(Catalogue ref: MH 12/15070)
To the Chairman of the Board of Guardians of the Huddersfield Union
Huddersfield, June 1847.
Sir,
I am sorry to have occasion again to remark on the state and management
of the Fever
Hospital. It is my wish at all times to avoid complaints, but really
when I find affairs of that establishment carried on in a slovenly
and inefficient manner, from incapacity and negligence of the nurses
appointed to take care of the sick, -I am constrained to give such
a statement of facts, as I hope will induce you to remedy the evil
for the future - Robert Worth is the only nurse in that Hospital who
can read and write for a week or two he did his duty; He then became
ill of a fever and was confined to bed a fortnight, since that fever
he seemed to be disgusted by his occupation and is become reckless.
This man with the help of another man, named Mark Bradley are the
only individuals I have seen to attend upon the sick of both Male
and Female patients, -I have never seen a woman assist in the female
wards those who have to make calls of Nature. Besides I have seen
three individuals lying in their own Filth with the hands and faces
smeared with it too whole days without being washed. The Names are
Benjamin Carr.. .died on the 6th June
James Till...died on the 15th June
Bridget MacLoughin.. .died on the 18th June
The regular administration of Medicine prescribed and attention
to those Patients who are too weak to feed or help themselves are
very much neglected. I will here remark that, when a Patient arrives
at a certain state of weakness and debility, as much depends upon
good nursing as Medicine. It therefore becomes extremely painful
as Medical Officer to find my efforts frustrated by the omission
of other adjustments I have so much experience in the early and
present period of my Professional career as Medical Officer to Parish
Hospitals as to be fully convinced of the utter worthlessness of
Pauper Nurses unless superintended by a proper paid nurse.
Hoping that due attention will be paid to these remarks
I am Sir
You Obedient Servant
Thomas Robert Tatham
|