CROMWELL HOSPITAL.

Cromwell Argus, Volume VI, Issue 304, 8 September 1875, Page 5

CROMWELL HOSPITAL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Board of Management of above Institution was held in the Town Hall on Thursday evening. Present Messrs Dawkins (President), Gudgeon, Taylor (J.), Taylor(VV.), Tait, Starkey, and Solomon. Minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. The ontward correspondence consisted of a letter to Messrs Mulholland and party, stating that at present the Management found roof water sufficient for the requirements of the Hospital, and therefore did not feel disposed to avail themselves of the use of the race water on the terms offered. Inward comprised letter from Robert Bruce Lodge, 1.0. G.T., requesting particulars as to terms on which patients could be admitted to the Hospital, &c. The following communication from Mr James Marshall was also read : Cromwell. August 21, 1875, Secretary, Hospital Committee. Sir, —I was requested at the Bannockbum last evening to bring at once before the Hospital Committee the following matter. It seems that on a late occasion a patient, W. Kirker, was brought from the Carriek suffering from an accident which required immediate attention. Mr J. M'Kersie, who brought the patient clown, succeeded after some di'ficulty in obtaining a ticket of admission from one of the Committee, but he states that before getting it he had to make himself personally responsWe for the sum of 35a per week, the fee for a paying patient, and Kirker states tint before the expiration of a week from admission he was asked for the , money. This having been reported on the BanDockburn, an impression has gone abroad that •

subscriber, if he give a destitute ticket, must become personally responsible for the payment of 35s per weekend the feeling on the matter has gone so far that people absolutely refuse to subscribe under these circumstances until thd matter is fully explained. A large sum of money has already been subscribed, but is held by the collectors, one of whom, -Mr J. Smiddy, who has some £3O on his list,—thought of returning the money to the subscribers, and at any rate will not forward the amount until an explanation is given. I must beg the Committee's attention to this as early as possible, as it is calculated to do the institution considerable injury ; and as the Bannockburn from its population must naturally be one of the great supports of the Hospital in the way of contributions, it is necessary that this unfounded impression should at once bo removed, and I would beg to suggest that copies of the rules be sent out as early as possible. The collectors and a number of subscribers at a public gathering specially requested me to bricg this matter before you, which must be my excuse for so doing. With respect to the letter from Roberi; Bruce Lodge, it was decided to send half-a-dozen copies of Rules'; also a like number to each of the various societies in the district. Mr Marshall's letter was then considered. Mr Solomon said the man Barker had spoken to him, and seemed to consider that because he had given £1 towards the Build* ing Fund, it was little short of a swindle to ask him to pay anything as a patient. Mr-Starkey remarked that there was no doubt an impression of an unfounded nature was abroad about destitnte patients having to become responsible for the payment of £1 15s per week, and it was the Committee's duty to remove such idea, as it was one calculated to do the Institution considerable injury. He considered the best way to remove the erroneous notion wa3 to liberally distribute the Rules, in which every one could see the true state of the case. The Rules were printed for distribution, and not to be hoarded up in the Clerk's office. The Clerk explained he had sent copies of Rules to the leading men at Bannockburn and Carrick. Mr Gudgeon said that probably the Ban* nockburn people had been misled from the fact • th-it Mr- .Jolly had issued a ticket in favor of a person who desired to be a paying patient, and not having a paying ticket had. endorsed a destitute one as paying. Mr Jolly here todk his seat. By request he explained matters in connection with Mr M'Kersie's complaint, so far as he (Mr Jolly) was concerned. The statement of Mr M'Kersie that he could only get a ticket of admission for Barker on personally becoming responsible for 353 per week was entirely un* founded. M'Kersie came to him for a paying patients' ticket, but having only a destitute ticket he (Mr Jolly) endorsed it .as a paying one, and handed it to M'Kersie—who was fully aware thatit was issued as a paying patients' ticket. Mr.M' Kersie spoke strongly against the Hospital, and appeared to have a dislike to the Institution. He also said he would subscribe only to the Clyde Hospital. Mr Solomon remarked that Kirker had likewise threatened to do the Hospital all the injury he could. With reference to the statement in Mr Marshall's letter that Kirker had been asked for 35s before he was a week in the Institution, it was minuted that if the statement were correct there was no authority for such a step being taken by any officer connected with the Hospital. It was resolved to write the Wardsman, asking whether a request had been made Kirker to pay before he was a week in the Hospital. The Clerk, in answer to question, said there were no reports for presentation. He was instructed to draw the Wardsman's attention to Rules 45 and 46. Mr Taylor, as one of the Visiting Committee, read correspondence between them and the surgeon, and reported on works done since last meeting, , ; Mr Gudgeon, -Treasurer, stated that the auditors had certified to the correctness of accounts up to 31st July ; but owing to pressure of business had been unable to furnish report. It would, however, be presented at next meeting. The Visiting Committee were empowered to procure an additional supply of beds and bedding. Mr Starkey desired to bring a matter o! some importance before the Committee for their consideration. An impression had gone abroad, and had to some extent been confirmed by evidence at the inquest that day, that the Hospital Surgeon had given instructions to the Wardsman not to admit any , patients to the Institution before seeing him (the Surgeon) if they were able to walk—in which case they were to call at his residence. Dr Stirling at the inquest explained that he ! meant the instruction only to apply to those able to bear the journey, and not to all applicants for admission. The Wardsman, however, appeared to use no discretion in the matter; and the result wa3 that a great amount of dissatisfaction existed—and justly jso in his (the speaker's) opinion. He thought I ail applicants should at once gain admission within the shelter of the Hospital until the doctor visited and examined the applicant, ' when he would, if necessary, be enrolled on I the books of the Institution. The meeting was unanimously of Mr StarI koy's opinion, and agreed that it was never contemplated that the Hospital door 3 should i be closed against any applicant until he had seen the Surgeon. The hours of attendance of the Surgeon wa3 also discussed,- some of the members thinking one visit every 24 hours not sufficient. It was resolved that the Visiting Committee see Dr Stirling on this matter ; and also request him to countermand the instruction given to Wardsman re adoiissiou of patients. - . ■ •