HOSPITAL TRUSTEES.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 891, 14 May 1903, Page 2

HOSPITAL TRUSTEES.

OPERATIONS AND ADMISSION TO

INSTITUTION

SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION BY DR. MORRISON.

The monthly meeting of the Hospital Trustees was held last night, there being present: Messrs Nolan (chairman), Joyce, Wallis, Johnston, Dewing, Macfarlanc, and Tuohy. The monthly report showed : Number oi patients remaining from last month, 25 ; admitted since, 20 ; discharged, 23 ; died, 1 ; remaining at date, 21. The Treasurer’s report showed : Recepts (bank credit £2ll I2s 7d, patients’ ices £lB Ids, subscriptions and donations £23 Bs, refund fcis 6d),£2S ( J 5s Id; disbursements, £l2l 13s 6d ; balance, £lO7 11s 7d ; accounts presented, £llO 7s 2d ; leaving balance of £67 Ss 4a, to which had to he added requisition and subsidy due, £l l l 13s Id.

Mr Macfarlanc, for the retiring com mittee, reported that everything was pro ceediog satisfactorily at the Hospital, excepting that the water supply was short, rt was agreed that further tankage should be provided. Messrs Tuohy and Wallis wore appointed Visiting Committee for tho ensuing month.

Referring to the finauces the Chairman said that it was highly satisfactory that they wero able to commence the year with a credit, tho amount being about £2lO.

Consideration was then given to a matter brought up at the previous meeting as to the charge made by doctors called in to administer anaesthetics.

The Chairman explained what had

taken place at tho previous meeting, when a question was raised as to the fees charged, and mention was made of one doctor having refused to attend a patient. Dr Morrison was present, and in reply to a question said that what the other doctors had complained of was that the same fee was only allowed for an operation taking three hours as for one occupying an hour. They thought the fee should be a guinea for the first hour and a half guinea for each succeeding hour. Mr Johnston, in tho course of discussion, said that prior to Dr Morrison’s arrival, the medicul gentlemen had expressed their willingness to act as an honorary staff, and complained because they did not get an opportunity to assist in operations, for the experience it gave. Tho Chairman said that if they were prepared to carry on as heretofore he thought the Trustees could leave it at that. Had Dr Morrison anything to suggest in tho matter ? Dr Morrison said he did not think there could be a better arrangement than tho one that had worked weil in the past. Whether tho Board insisted on his paying a guinea a case, or allow the additional charge for being over tho hour was purely a matter of business between tho other doctors and the Board. If they cut the amount down and appointed one doctor to be called on tho difficulty might arise that he would bo away in the country when wanted. Mr Maefarlano: Wo heard of a case where a doctor refused,

Mr Dewing : Any doctor can refuse if he chooses. Though it would not bo much credit to them, they could all refuse if they chose. The Chairman (to Dr. Morrison): Do you think thero is any probability of their refusing ? Dr. Morrison, replying, said that in regard to tho statement that a doctor had refused to give an aniosthetic, an apology had been given, or he should have had to bring the matter before the Board. He did not think it was likely to occur again. Mr Joyce said ho did not think a guinea sufficient whero a professional gentleman was engaged for sovoral hours. Tho Chairman : I agree with that.

Continuing, Mr Joyce said thoy could get their souls saved without charge by a elorgyman, but a doctor required to be paid to savo life. Tho suggestion mado by Dr Morrison was a very fair one, that a guinea bo allowed for the first hour, and half a guinoa for each hour after that. lu reply to Mr Dewing, Dr Morrison said that if tho operation took a little over an hour the sum proposed was a guinea ; tho time nearest tho hour would bo counted as an hour, a little time either way making no difference. The majority of cases would bo a guinea and a half. That was the nature of the arrangement outside the hospital. It was agreed to allow tho matter to stand at that.

The question of allogod discrimination in admitting pationts was then gone into. Dr Morrison said that when matters of the kind came up he thought it only fair that his statement should bo asked before the matter was brought up and discussed at the Board meeting, the discussion then gotting publicity through tho press, while a month elapsed beforo ho got an opportunity to reply. He

stated that in the one case alluded to he had mado no refusal of admission to tho Hospital, while in tho other he had suggested that the operation could bo as well done at the patient’s own home, but there had been no refusal to admit to tho Hospital. As to the rumor that the Chairmau had refused he had not been approached in the matter. A report of the discussion is crowded out of this issue.