Thames Goldfield Hospital.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3931, 4 August 1881, Page 2

Thames Goldfield Hospital.

The monthly meeting of the committee was held in the Borough Council Chambers last evening. Present—Mr Comer (President), Eev Father O'Eeilly (Vice President), and Messrs Hudson, Veale, Marshall, Ahier, Eenshaw, McGowan, Mennie, Frater, Comes, and McCullough.

The minutes of the last meetings were read and confirmed.

The President referred to the action taken by the sub committee in the matter of the retaining wall at the Old Men's Refuge, and the application to the Government for £100 to complete the necessary repairs.

The House Committee's report was read and adopted. Mr Hudson suggested that in future the report should mention the number of meetings held in each month by the committee.

The President suggested that if the House Committee's minute book was laid on the table at each monthly meeting members might see for themselves. —Mr Hudson accepted the suggestion. Tue Treasurer's report was read, showing that the liabilities were £420 5s lid, and the assets, subsidies due by Government to the extent of £337.

Mr McCullough suggested that the Secretary, in his next communication to the Government, call attention to the large amount of interest paid by the Committee, owing to the rernissuess of the Treasury in forwarding subsidies due. It appeared that the subsidy due on the 30th of June was not yet to hand. Mr McGowan asked if it were true that the Surgeon was in the habit of admitting and recommending patients to the Hospital in order to save himself the trouble of attending them at their own homes. He said he had heard it stated that such was frequently done by the Surgeon.

Mr McCullough : That is the old story. We have heard such complaints before, but the doctor has always been able to give satisfactory reasons for his actions, and has come out with flying colors from all such charges. Would Mr McGowan mention the instance he referred to ?

Mr McGowan : No, I am not going to take up the position of prosecutor. Mr Frater said it was unfair to make such statements if nothing further was to be known of them. People were fond of starting rumors. Mr McGowan should be more definite in his charge. Mr JEtenshaw said no notice should be taken of such statements.

Mr Ahier said he had never heard such a charge against the surgeon.

Mr Comes said he had heard statements like that referred to by Mr McGowan, but he had not intended mentioning the matter till b,e had investigated it further.

Mr Eenshaw said he knew of a case where the doctor had recommended the parents of a young man to have him removed to the hospital, and the advice had been followed much against the wish of the parents. When the course was adopted for the benefit of the patient, no fault should be found with the doctor.

Mr McCullough : Yes, there ia where the difference arises, whether for the benefit of the patient, or the convenience of the doctor. Mr McGowan insinuated the latter wa« the object to be gained.

> Mr Frater: Every doctor has the ! '' liberty to recommend patients to goto the hospital, and, in the name of humanity, no one should object. Mr McGowan: Following out your humanitarian ideas, Mr Frater, will you allow all doctors to send patients to the Hospital and attend them there. (Mr Frater : Yes.) Well, it cannot de done by the present rules. Mr Keushaw said the matter had better be dropped. Mr McCullough said in justice to the i surgeon, and in the interests of the i institution, the matter should not be ! allowed to drop. The surgeon was to all j intents accused by the remarks ma^e by i several speakers, and he would like to see '■ the surgeon get an opportunity to disprove ' the statements made. It was a mistake to burke investigation, the doctor had always come out best out of such inves tigations in the past, and would no doubt in this. He would move the following resolution :—" That it having been stated by a member of the Com mittee that rumors were current to the effect that the surgeon had admitted patients to the Hospital presumably to suit his own convenience, the matter be mentioned to the surgeon, in order to afford him an opportunity for an explanation."—Seconded by Mr Hudson. A number of remarks were made, some suggesting the withdrawal of the resolution but upon it being put to the vote it was lost. The appointment of a House Committee j brought the meeting to a close.