OUR PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 63, 25 October 1864, Page 3

OUR PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL.

(Per favor of 'the Southland Times.) To. W. F. Tabitox, Esq., Provincial Treasurer Invercargill. Sic,— During the Sitting of the Provincial Council, on the Bth of March last, a motion was brought forward by yourself, seconded by Mr. M'Cowen (?), and earned, concerning a change in the Hospital Department, viz. — " It appears to us " most desirable that a house or resident surgeon " should be employed who would devote bis " Tvnole time to the discharge of official duties, so " that, whenever a patient was admitted, whether " suffering from accident or' otherwise, a medical " man might be always on the spot to attend him. " That the gentleman holding the office of House " " Surgeon should not engage in private "practice ; "but that he should devote himself strictly to "attendance apon the hospital and the " gaol. There- has been -an increase in the " House Surgeon's salary, and we propose " that . lie shall receive i 8250 a year, with "a house and . rations. "We. propose to dis- | " pense with the Provincial Surgeon; There j "are twenty-four beds in the hospital, and it " appeal's to us that those can be very well " managed by the Resident Surgeon, with the " servicesbf an efficient dispenser." v.\ Now, Iwo'iild ihost ; respectfully ask you, was the above motion brought forward and carried ■ merely- as a matfcer of form ?or was it- intended actually to be -brought into practice, and acted-upon,-for the 'better administration of matters concerning the hospital ? And is it requisite that the Resident Hospital Surgeon should strictly adhere to -the Acts . thus ; passed -in .Council ? because I can state pooitiveiy tliat oui« Resident Surgeon, although enjoying his increase of salary of £250 per annum, has never ceased to practice privately his profession, including cases of ac-, .couchmentSj^which, often required. ? his constant attendance. fpr, days and nights, and, l know t^at whilsti am writing^ this, he has not; yet returncvi j ' irom a^ similar case ; in the, country^ where he; ha?. •been in attendance, fpr the.hist .three weeks. : I jDoes'joiiiL Residfiht : Hospital . Surgeon „ thus Tiolate.with impunity the Acts passed in Council with your, consent: and knowledge? v l } ._;/' i- There are many' rumors afloat as to favoritism *- to indoor as weu'asroutdpor patients, and also. as to the distribution bf|aedicihes out of the Hospital Pispenßary; : (Not to'piiupevs.)' : ' : '■'- • X thinki therefore; there^ is every cause to insti-; tute a thorough investigation into the hospital management, and speedily to bring into action the Hospital Ordinance of 1863,- especially clause 4, which clause rcquirea ' that "siich institutloiiß Bhail bo cowlucted -by incnt,^^el&ctcd'by'th<s^^contributpriof ' the funds'to the Hospital. I know you are an advocate for economy and wtrenchment of public expenditure} and I thini;

that £250 cash,»for Balary^of a Resident, Hospital Surgeon, and the expense ifor boardiiig.BUcli officer, ■might safely be spared (especially since it/appears hia services are so little; required) by the election of one or two medic^--j»ractitioiers\w- ; Jipnoraiy~ medical officers to. Jhe ; hpspital.T~l remain,^ Sir, yours sincerely, - : :. » • : / '■-'. : .*;■■.,":;. ;-":; ; , r: ;;:::.;, ,^;: ■' : :, citizen.- .- Jfoyercargiil,;^ ;