that tired feeling European Sister and one trained ing office hours. I would aug-boy. It is a great waste of Sur- whose duty it is to spend from 2 the buildings were improved as far General Hospital has been submit- Mr. George Jean Nathan, one of the the ratan or the broom and a goon's valuable time that he should to 3 hours daily in the hospital, and as they were susceptible of im-ted: the Colonial Engineer has wittiest, certainly the boldest of

have to do photographer's work and in addition to administration to provement. Except for a period of since been in consultation with me American critics. n sweep.

Sd./- A. S. McKern.

The object of most Americans to- spend hours developing radiograms supervise the treatment of cases on 4 months in 1926 they have ade-frequently and is working on esti- entirely agree with the Commit- which is the proper work of a the medical aide.

day is not to remember that their quately accommodated all who mates, He is not mentioned in the sought admission until May of this (4) The advice of appropriate home is a home, as the home of s report. Penang is not only trained assistant.

committee's report. It transplr year:

specialists is being sought.

The following unclaimed tele- place with an unsatisfactory (1) Pathologist.

One heara un- The Pathologist is also the medi vice however,

(6) I have stated the increased their father's and mother's was, sant rumours from Singapore cal officer in charge of the District- poor health, which culminated of defects is exaggerated. All the staff which is likely to be required but to forget that it is one.

The average American is cerrams are lying at the office of the from the F.M.S. also. I think Hospital having over 500 patients later in a nervous breakdown, wards are decently usable for based on my experience of the new tainly less sentimental and leas Great Northern Telegraph Com- the whole situation (medical) (with which Hospital this Commit and necessitated his retirement in their purpose though not of course General Hospital, Singapore.

chivalrous to-day than his father Pany (Limited) of Denmark: Wilvincit, from Bradford. August he Straits and F.M.S. should be tee is not directly concerned). He

comparable to the wards in a (6) I hope that Government may

'Silagi, be able to take action, as soon as (2) One

A woman with a telephone con-

Passenger, "President closely gone into by some im- also has other duties including

Specialist Surgeon modern hospital. those of pathologist.

(who is also part-time radiologist): The Chief Medical Officer (lately the approximate cost of the scheme atantly at her ear is a woman first Jefferson," from Shanghai. Hal committee.

Lossius, from Shanghal,... We believe that he has not suffi- a well qualified junior time-scale retired) and several acting Chief is worked out. Meanwhile the and a wife and mother second.

Imemi, Kwock Tat, from Kobe. Penang General Hospital. cient time to attend to his duties officer, with considerable previous Medical Officers have informed me Seafor Surgeon (Mr. C. J. Smith) The average civilised man, some

E V. JESSEN, eport by the Committee for theas Pathologist and that his staff is surgical experience, was acting in from time to time that complaints has advised me against the plans of our leading novelists excepted,

Superintendent. ang General Hospital to the either inefficient or insufficient, the post, as the substantive holder from patients were rare except for extending the present operating thinks of sex only, in odd moments.

about trivial matters.

theatre. He has recommended that The following instancen have was on leave.

It is Impossible to imagine the pital Board pursuant to Section

(8) One time scale medical Ordinance No. 119 (Hospital come to our knowledge:-

Last August 1 questioned many a disrobing room, be provided for failure of a marriage on a desert (a) A vaocine took 18 days to officer.

patients including some in the A the theatre staff in the adjoining island. A BET (4) Two Assistant Surgeons, Block rooms, described as airless official block, which can be done. The constantly increasing, pal- of a visit to the General Hoa-((b) A lady left the hospital disona of whom had to look after the and not fit for use. All the inmates He has recommended that a list I by three of our Members. gusted because samples taken from Prison Hospital in addition: (Only seemed content. The Senior Bur- should be prepared of the surgical confidence on the part of the Bri-local office for

her very early in the morning for one is mentioned in, the report.)

rd).

Why?

Sd./- James Gosalp.

he following Report is the re- prepare in one case...

he report, la divided into three fons;

aff, Buildings, and Equipment, the whole report should be read thar as some of the criticisms, feel impelled to make fall into e than one of those sections.

Staff,

edipal Officer.push! Tre indenly, one at the hospital. Ifshment provides, for

the purposes of certain tests were returned, with the statement that there was no time to make the inta Generally 'too for long a time is taken in getting reports from the laboratory

(8) Assistant Surgeons.

There is only one in the hospital. There should be at least three of whom one should have the sole duty

ed later that this officer was in

POLAR CAKE

ITS QUALITY

crisis.

The

(3) The committee's statement

this year.

KOWLOON WATER WORKS.

Storage in millions and decimals of gallons. General Hospital had funds been

1928 1927 available,

861.88 327.75 The growing needs of the Settle-Kowloon Reservoir...

Shek Lai Pul Reservoir 100.80 -100.80 ment of Penang renders à new the earliest possible date. General Hospital there necessary at Reception Reservoir ..

(Sd. A. L. Hoops. Chairman of the Hospital Board, and Principal Civil Medical Officer, Straits Settlements,

ON AMERICANS.

The following aphorisms from "Land of Pilgrim's Pride" (Knopf, 78. 6d.). The author

was.

are

Total 452.48 428.55 Consumption of water in Kowloon in millions and decimals of gallons dur- ieg the month of October.

Consumption

1926 1927

78.64 101.04.

Estimated population 157,300 162,840 Consumption per head

per day................

16.1

20.00.

Fall Supply in all districts during October, 1928 and 1927.

The Government Analyst's reports show that the quality of the water is aatisfactory.

Total rainfall to October 81, 1926,

95.36; October 31, 1927, 104,87 ins.

UNCLAIMED TELEGRAMS.

THE GREAT NORTHERN TELEGRAPH CO., LTD, OF DENMARK.

Hong Kong, 24th November, 1927.

Unclaimed telegrams are lying pable, and ominous, lack of self-in the E., E. Telegraph Company's geon got similar replies this month, equipment necessary for a newton, once the most resolutely self. Hanimpexco, from Hamburg. Two of my own children have been hospital and that part of this equip assured of mortals, is of a high Irene Jaanilho, 27 Watching. patients in these wards, or ment Including some electric significance in more directions Street, third floor, Yaumati, Kow

There is a small sisters, rgom on sterilizers, should then be ordered than one.jpg Joon, from Nova Goa the upper floor of B Block A, B and used temporarily in the General Art, so far as the women's clubs Nair, from Irinjalakuda. and C'blocks are all fine buildings, Hospitalóg though antiquated: Improvement Loam forwarding his proposals to the floors are now being carried Government with a request for put. Owing to the free ventilation favourable consideration, and the verandah space, the overs (6) Until some new permanent crowding of third class wards has buildings can be erected, if a great

Addelerka ledict thaßim Increase in patientstan

St

go, is simply a refuge from hus Payor Kowloon Hotel, from:

Bangkok bands,

Business is presently so full of Sheikh, from Calcutta Sab. time and money wasters that Job Zarkasogigi", from himself, were he to sit in an Ameri Woking, can office for so much as half an would have liked completely