HOSPITAL ECONOMICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1166, 29 June 1911, Page 4

HOSPITAL ECONOMICS.

PAPER BY ME. E. C. KIBK. .Addressing tiic confercnce upon tho subject of "Hospital Economics. ' Mr. It. C. Kirk (Wellington) said the first necessity of a well-conducted hospital was oil cflicient. staff. It paid the managers of a hospital to nurchasc the best brains available. It was the poorest, economy to pay low salaries. There should be as litflo interference as possiblo with tlie officers so Ion.? as they produced good results. The personnel of "an honorary, ns of a paid, stall had a considerable bearing upon tile efficiency and economy of a hospital. The' determination as to what and how many appointments were necessary might be very properly delegated to "the medical men ' practising in the district, together villi lite JnspeclorGeneral. Tho same principles as the speaker had enunciated in regard to the staff applied in thoir entirety to the obtaining of materials and appliances. Food of the best finality should be procured by contract in regard to such goods as could be conveniently contracted for. Other articles of feed might bo economically procured by empowering the ImiKe steward to buy in the cheapest marlset. In the mailer of drills a great dent might be saved by leaving it to tlia judgment of medical superintendents '.o decide <1S to what drugs should be obtained. Tho speaker had known as m-.i'h as .I'IOOO a year saved by adopting 1 litis system. Tt had now become an oncn riuestion, however, whether drugs should not bo procured l).v hospitals throng-hout the Dominion front a source. At present some boards paid fifty per cmt. more t jinn others for the same articles. Con-cluding,-Mr.-Kirk moved:— . "That it is desirable for Hospital Boards to delegate lo the . medical faculty in their districts the appointment of such honorary staff as may be considered by tliem necessary."

Mr. Harper (Ashburton) seconded iho motion.

Dr. Valintine congratulated Mr. Kirk on his paper, and endorsed tho proposal contained in the motion. The Department, ho added, would shortly bo in a position to manufacture sera and vaccino fur use i;i hospitals throughout tho Dominion. Boards would then bo ablo to obttin lhc<o materials at a much cheaper rate, t Inn at present. Tho prop:.?:>l that Iho hospitals of the Dominion should combine in procuring drugs and other materials was an excellent one, and the sneaker hoped it would be adopt :xl. Mr. G. T. Loudon (Wellington) deprecated Mr. Kirk's depreciation of Iho layman. .Hoards at' (he present time mado a dispassionate choice in selecting an honorary statV. it was questionable whether members of tho profession could make a betfor choice. As to giving officers a free hand, if this spirit ivero earned too far Iho secretary of a board would become its aulncrai'.

Dr. J. E. Hiddell (Waipawa) moved: "That central training schools bo established where the smaller hospital boards can maintain probationers during their com of training, on Iho understanding that they return to Iho hospital which had supported them during that period for a term 1 of at least two years after they have received their certificate." After some discussion, in tho course of which the claims of small hospitals were strongly urged, Dr. Valintino intervened with a suggestion that the trouble would be remedied if larger hospital districts were created, lie still hoped to sec this policy adopted. Tho motion was defeated. The conference adjourned at 10.15 p.m. Mr. Kirk, on behalf of tho Wellington Board, invited delegates to visit' tho local hospital this afternoon, before proceeding to Government House, whero they arc to bo received by Lord Islington. It was decided to resume at 9.30 a.m. today.