HOSPITAL AFFAIRS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 45, 22 February 1905, Page 6

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS.

ROYAL COMMISSIOFS REPORT.

CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD.

A special meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held last evening for the purpose of considering the report of the Royal Commission upon the Hospital management. There were present Messrs. John McLeod (chainnau), A. IL HarTis, S. C. Brown. J. G- Garland, A, Bruce, W. R. Bioomueld. John Bollard, M.K.It., and L. J. BagnalL The chairman said they were called together for a specific purpose, to discuss tlie portion of the report not already referred to committees to be reported upon. Sir Blooiofieid. said that its they were called together to consider the report no notices of motion should be required* The chairman said they might suspend the standing orders so as not to prevent motions being accepted ■without notice. Mr Bollard moved, and Mr Bloomfield seconded., the suspension of the standing orders, which , was agreed to.

Mr Bloomfield suggested that the first thing to be considered should be the part referring to the dismissal of Dr. Neil.

Mr Brown seconded the motion pro forma.

Mr Harris objected to that, and said the clauses in the report should be considered seriatim.

Mr Bagnall thought the most important matter was arranging for someone to succeed Dr. Collins.

Mr Bollard agreed that the management of the Hospital should be the first matter considered.

The chairman also considered they should first consider the portion of the report which recommended reverting to the system of governing the Hospital by means of the honorary medical staff. Mr Bruce said it was imperative to first come to a decision regarding the future form of government of the Hospital.

The Board decided not to deal -with Dr. Neil's case first, but the question of the management of the Hospital. The chairman said the Commission had recommended the appointment of two junior surgeons and one physician, subject to tlie hon. medical' staff. Personally, he thought there should be a senior medical man resident at the Hospital. The quarters were there for a married man, and he should reside there. The juniors they got were just fresh from college, and an older officer, with administrative skill, was needed- They should not allow the Hospital to be run by juniors entirely. He moved that the medical staff should consist of two juniors and one senior resident medical officer. They could not run the Hospital on the lines they had tried. He agreed with the recommendations of the Commission that the Hospital should be under the charge of tlie hou. medical stall, but be wanted a senior medical officer resident at the Hospital.

Mr Garland seconded the motion, but thought whatever was decided upon should be sent on to Dr. MaeGregor for hi 3 approval. He thought a junior resident medical offit-er was required to keep the clerical records, lie thought there should bo. three unmarried juniors and one senior me.dieal officer a-ppointed at the Hospital..

Mr. Bollard moved, as an amendment that the matter should be submitted to the Inspector-General before they passed any resolution. Dr. MacGregor was not an extravagant man, and he would prefer to throw the whole responsibility upon Dr. MacGregor as to how the hospital should be staffed. He did not think either the hon, staff or the Inspector-General would approve of a senior medical officer resident at the hospital. Neither Dr. MacGregor nor the hon. medical staff wanted a senior medical officer at the hospital. He moved accordingly. Mr. Bloomfield, in seconding the motion, said they had in the past tried experiments in management, which had failed. They had now better act in accordance with the recommendation of the Commission.

Mr. Bruce objected to merely making the hospital a training ground for youths fresh from college. He strongly advocated getting Dr. MaeGrcgor's advice upon the matter. Two junior medical officers were not, in his opinion, sufficient for the hospital.

Mr. Bagnall thought Mr. Bollard's suggestion was beginning at the wrong end. The Board might just as well resign and ask Dr. MacGregor to run the institution. He agreed with the chairman's motion with the exception of stipulating that the senior medical officer should be married. One cf the three juniors should be paid more than the others, and have general charge of the institution, of course under the direction and control of the hon. medical staff. The hotise built, for the resident officer could be utilised as quarters for the three junior medical officers.

Mr. Brown said it was superfluous to ask Dr. MacGregor's opinion when they had it so plainly expressed in his evidence before the Commission. The main question to bo decided was the relative positions of the senior medical ofiicer and the hon. medical staff. They must have a permanent staff of three medical men; whether one should be married or not was a question to be considered. He thought the senior medical man should be responsible to the Board direct as to the administration of the hospital. If such an officer and the hon. medical staff would only use ordinary tact, the hospital could bs worked well enough. The rules were very explicit, and they must in the past have been infringed by both the senior medical officer and hon. medical staff to bring about the state of affairs that existed at the hospital recently. The chairman said a senior medical officer should have £400 to £500 a year and a residence. He objected to an institution like that being run by lads who had just left school.

Mr. Bollard said they were practically coming back to tie position vacated by Dr. Collins.

The chairman said Dr. Collins was not entirely under control of the hon. medical staff.

Mr. Bagnall suggested that the senior should be paid £200 extra, and should have control of tie paid staff of the hospital and general management of the institution.

The chairman's motion was then adopted subject to it being submitted to Dr. MsisGregroT for the stipulation that the senior officer must be married being left. out. He explained that bis motion was on all fours with the recommendations of the Royal Commission, with the exception that one should be a senior medical officer.

Mr. Bnice suggested that the salaries should be £100 for the first year for juniors, £200 for the second year, and £300 for the senior officer. This was agreed to. .. r