THE HOSPITAL.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4536, 19 July 1883, Page 2

THE HOSPITAL.

(To tbe Editor of the Evening Star.) Sib,-—Paragraphs having been pub* lished in the local Press to the eflect that I had been dismissed by Dr. Payne from the position I held as wardsmanat the Thames Hospital for insubordination and breach of discipline, and thinking that such statements, if allowed to go unchallenged, may do ma injury, I shall be obliged if you .will allow me in a few lines to state the real facta of tUe case: I was engaged as wardsman, some months ago, at a salary of 30s per week, and the services I had to render in return were seven shifts in the week of eight hours each, or one shift more than the ordinary miner- Well, I performed my duties to tbe satisfaction of the doctor, the dispenser, the cam" mittee, and last, but not least, the patients themselves, aud I challenge any of them to saj that I did aot perform my duties io a satisfactory aiauae* during the whole of the time I was engaged as wardsmau. Dr. Payne then told me one day that in future I should be required to work ten hours a day instead of eight, and on my asking him about an addition to my wages in consideration of the extra services required, he said that no alteration would be made. I then said that I should not work 10 hours a day forksiie-. pay of ;8: I had made a bargain with the 7 Committee for certain things, which I was willing to carry out, but if they wanted two hours a day extra work from me, it was only fair I should be paid for it. The doctor thereupon discharged me, giving to the Committee as a reason that I refused to obey orders! Now, sir, I ask did I do anything wrong? What man on the field having made an arrangement with his employers for his services would render 26 per cent, more without a satisfactory change in the rate of wages P I consider that 1 have been very unfairly treated by the Committee, aud^hat I have a fait claim on them for a month's salary in lieu of a month's notice, having been discharged by their doctor for a crime of which I was not guilty,---I am, &c, John Stanfobd, Late Wardsman.