HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1587, 21 March 1879, Page 4

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The adjourned meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held at 4 p.m yesterday. Present—Mr H. Thomson (chairman), the Mayor of Sydenham, the Mayor of Christ* church. Mayor of Lyttelton, Dr. Turnbull, Mr J. E. Brown. APOLOGY. An apology was received from Mr W. Montgomery for his absence on the ground of having to attend the B ard of Education CHARITABLE AID COMMITTEE. The report of the cluritable aid committee was was read. (he recommendations made by the committee wore approved. DRAINAGE. Mr Brown said that m compliance with the resolution of the Board he had not moved his resolution at the i’nonage Board. 'I HE ORPHANAGE. A letter was read from Mr Bopp intimating to the Board that he unde, stood that he was em powere I and r the rides supplied to him when engaging, to dismiss and engage servants at the Orphanage. The Mayor of Lyttelton thought that the master of the ( rphanage should have power to dismiss the servants if necessary. The Major of Sydenham pointed out that the formation of the committee was intended to meet this. The Mayor of Lyttelton had been appointed on the Orphanage committee so that, being always on the spot, he could deal with matters arising, such as the engagement of servants, &c. AKAISOA HOSPITAL. A repo t was read from the Akaroa Hospital, stating that there were four patients in it. The medical officer reported that none of the storekeepers would tender for the groceries for the Hospital. One said he was about to_ retire, another said he was too busy, and tfie third said that the rules were too stringent. After some discussion, the matter was left in the hands of Mr March to see into it, HOUSE SURGEON’S REPORT. The r eport of the house surgeon was submitted, ranging from March 4th to March 20th. The number of admissions during that period was reported as being 33. Six had applied for admisrion and bad been refused. The Mayor of Sydenham suggested that it would be better to submit the house surgeon’s report to the Hospital committee, so that they could report upon it to the Board. It was resolved that the surgeon submit his report to the hospital committee prior to the meeting of the Board. HOUSE steward’s REPORT. The report of the ffimse steward was sub mitted. He reported that since last meeting of the Board there had been twenty discharges and seven deaths.

MEDICAL STUDENTS. A letter was read from Mr Neck renewing his applicati n for leave to be given to his son, Mr P, V. Neck, to attend at the Hospital. The Mayor of Christchurch thought that the question turned upon whether Dr, Chilton re quired an assistant or not. Dr. Tnrnbull thought it would be' very unwise to introduce supernumeraries when they could not be made of any practical use. It seemed to him to be a c jmmercial matter. If Mr Neck wished to keep up his knowledge he could pay an outside practitioner to become a student.

The Mayor of Christchurch understood that Mr Neck did not require to become a medical student. All he wanted was to make himself useful. Dr. Chilton was asked if he absolutely required Mr Neck's services, and he had replied that he did not absolutely require it. Dr. Turnbull thought they could not stultify themselves by rescinding a resolution arrived at after a careful consideration by the staff as a practical matter and the Board as a business matter.

The Mayor of Christchurch would move—- “ That Dr. Chilton be requested to state whether Mr Neck would be of assistance to him.” Tho Mayor of Lyttelton seconded the motion. The Mayor of Sydenham did not think it would bo wise to throw open the Hospital to young men to walk in without some regulations. Mr Brown said that it they allowed this young man to come in they could not ask the staff to teach him anything. If this young man came in to learn he should not be so introduced unless the medical staff were consulted. If Dr. Chilton required an assistant, and Mr Neck was willing to come in as under Dr. Chilton then he should not oppose it. Dr. Turnbull said that they had not before the Board any certificate of Mr Neck having passed four .years in a medical school. This was the first thing that had to be done. _ Then the staff now in charge would have a right to object to Mr Neck touching any of their patients. They were taking away from the persons they had placed in authority in the Hospital t.e responsibility which was so conducive to the best interests of the Hospital. Again they might be sending out into the country a man with the recommendation of the Hospital upon him. Then he held that it was not right that the Board should ask the staff to give gratuitous instruction in medicine to any one. If Mr Neck wished to get instruction he should pay a premium to any professional man, and if ho were the pupil of Dr A. inside or Dr. B. outside, he would get every assistance from the staff to prosecute his studies. This was a very important question—one which affected the interests of the Hospital in a very important manner. The Chairman said that he had thought the matter over, and he agreed with Dr. Turnbull on the point that it would not bo right for the the Board to ask professional men to give their knowledge when Mr Neck could get his son into the Hospital in a proper way.

The Mayor of Christchurch said that what he required was to ask JLr. Clii.ton whether he required any assistance. He might say that he had reason to believe that Dr. Chilton would be very glad of assistance, and that he had seen his papers Any one who had spent four years at the University must certainly know something of medical science. Dr. Turnbull said that he thought that the Mayor of Christchurch should add to his motion that Dr. Chilton be asked what he knows of Mr Neck’s qualifications. The resolution with this addition was then put and agreed to , . , , , Dr. Chilton was then called in and asked whether Mr Neck, jun., would be of any assistance to him. , , . , Dr. Chilton said that he did not absolutely require assistance. He might say that ho would decline absolutely to put Mr Neck in any position of trust in the wards of the Hospital. He could make use of him if he had him, but, as he had said, ho could not trust him. Dr. Turnbull moved—" That the Board reaffirm the answer returned to Mr. Neck’s letter on the 19th February.” The Mayor of Sydenham seconded the motion, which was agreed to. THE MEDICAL STAFF. The Chairman said that Dr. Chilton had stated that he had seen in the paper that he was to be consulted as to the number of the staff, and therefore he had written his opinion, which was now before the Board. Dr. Turnbull was of opinion that the acting staff should have been consulted on the matter. Mr Brown said that he thought that the opinion of the house surgeon, who was thrown into contact with the staff, should be received with a great deal of courtesy. Dr. Turnbull, while not remarking upon the benevolence of Dr. Chilton in giving his opinion, would warn the Board against allowing the opinions of their paid officers upon the subject of the staff influencing them. Mr Brown would move — That the letter of Dr. Chilton be read.” The Mayor of Lyttelton, while remarking upon the peculiarity of a resolution being ro qwed to read a letter addressed to He chairman of the Board, seconded the motion, which was agreed to. , , The utter was then read as follows £ Sir,—As I understand that my opinion is desired an to tha requirements of the hospital in regard to the number tf the staff, I have thought it better both for the sike of clearness and in order that t might be put on record, to state my opinion in writing. I am of opinion that four members, that ig, two surgeons and two physicians, aid possibly an opthalmic surgeon, are amply sufficient for tho wants of the hospital. I am of opinioi that tho efficiency of the institution is materiallj lessened by tho employment of a larger number such as that of the late staff. I have come to thj conclusion for the following reasons;—(l) Thatin most of tho hospitals with which I have been co.nected, and with the management of which I '.m acquainted, these institutions having from 3(Xto 600 beds, four physicians and four surgeons hie tho sole charge of patients, the assistant physicians and surgeons and lecturers in the medical »hool not having bed* the hospital (3) That with-mly one house and such ft Urge staff as tho ate and ,a 0 c 5 56110,3 of Hospital treatment bestr that resident officer should be able to report staff the exact condition of in-patients, it H jmpossible for one man to bo in attendance at om time on more than one member, and in tho caso, as often happens hero, of many members of thq staff coming at tho same time the benefit of the house surgeon’s attendance and report is entirely lost. It t hus may happen and does that a physician or surgeon may attend on several consecutive occasions and, not being able to obtain the presence of the resident officer, may be for some considerable time without any information of the state of his patients, except such as he can obtain from the nnrao or dresser, jwho themselves may be absent. In 11 such large Xoadon hospitals as I have spoken of tins difficulty is met by appointing to each medical officer his own surgeon

or assistant surgeon. (3.) That we hiving liore an average of ninety patients, end) medical man only has in hospital at. one time cloven beds, and this number is frequently above the mark. It seems to me wrong that more men should attend this Hospital, in which they can at one time have only a few beds, and that the patients should really lose the benefit of the resident officer’s daily report, whilst the work could bo done with more sat isfaction to the solitary resident officer, and with a prospect of greater benefit to the patients, by employing a less staff.

I have, &c., M. Chilton, Resident Medical Officer,

The Chairman said it was necessary now, according to the resolution of the Board, to settle the number of the staff. After some discussion, The Mayor of Christchurch moved —“ That five be the number of the staff.” Mr. Brown seconded the motion.

Dr. Turnbull moved as an amendment —“ That si* form the number of the st ff.”

The amendment was not seconded, and the motion of the Mayor of Christchurch was carried.

The Chairman proceeded to open the offers, of which there were eleven.

'I he Chairman (on opening the first envelope marked *• Tender for Hospital Surgeon,” and finding a blank piece of paper) —this is a goak. The Mayor of Christchurch ; A goat, Mr Chairman, I don’t understand you. The Chairman : That is Artomus Ward’s rendering of a joke, [ Laughter.) Pour other envelopes, similarly addressed, were thou opened, and found to contain merely blank pieces of paper, The other five envelopes contained offers from Its. Campbell, Patrick, Prins, Ellis, and Mark. As there were only five names, and the Board having decided that the number should be five, The Mayor of Lyttelton moved —“ That Drs. Campbell, Patrick, Prins, Ellis, and Mark be appointed as the Hospital staff.” Mr Brown seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Chairman (jokingly)—l believe, Dr. Turnbull, you knew all about these blank pieces of paper. Dr. Turnbull (vehemently)—You shall retract that sir. I will not have such a thing as that said of me. Such a stateuv nt is all of a piece with your conduct as chai man of the Board. You have never tried to keep things in an orderly manner, but have exhibited marked partisanship on every occasion. If the other members of the Board were to speak out they would say the same as I do, that your conduct, as chairman has been throughout that of a partisan. If you do not alter your line of conduct the only course the Hoard will have to adopt will be to remove yon from the chairmanship. The Chairman —I may say, Dr. Turnbull, that I said what I did just now jokingly, though it was my opinion. I now say, in all seriousness, that I am convinced in my own mind that you knew all about the sending of those b.ank pieces of paper to the Board. As to my being a partisan, I have expressed,_ as I contend I have a perfect right to do, my opinion on the subjects brought before the Board. I say now that it is mainly, if not entirely, owing to Dr. Turnbull. Had it not been for misrepresentation, we should not be in the position we now are. I will say this that whatever I may have done I have never made false statements, which is m.re than Dr. Turnbull can aay. The Mayor of Lyttelton, while not willing to believe that such a poor attempt at a joke could have come from the acting staff, desired to express his opinion that there was no foundation for the charge of partisanship against the chairman made by Dr. Turnbull. The matter then dropped. Mr Brown inquired whether the letter requesting the acting staff to continue until March 25th had been sent.

The Secretary replied in the affirmative. Dr. Turnbull said be had received the letter ns chairman of the staff, but had not laid it before them. Dr. Turnbull then moved —‘‘That the new staff be requested to commence their duties on the 23rd of March, and that an intimation to that effect be sent to the acting staff.” Mr Brown seconded the motion, which wa agreed to. The Board then adjourned at 6.30 p.m. for a fortnight.