Hospital Inquiry.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4285, 25 September 1882, Page 2

Hospital Inquiry.

Wellington, Saturday. The report of the City Council's hospital inquiry is now published. It exhaustively reviews-the( whole circunr* stances and the evidence, and states that, after finding considerable difficulty in arriving at any definite conclusion, the charges resolved themselves into the following :— (1) That Dr Gillon's temper unfitted him to occupy the poiitioa of resident surgeon.

(2) That his constant absences from the hospital amounted to reprehensible neglect ,--of duty. .The committee do not find _that either pf these charges are sustained by the evidence. The | " hardships endured by patients" were ' unknown to the patients themselves, until they,saw the staiements in, the newspapers. After careful consideration of all the'facts the committee hav^e come to the conclusion that the charges made against the resident surgeon and against the hospital have no foundation in fact. To sum up the result of the investigation, the, committee have decided, 4n the interest of the institution, to suggest the following changes for adoption by the Council :—(l) That there should be no permanent members on the hospital subcommittee, bat that all members of the Council shall take their turn on the rota in the ordinary manner; (2) there was no evidence before the committee as to fees having been paid by poor patients, but (3), in order to avoid all questions in future as tothe ability of a patient to pay hospital maintenance or medical fees, it is, recommended that a new form of admission order be drawn up, which shall contain these questions, to be answered by the member of the Council who gives the order :—" Can patient pay ordinary hospital maintenance charge; " and " Can patient pay for medical services P" (4) I That all communications from the resident surgeon* on matters of importance be first laid before the sub committee, the Town Clerk to act only in cases of emergency, and then only after consulation with the Mayor or two councillors. (5) That at the expiration of the tsrm of office of the present temporary staff, the term of office be two years instead of five as at present.