HOSPITAL AFFAIRS.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 892, 15 May 1903, Page 3

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS.

,TIJK QUESTION OF ADMISSION

At the meeting of the Hospital Trustees on Wednesday night discussion took place on the subject of I lie admission of patients to Liie Hospital. The Chairman, referring lo the motion of which Mr I larding hud given notice, regretted that that gentleman was unable lo he present Lo take it up. The by-law was all right it put into effect. A person seeking admission must gel an order signed by two trustees and the medical ollicer, except in eases of accident or emergency, when the matron had power to admit. The by-law had lieen more honored in the breach than in (lie observance, as a great many patients were admitted without the order being countersigned. He read the old form, and said 'if that were carried out there could not he any question about the admission of patients.

Mr .Johnston : How would it be in the ease of the order being signed by any other doctor than the medical superintendent. The Chairman : In that ease, 1 suppose it would have to be taken to him.

Mr Macfarlanc said ihat when lie had spoken on the mat ter he was under the impression that. would-be patients had been absolutely refused admission, but lie had since then seen one patient whose name had been mentioned, and it seemed lie did not make application according to Ihe by-laws. If he had applied in that form, lie would have had no difficulty in getting into the hospital. The Chairman : The statements are a good deal street-corner hearsay. Mr Johnston said that was Hie first time he had seen the by-law, though lie had long been connected with the. Committee. 'Pile Chairman : These by-laws have bit'll in force for years and years, f do not know anybody who was refused admission into the hospital. We bad instances given, but, as I remarked then, they Were a good deal from street-corner hearsay. Mr Macfarlanc would like lo know if tin patieni had been put off the scent of getting into the hospital. WliiMi lie went into the secretary was fie told the form of getting into the hospital ? ' Was lie told he was no. a fit subject The Secretary : f told him, as tar as 1 rememner, what the ordinaly form was for admission, hut stated Hi. the time there had been a strong feeling against such eases being admitted into the hospital. Mr .Macfarlanc : By whom was tlu* Jelling 7 , ... The Secretary: A 1 the meeting here a couple of days belorc. Mr Macfarlanc : I was not present. Mr Joyce said the question was •whether ii certain gentleman had been refused admission owing to his linaneial position, and there was a warm discussion on it at lasl meeting by vwo members. That was the point 4hat members would like to see cleared up, and Dr. Morrison could no it.. iif* suggested that the doetoi 1 Vlie Chairman (to Dr. Morrison) : J 1 was stated at last meeting that two patients wanting admission to lpe Hospital, principally on account of their local standing, had been refused admission. It was stated i.h.'t, 1 myself authorised the refusal, instructing von not to admit them, i denied that, and if 1 am wrong m denying it 1 would like you to lit iU Mr'Jmee : Yes ; that is what We Want cleared up. • t Dr. Morrison said m enlcung iyo -the subject lie would like to draw the attention of the Board to a small point first. He thought it was his due as their medical officer, m any mailer affecting him or Ins work at Ihe institution, whether it was a y „m»r «r report or complaint, that it should he brought uuder his notice before it was brought up lor (Uscussion—a discussion which got into the Sdie Press and which, the public an ltnpri-sswn totally mucous and harmful to the uistituUo„ and himself. Hv bringing l u ]nil t ter before him beforehand. it "HI rive lum an opportunity to expi - n dcuv. or justify the state,neni u Si-.oinl to the two eases just >t" 7„ if was totally ermnemn ’k either patient had been reuisw \, ln- ease brought h.nvanl by M Johnston, that patient never suggu Continued on page 4.