HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT

Dunstan Times, Issue 496, 20 October 1871, Page 3

HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT

(communicated.) The necessity for strictly economical management of the District Hospital gives the Managing Committee little choice of action. Any experimental efforts must be limited 1 y the question of cost. The Committee, in fact, as custodians of public moneys, cannot now affb'd to run the risk of even a single pecuniary failure. There seems but one safe line of action, namely, an amalgamation of offices. It is true that the present staff of paid officers is limited ; hut still it is worth considering whether their duties may not he amalgamated and the aggregate cost lessened. It is proposed by the Committee that, in future, the staff shall consist of one Surgeon,'one Dispenser, one AVardsman and wife, and the Secretary. Options differ as to the salaiy the Surgeon should receive, and the cost of the Dispenser’s services has not yet been arrived at. Probably 2001 per annum will not ensure any very experienced head. In round numbers the Surgeon, Dispenser, and Secretary will Vie a charge'on the Insl itution of certainly not less than 500/. per annum. The Ward sman’and his wife now get 00/., with rations. The question arises: is a dispenser the officer most urgently required under present pecuniary circumstances ? Here is a suggestion at the service of the Committee, which' may or may not be deemed worthy of consideration. Let a non-resident Surgeon, having the privilege of private practice, be paid 2001. per annum for daily attendance on the Hospital patients at certain specified hours. Let it be a sine qna non that be makes up all his own prescriptions from the Hospital medical stores —no heavy task, under ordinary circumstances, and in no wise derogatory"to his profession. The 2001. would be a subsidy to a skilled medical practitioner -ettling permanently among the community, and, if from unforeseen events, one resigned or was deprived of hisi charge, the money would ensure the prompt attendance of another. Then, instead of a dispenser being employe’, let some active trustworthy man be engaged to act as Superintendent, Steward, or Manager—the designation is immaterial. His duties would be to take charge of the incommg and outgoing of all supplies, keeping account thereof with rigid exactness, to cultivate the garden and grounds wi hj such aid as convalescent patients could give, and now and then some casual day labor, and generally use all efforts to turn everything to a profitable account.; If a married man, so much the better. The Committee might then purchose a few cows, and these, running «n i the flat and fed with produce from the j Hospital grounds, would yield a supply of ; milk and butter for the Institution, which, ; with poultry, eggs, and pork, all home produce, would represent no slight items saved in present expenditure. A horse might be kept also, and every now and again Mr. Superintendent could agreeably diversify his daily occupations by a trip round the country to collect subscriptions. The offer of 200/. per annum and free residence and garden would call forth a host of applications for such office, and a good man obtaining the appointment could hardly fail to take interest in his work and use all efforts to render a good account of his stewardship. Some member of the Committee, acting as Honorary Secretary, could easily record tbe minutes of the usual meetings, leaving to the Superintendent the keeping of all accounts under proper supervision.. Thus 400/. and the AVardsman : and nurse’s sa’ary and rations, with incidental expenses, say 200?.—in all 000/. per annum, less the profit to be realised on dairy and other produce, would ’represent the annual cost of the entire staff of the Ins’hution. The profit on dairy, &c., might be safely set down at 75/. per annum, leaving the total at 525/.