HOSPITAL MEDICAL STAFF.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 522, 19 September 1902, Page 2

HOSPITAL MEDICAL STAFF.

(To the Editor of the Times.)

Sir,—The result of last night's hospital meeting is nothing more than I expected from the tone of tile previous meeting, and while saying this I think it was right and proper for those tvb.) leaned towards a change fioui the present system to so express to the Trustees. Had they not done so and thought fit later on to relieve some of too present Tiustees from office, the Trustees' might have some grounds for complaining. Tne result of the enquiries made by the Trustees from other centres is practically that the system of appointing a paid house surgeon and an honorary stall of doctors works well in Napier, Wellington, Dunedin, Auckland, Christchurch, and Wanganui. The system of no paid house

surgeon, but a stall of paid non-resident loctors in New Plymouth and Timaru has not proved a success, and is a system that I hope will not he adopted here. Jn addition, they had Dr. McGregor s opinion, which was adverse to any change. I confess I was somewhat astonished to learn Dr. McGregor’s reply, seeing that the system of a paid house surgeon and honorary medical staff was reported to have worked well throughout the colony wherever tried. I could not understand it ; so, through the courtesy of the chairman and secretary of the Hospital, I was permitted to look through their correspondence on the subject, which, to my mind, explains the reason of Dr. McGregor’s reply, which is practically to “ leave well alone.”

The Trustees have not obtained from Dr McGregor an impartial report. We have it that both the Chairman of tho Trustees as well as another member of the Board interviewed Dr McGregor on this subject when in Gisborne a few days back, and no doubt they represented their views to him. In addition to this, I find from the correspondence that they sent a full newspaper report of their previous meeting to him, which contained misleading statements. Also in their letter to him they represented that it was only tho other medical men practising in Gisborne who suggested the changes. The Secretary goes on to write to Dr McGregor as follows : “ The Trustees do not look upon the proposed change with favor, etc. . . The Trustees will be glad if you will favor them with your own opinion as to the advisableness of making a change in the direction mentioned. As of course you are aware, tho medical arrangements of the Hospital have hitherto been under the sole control of a non-resident medical superintendent, and the Trustees have beeu well satisfied with the manner in which this sytem has worked.” Dr. McGregor, under these circumstances, has thought it best to say “ Leave well alone.”

But the facts arc not as the Trustees represent. There is a considerable amount of uneasiness and dissatisfaction in this district in consequence of the Hospital in this rapidly growing district being under the sole control of a non-resident surgeon who enjoys a large private practice. People who depend upon such an institution in time of sickness are naturally reluctant to make complaints, but the fact that 804 of our most influential people have signed a request to the Hospital Trustees to make a change in this respect should enable the Trustees to read between the lines, and realise that the time has come for a change. Did the Hospital Trustees let Dr McGregor know that Mr Hume had been in the Hospital for five weeks, and the doctor bad only found time to speak to him once about his ailments ? I am aware that one

of the Trustees had been notified of this case before Dr. McGregor's visit, hut I venture to think Dr McGregor was not apprised of it, nor of many other

cases which reflect on the present system which could he mentioned. I myself have experienced the sting of the present system, when the doctor refused my request for him to obtain the opinion of another doctor, at my expense, about the hand of an employee of mine, who had injured it in my employ. I was informed it was intended to have the hand amputated the following day. This man was the father of four or five children, and, had his hand been taken off at the will of one doctor, not only he, hut his wife and and children would have suffered. The hand, under the circumstancos was not taken off, but had I not moved in the matter I believe that man would have only had one baud to-day. I would ask the public to remain firm on this question, and insist upon our Hospital being placed on a more satisfactory footing regarding its medical arrangements. This can only he achieved b.y placing some fresh blood on tho Board, men who are not wodded to the present system. There are other matters I could answer and draw attention to, hut I feel content that tho public arc resolved that there shall in duo course be a change.—l am, etc., W. Douglas Lysnau.