PLEASE allow me space in your newspaper to voice my displeasure at my recent visit to the New Amsterdam hospital on Sunday. August 16. 

I am a surgeon visiting from the United States and went the New Amsterdam Hospital to visit my relative who has a very serious circulatory problem to the extent of necessitating removal of one of her legs.   Even though the hospital was physically new as compared to what was in place at old buildings in Alexander Street, the attitude of the nurses left much to be desired.   They could provide me with no information about the patient; nor could they refer me to the doctor responsible; were totally unhelpful with a rather rude attitude even though I informed them that I was a doctor myself; and also left the patient there suffering in much pain and agony not willing to provide any relief even though implored!   They kept telling me that they could do nothing until the following morning when the doctor made his rounds and had no way of contacting him!

It is congratulatory that there is a new hospital in New Amsterdam at last, but the nursing personnel needs better training in dealing primarily with the patients, their families, and in their level of competence – I was really not impressed with this latter!

I myself did a stint as Resident Surgeon at New Amsterdam Hospital in the old days and certainly would not have tolerated this!

Please address this problem.
FRANCIS R. WILLIAMS MD