HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1741, 18 September 1879, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

The regular fortnightly meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held on Wednesday afternoon, there being present Mr Thomson (in the chair), the Mayor of Christchurch, Mayor of Sydenham, Dr. Turnbull, Mr Montgomery, Mr J. E. Brown. The minutes of the previous meeting having boon confirmed, the fortnightly report was read as follows : The Hospital committee beg to report that during the past fortnight the number of admissions into the hospital have been nineteen, and the number discharged twenty-one, leaving sixty-five patients in the institution. Daring the same period there have been two deaths. Twenty-seven applications have been received for the office of house steward. The committee suggest that the Board should select from this number eight of the.best qualified to fulfil the duties, and authorise the committee to chooHe on a personal interview. The statement of moneys received since Ist September showed —Orphanage, £2 5a ; Akaroa hospital cottage, £37 5s ; hospital, £SB Os Cd. The report was adopted. Dr. Ellis wrote to the house committee, stating that he had received a letter from the Board intimating the acceptance of his resignation, and asking him to continue the duties, but ho found that arrangements had been made for the temporary cars of patients, which rendered the continuance of his presence no longer necessary. The letter was acknowledged with thanks. A letter was received from the Bov. Father Ginity, complaining of a larger fee being demanded for the burial of Catholics, and also of the manner in which Catholic paupers were buried. Mr Montgomery thought the committee should inquire into this matter. It was ordered to be minuted —“ That the letter be acknowledged, and the Kev. Father Ginity be informed that the fee to bo allowed will, in future, be 15s for each funeral. With respect to the charges preferred in his letter, that he will be good enough to specify in what way pauper funerals are conducted disgracefully. ” The Mayor of Christchurch moved, according to notice—“ That the Board take into consideration the appointment of a legally qualified resident surgeon, at a salary of per annum.” Ho did so without wishing to cast any reflection upon the person at present acting house surgeon, or in any way to call in question the action of the lato staff or the present one, but he

did so simply on public grounds. lie took it that in an institution of this character—one of the largest of the kind be supposed in New Zealand—the time had arrived when they should have a fully qualified resident surgeon. However excellent a person the present house surgeon might be, he was not what was legally and professionally known as a qualified surgeon. Prom inquiries he had made ho learned that in Victoria, New Ssuth Wales, and Tasmania, resident surgeons received sufficient salary tio induce them to remain for a number of years. In Hobart Town Dr. Turner received so long ago as twenty-four years, a salary of £4OO a year, and he believed that gentleman still retained office. At Ballarat the gentleman who occupied the position of House Surgeon, received eighteen months ago £4OO a year with allowances, and Dr. Durham who was in the Prebbleton district some years ago went home, and has lately been appointed to an hospital in Sydney at a salary of £SO a month with house room and other allowances. He thought they ought to have the services of a competent man, and they should give a salary sufficient to induce a gentleman qualified in every way to remain here. A great drawback hitherto had been that they had not been liberal enough. It was simply ridiculous that a paltry sum of £250 a year with allowances should be given to a first-class professional man. If they got a good man and paid him a liberal salary he would more likely bo above the caprices of the visiting staff. It was deplorable that an institution of this kind should at times be thrown into confusion on account of the medical men resigning out of the forms of etiquette. The subject was of such great importance, and he expected his resolution to be so generally endorsed that he had not asked anyone to second it. They should have a first-class man who could act for himself in anything involving immediate attention. He might mention in conclusion that the Mayor of Lyttelton had expressed himself to be in favor of the resolution, Mr Brown seconded the motion pro forma. Mr Montgomery asked the mover of the motion whether he intended to convoy by his remarks that the resident surgeon should bo without control, and that the medical staff should bo done away with altogether ? Mr Ick said what he meant was that if they got a man of standing ho would be treated by the staff as one of themselves, and not as subservient to them.

Mr Montgomery did not think there could bo a difference of opinion as to the advisability of getting a first-class man, but whether they could get a thoroughly qualified man for £SOO a year he very much doubted, because a man of that stamp might make more at private practice and have a greater amount of freedom. In Australia the surgeon was under the direction of the medical staff. Dr. Turnbull moved as an amendment—“l. That in the opinion of this Board it is not advisable to appoint a highly paid house surgeon until a committee appointed by this Board inquires into and reports as to the cause of the medical profession in Christchurch refusing to act on the hospital staff, 2. That a committee, to consist of the chairman, Mr Booth, Mr Ick, and the mover, be appointed. 3. That the committee report to a special meeting of the Board at an early date.” Difficulties had arisen through the appointment of certain men of inexperience in the management of hospitals—an inexperience recognised at the time of the appointment. They had hospitals administered by two classes. There were hospitals with a house surgeon, as Mr Ick proposed, and without a medical staff, and he was there to attend to the patients and superintend generally. That was the case in Wellington, but had been done away with. There was also the case of hospitals with a surgeon and visiting staff. In Melbourne hospital there were several house surgeons, and he knew plenty of hospitals with twenty resident surgeons, who received nothing whatever except board and lodging.

Mr Brown —Where ? Dr. Turnbull—At home. Mr Brown—That is forty years ago. Dr. Turnbull went on to say that they must have a house surgeon completely subordinate to the visiting staff or have a house surgeon without a visiting staff. If they appointed a man who could cope with everything in the Hospital, the first practical difficulty would bo that he would never stay, because he could make much more elsewhere. He believed if the medical profession in Christchurch were consulted as to the cause of the difficulties which had arisen, and a little explanation given, they would have no trouble in getting a visiting staff. They had to take care of the patients and the public welfare, and do justice to the profession and the public together. Mr Montgomery seconded the amendment pro forma. Mr J. E. Brown was satisfied that they could not do better than carry the resolution of Mr Ick, for it would prevent the flagrant despotism which they had been subjected to by the medical staff, and he had good authority for stating that there would not be the slightest difficulty if they obtained a resident surgeon they could rely upon. Their great mistake had been to offer such small salaries, and shutting the door to good men. If they adopted Dr. Turnbull’s suggestion to have an enquiry or expression of opinion from different medical men they would simply be raking up the old feud. He protested against the Board entering into any of the squabbles among the medical men of Christchurch. Dr. Turnbull represented the medical staff on the Board, and had said that that staff would not acknowledge the Board as their members. They had been recommended to go to the medical profession and ask them to send in applications, and they had done so, the result being that in reply they received about a dozen letters. If they appointed a house surgeon at a good salary he thought it would get over many of the difficulties they had before met with. Mr Booth could not support the resolution, because he could not see the necessity of any hasty decision on the matter. When the notice of motion was given it was to the effect that they should have a surgeon, indeuendent of the medical staff. As far as he could see of the working of the institution since he bad been on the Board, it was almost essentially one of the medical staff. He could not see how a single man could do the work without consultation with someone else. The Chairman considered that they must have a qualified resident surgeon, and he must be subservient to the medical staff.

Mr Montgomery believed that the question of getting a good medical man who was qualified to take the responsible position of house surgeon depended upon the salary. They must first decide whether they were going to do without the medical staff or not, because if they had a staff they would not require so highly• qualified a man as otherwise. The Mayor of Christchurch, in reply, said he had so objection to a medical staff, but that question should have been decided before his resolution came up. The Christchurch Hospital seemed to him to be a kind of nursery hall for young surgeons, and he looked upon that as a very unsatisfactory state of affairs. Dr. Turnbull had said, if the medical profession was appealed to, there would be eight or ton applications in response, but the Board had made such an appeal, And in response had met with an insult. The Mayor of Sydenham dissented to a remark made by the Mayor of Christchurch, that dummy applications might be sent in from the medical men of Christchurch. Dr. Turnbull asked leave and was allowed to withdraw his amendment. He believed a simple explanation would overcome any misunderstanding between the Board and the profession. Mr Brown moved the insertion of the words “ £SOO ” in the motion. Mr Montgomery pointed out that it was important they should first know whether they were going to have a medical staff or not, because that would decide him as to the amount the house surgeon should receive. He moved as an amendment —“ That the discussion on this subject be postponed.” Dr. Turnbull seconded the amendment. Mr Ick did not think there was any great urgency in the matter. He had been told of several well qualified men who would be glad to accept the post. Mr Brown regarded it as a most undignified proceeding for the Board te ask the staff the causes of the unpleasantness that had arisen. He would rather resign his position on the Board than do such a thing. After some further discussion, Dr. Turnbull withdrew his amendment. Finally Mr lok’s motion was carried. Mr Brown’s motion, that “ £500” be in* sorted in the motion, was negatived by the carrying of Mr Montgomery's amendment: “ That consideration of the subject be poned.” Dr. Towncnd was appointed to the medical staff. The Board then adjourned.