Thames Goldfield Hospital.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3598, 8 July 1880, Page 2

Thames Goldfield Hospital.

A meeting of the committee of the above institution was held yesterday in the Salutation Hotel, Mary street. T. L. Murray. Esq., presided, and there were also present—Mr McGowan (in the vice chair), the JUovs., V. Lush, E. Laishley, P. O'Eeilly, and S. J. Neill, and Messrs Frater, Osborne, Aitken, Marshall, Corner, Mulligan, Henshaw, Mennie, Mcllhone, Mr A. Hume (Treasurer), and MrE. Honiss (Secretary). ; Mr Eenshavv apologised for Mr Price's absence.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. , .

Mr Hume suggested that the salaries of officials re-elected at last meeting be inserted on the minutes after their names.

;■ Mr Aitken proposed to add the words, "at salaries same as last year." Agreed.

A Jettpr was read ii'pm Mr T. Kadford apologising, for his absence in consequence otindispositiou. " ; "•' ', •

IUSPOBT OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE

This report "wu» . .as . follqws :~" The Hospital had been regularly, visited, and everything found working in a satisfactory manner. - It recommended that two out of four pigs be disposed of by tender, as there was not enough food available for the whole. Tho salaries for payment amountt-d to £66, and general accouuts to £67 6s 6d/' On the motion of the ltev. S..J. JNeill, seconded by Mr Mcllhoue, the report was adopted. The Chairman said that the VicePresident might give some information as to whether the cheque for £150 had been paid to tho Borough. MrMcGowah said that Mr Dean had received information that the amount had been paid to the credit of the Borough. ' house suugeon's bepoet.

; The-fotlbwing was the House Surgeon's report:—" The average number dtnu ; j

the month was 18J. The out-patieuts numbered 50 and the attendances by them were 155. The names of the inmates of the Old Men's fiefuge were attached."

Mr McGowan wished to know how it was that when Shultleworth left the Hospital in a convalescent state, he became an inmate of the Old Men's Eefuge ? Mr Eenshaw said it was probable that Suttleworth had been taken to the Hospital from the Old Men's Refuge, and be was now being kept there for a short time. The House Committee would, no doubt, look into the matter.

The report was adopted on the motion of Mr Monnie. tbeasueeb's eepoet. The receipts for the month were :—To balance, 31sfc May, £151; subscriptions, £8 16s; to Government, £322 10s; to patients, £2 15s; overdraft, £31 9s. The expenditure was by overdraft, 31st May, £239; salaries, £61 6s ; maintenance, £36 13s; building, &c, £10; drugs, £3 19s ; printing, &c, 34s ; commission, 22s ; balance, £162 12s 4d—total, £516 12s. The assets show a cash balance of £162 12s (including a £]50 cheque drawn by the Borough), and subsidy due from Government of £63 4s 7d. The liabilities are for overdraft, £31 9s ; salaries, £66 ; general accounts, £67 6s; balance, £61— total, £225 16s lid.—The report was adopted. -

EEPOET OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO ENQUIBE INTO COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE MANAG-EMEKT OF THE HOSPITAL. This Committee offered the following recommendations for the future management of the Hospital:—

1 That tbe Dispenser be requested to entirely discontinue the practice^of performing dental operations at tbe Hospital, whether the patients come with subscribers' recommendations or not;, such operations being more properly tbe duty of the House Surgeon. 2. That ltu'e 10, relative to the admission of patients, whether in-patients or out-patients, bo more strictly adhered to, and that to this end the attention />f subscribers be more particularly called to this rule which provides that they ' shall certify whether tbe said patient is capable of presiding medical attendance,' Your Oomn Utee observe that many of the subscribers negk.it to do this, and that it is left io the officers of the H< pital to find out the means of the patients, and that this often leads to unpleasantness between tbe dispenser and the patients who are apt to think an undue liberl? is taken in making inquiries into i'lefv private means. For the purpose of getting Kule 10 more strictly .adhered to, your committee recommend that all recommendation tickets presented to the Hospitrl improperly or insufficiently filled ia be returned until presented in a proper form. Oases of emergency of course always to be exceptsd. Also, that it be the duty of the Dispenser to reporb to the House Committee any case which comes under his notice of a patient who in his opinion is able to pay something and is not doing so. 3. That a stock book be opened and kept for the purpose of accounting for medical comforts. That the stock book shall be always open to the House Committee, and be laid upon the table at each monthly meeting of tbe General Committee. 4. That a garden account be opened in tbe books of the hospital, and that all receipts and expenditure of every description under this head be passed through the ordinary funds and accounts of the institution. 5. That printed receipts be, given for all monies received at the hospital for patients' charges. 6. That the inmates of the Old Men's Home be requ'red to do any light, work they are able to do, when required to do so, for the benefit of the funds of the institutions under the control of the., Hospital Committee, and that the Dispenser be authorised to employ them when O23portunifcy offers, and#ba!; any monies so earned by the old men go to the funds of the hospilftl: 7. That all. garden refuse, waste food and vegetables from the Hoipital and Old Men's Home, whenever fit for such purpose, and being the property of the Hospital Committee, be used for feeding the pigs at the Old Men's Home. 8. That the Dispenser always take the earliest opportunity of reporting to the Honse Committee fay .contractor supplying any food or other goods which are no£ up to the standard of the specifications.

The Chairman said the report appeared to him to be a good one, and he did not consider any remarks on the subject necessary. Mr Frater moved that the report be received. I The ltev. V. Lush seconded. Mr Mcllhone said tbat the Committee had received an intimation from.Mr Bean expressing a wish to give evidence on the matter. Mr Dean was asked, to give his written evidence, but refused, and the Committee refused to take bis verbal evidence containing vague aid indefinite charges. Whether the Committee were justified in (his course he did not know. While the question was under discussion, he would ike to make a few remarks. He wished to know whether the Dispenser was permitted to draw teeth, and make a charge for doing so ? A case had occurred in which this had been done. He also wished to'knpw what the limit was of iho iiouse vSurgeoiiiii regard to private practice, .~ps he I lought the privilege had been grossly ab'iaed.

The Chairman said the Committee had not met to ait in judgment on the House Committee. If Mr Mcllhone had any complaints to ma!ie he could make them in the proper way. He should refuse to hear auythiug further unless Mr Mcllhone was willing to give the names.

.Mr McGowan wished to know if the Committee were "going to do auythiug in reference to the complaints made ia the report ? ' The Cljai"!TJan said the report hud been received and adopted," and nothing more was necessary. The matter was closed. Mr McGrowan said the report provided for the management of the institution in future, but what were the. committee going to do in reference to the complaints, found to be correct? They had adopted the recommendations of the committee, but did not mako provision for taking action in regard to them. J -

The Chairman: The subject is closed ; go. on. with the next business. ' COEUESPO.s'DENCE. . A letter was read from Mrs 0. A. Hume stating tliaf she had. several articles left from the last bazaar, which she wished to dispose of by a German or Christmas-tree under the auspices of the Hospital, the proceed^ to go to the Hospital. ■

It wns decided on the motion of Mr Uenshaw to accept the offer, i -id to thank Mrs Hume for her kindness. ■

A letter was read from the^Town Clerk containing the following telegram :— " The Colonial Government will carry on the Thames Hospital from Ist Tuly inst., pending legislation by the Assembly, but will have nothing to do with previous liabilities."

The Chairman thought it probable Mr Dean was under a mistake. The telegram, he should think, meant that Government would in future do what had hitherto

devolved on the Borough. He wished to know if that meant that the functions of the Committee were at an cud ?

Mr McGowan said it would be better to take the letter as it was, and not consider what it might mean.

Mr Aitken moved that two gentlemen telegraph to the Government and ask the meaning of the telegram.

Mr Mennio said he could give an explanation as to the reason why the telegram was sent to the Borough. The Town Clerk gave information to the Government to the effect that owing to the stoppage of subsidies the Borough could not contribute to the support of the Hospital. The telegram sent to Mr Dean wa3 evidently iv reply to his communication.

Mr Mcllhoiie said the matter was one between the Government and the Borough. The Committee were neither the servants of the Borough or the Government. If we hear nothing to the contrary we shall go on as usual, if the Government do uot think we are properly conducting the hospital then we shall have to clear out— Letter received.

Letters were read from Messrs Balcke and Mewin Brothers complaining that in accepting the tenders for groceries the Committee had not acted according to precedent in accepting the highest tender. The latter pointed out that in one item the accepted tender was 7s Id higher per month than the previous one. They requested the Committee to reconsider their decision, as the object of advertising for goods by tender was to get them at the lowest possible price.

Mr Mcllhone moved, " That the letters be referred to the House Committee for an explanation." Mr Hume secondfd. Mr Frater said he did not see that they couid re-open the question. He moved, " That the letters be received, but that the Committee do not take any further steps in the matter." The Committee were of opinion that the tender accepted was really the lowest.

Mr McGotvan said he should be glad to second the amendment if Mr Frater would alter the wording to, " That"the Committee see no reason to alter their decision." It was simply a matter of opinion. The Committee thought the tender they had accepted was the lowest and the disappointed tenderers did not. There were several items in which the tender was the lowest.

Mr Mcllhone said that it was clear that if the Committee had done wrong they determined to f tick to it, and would not take the trouble to»ascertain whether they were •'ight.or wrong.

Mr McGowan submitted that Mr Mcllhone was not in order.

The amendment was then put and carried by a majority of 10. ,

A letter was read from Mrs Catherine Johnston, late nurse of the Hospital, stating that she was willing to return to her situaLion-provided she was not under the orders of the Dispenser, who had made malicious charges against her.

The Chairman pointed out that this matter had been dealt with by the committee of enquiry. ' A letter was read from Mr G. S. Cooper, containing the sum of £2 10s 2d as part of subsidy. Letter received. HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT. , . Mr Mcllhone said that he wished that the House Committee would see if there was any truth in the statement that the inmates of the hospital were served with badly cooked meat, and a scanty quantity of it. Also whether both in-patients and out-patients could be treated without a recommendation from a subscriber. A i rase of this kind had cotre to his knowledge.- As an esamp'e, a man^ belonging to Tone of the Friendly Societies 1 whose m< dieal attendant was House Surgeon, went to him and asked for medicine and medical advice. It was the duty of the doctor to have given it him. He, however, sent the man to the hospital, without any recommendation, and' he was there treated as an in-patient. Another instance was when an in-patient of the hospital vt treated as an out* patient. '?.& The Chairman said Mr Mcllhone would have to give the names.

Mr Frater said that if suc'i had occurred, Mr Mcllhone ought to have mentioned the circumstances to the House Committee, who had only finished sitting that afternoon.

Mr Mcllhone said he did not know a the time.

The Chairman declined to hear any more on the subject. He would not listen to hearsay. _ Mr Kenshaw said that if the complaints %ere put before the House Committee they would be attended to during the month.

The Chairman again declined to hear anything more on the subject. The Rev. Mr Laishley : I will riot stand this, I cannot see the members of the Committee snubbed in the manner they hare been by the Chairman. If this goes on I will resign my seat on this Committee. I think the Chairman has been most oppressive. The Rev. V. Lush : The Chairman has only been endeavoring to keep an irrepresible individual within bounds.

Mr Mcllhone: Such language from a clergyman too! ~ . Mr Frater said for his part he would compliment the Chairman on the way ho had conducted the business. For some months he had been disgusted a' the manner in which the business was carried on. Members had been; for some time in the habit of bringing vagu? and groundless charges.Mr Mcllhone said the Chairman had been too hard on him. .

Mr Comer said that Mr Mcllhone brought no idefinite charges. Patients n the Hospital complained to Dick, Tom, or Harry instead of going to the he.d." As for the letters they liad herri read, he called them rubbish.

The Chairman said he was sorry his ruling had offended the Her Mr Laishley, yet he believed he had not exceeded his duty.

Mr Mcllhone said ho would ask whether the Dispenser was allowed to draw teeth without holding a certificate to dp so. . , .".'•■\. ■ ■ '

The Chairman: lam giving ample latitude now. •

The Rev Mr Laishley said he considered the Committee too large. If it were reduced by one half, more business would be transacted.

The Chairman said Mr Mcllhone could lay his complaints, with names and data, before Mr Marshall, the senior member of the House Committee. The Eev V. Lush: And Mr Mcllhone wi'' find he has found a mare's nest. HOUSE COMMITTEE. Messrs Marshall, Comer, EVater, and Einshaw were re-appointed House Com* mitlee for the ensu *ng month. •

A. vote of thanks to the chair, moved by Mr Marshall, was unanimously carried, and the meetiag separated.