THAMES HOSPITAL.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1977, 6 May 1875, Page 2

THAMES HOSPITAL.

Tho General Committee of the above institution held their usual monthly meeting at the Salutation Hotel yesterday afternoon. Present: W. Eowe, Esq., President; Eev. Hill; Messrs Renshaw, Frater, Brown, Dewar, McNab, Gudgeon, McCullough, Johns, Sims, J. C. Hill, and Mcllhone. The minutes of lasi meeting were read and confirmed, and the follow* ing report from the

HOUSE COMMITTEE was read:— At the first meeting of tho House Committee the matter of payment to the surgeon for attendance at the measles hospital was postponed until- this account for such services was sent in, which is now laid before yon. The committee, however, are unable to recommend its payment. The same may be said of the account received from the cook for his services to tho patients in the measles hospital. The measles hospital being without patients on the 28th April, your secretary was instructed'to give the owner one week's notice that the building would not be required, but with the understanding that if it was again required it would be •at your committee's disposal. <. A number of articles required in thehospital were ordered by your committee. The accounts, amounting to £64 5s sd, and; wages £52 15s 4d, are recommended for payment.? His Honorlhe Superintendent visited the hospital during Ihe month, and expressed himself highly pleased with all arrangements."—Wm. McCui.i,ovgs, Chairman.

;Mr McNab moved thafc the report be received." ■

After which, Mr McCullough proposed, seconded by Mr McKab, that the suggestions relative /to. the the doctor's and the cook's accounts be adopted. The amount claimed by the doctor was £9 7s 6d ; and by the cook, £18s.

Mr Renshaw said that he could not altogether agree with the resolution. He thought it scarcely fair that the doctor should;! be required to attend at another pjace/patients who .were inadmissible to the Hospital. Mr Frater also thought that some payment should be made to the doctor.

'Mr Brown said he would support^ tfie action of the House Committee, as he .considered sucharcharge should not have been preferred. The surgeon of the Thames Hospital was thoroughly ? well paid, in fact he had been toldonly a few days before by a medical gentleman, that the position of surgeon to the Hospital r was,the best plum in the profession on the field.; ■ If ■tenders were called for the situation, he believed many would be glad to take it, and thenriotmake charges under such circumstances as attending for a few weeks at the measles hospital. ■ ' Mrßowealso agreed with the report and resolution, as he considered the measles ward was only a part of "the ,Goldfields Hospital. The committee had plenty to do to manage the institution with the funds at their disposal, without voting such a sum as that claimed by this doctor^"

The resolution being put, was carried. Mr Frater, as one of the first SubCommittee, stated that ho led the doctor to believe that he would be paid extra until the meeting of the General Committee to make definite arrangements, for measles patients; and which took place on the 9th of last month.

Mr McCullough said as he had''moved the resolution refusing payment' for the whole time, he would under the circumstances stated by Mr Frater move that the doctor be paid for six days, at the rate charged by him. Seconded by Mr Dewar and carried. , tbeasubeb's bepoet. The Treasurer read the following balance-sheet for the month ending April 30:—To bank balance, £61 14s-10d; cash balance, £4 19s ; subscriptions, &c, £49 0s 6d; donations, £2; patients' charges, 14s; Provincial Government grant, £250—£308 8s 4d. By salaries, £60 18s 4d; maintenance, £44 13s 6d; medical comforts, £2 19s 6d; building repairs, £10 83 3d; furniture, £10 ss; furnace, £2 3s 6d; advertising, &c, £1 4s 6d; stationery, £2 Is 6d; commission, £2 4s 6d ;-miscellaneous, £2 5s ; auditors' fees, £2 2s; measles ward, £8 19s; balance at bank, £205 6s 3d; cash balance, £12 5s 6d—£36B 8s 4d. Liabilities:' Salaries, £52 16s 4d; general accounts, £64 5s 5d; —8117 Oa 9d. Assets: Balance at bank, £205 8s 3d ;^ cash balance, £12 55,6 d; Provincial Government grant, one monthj £83 6s 8d —£301 Os sd ; less liabilities, £117 osv9d •—£lß3 19s Bd.—The report; oh the: motion of Mr Gudgeon, was adopted.

subgeon's bepqbt. Tlie surgeon's report stated that 26 persons had been admitted during the month ; 25 had been discharged ; 3 had died; and there now-remained in the Hospital 20. There had been 75 -outpatients treated during the same time. The report was received on the motion of Mr Gudgeon. The secretary read a letter received from the Superintendent's Office asking for a report on the Hospital for the past 12 months. The secretary was instructed to furnish the information required. The secretary was also instructed to call for tenders for supplies for the ensuing six months, and also for the office of house .-surgeon; dispenser and secre-; tary.

Mr McCullough suggested that applications should .be also asked for duly qualified persons willing to undertake the position of resident surgeon and dispenser.

Rev. J. Hill pointed oufc that by the rules, notice of motion would first be required to alter the rules before such an office cculd be created.

Mr Renshaw moved that the same salaries should be stated as at present paid in the advertisement calling for applications. The question of renovating' the interior of the Hospital was again brought forward, and as no further suggestion than that offered by Mr Hollis was laid before the meeting, Mr McCullough proposed that one ward be treated as proposed by Mr Hollis and recommended by the House .Committee.

Motion was agreed to. Mirßenshaw's notice of motion—that the doctor be permitted to be present at the meetings of the General Committee-^ came up for discussion. " . ; ;

Mr Gudgeon seconded the motion. ' \ r J Mr McCullough did not wish to move any amendment to the contrary; but considered that such a course would be placing the doctor in a false position, and would be a restraint upon a free discus-

sion upon any matter effecting his position. The Committee had after considerable discussion on a former occasion passed a resolution that it was not desirable that the doctor should bo present, and now to alter that decision was not warranted from any experience the Committee had had.

'Mr Howe also said —that while it was most desirable that the doctor should be in attendance, or, at least, be accessible to the committee, it would not be advisable that ho should be present at the meetings. Bey. J". Hill supported what had been said by .tho provious speakers,.,an.d mp^cd. the previous question, which was secoaded by Mr McCullough. Mr Mcllhone remarked upon the experience gained on former pecasipns^hen the medical staff were allowed to be present, and which was"-greatly against the interests of the institution. i

Mr Hill's motion was agreed to. \ Messrs McCullough, McNab, Comer; and Her. V. Lush were appointed House Committee. ;