HOSPITAL PATIENTS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5127, 11 September 1895, Page 2

HOSPITAL PATIENTS.

THE OUT-DOOR RELIEF QUESTION. At yesterday's meeting of«the Masterton Hospital Trustees, Mr J. C. Boddington presidinpr, Mesdames , A. B. Yates, Soler, Mutrie, and P. jj Tayler, waited on the Trustees, as af| deputation, to discuss the proposals ™ laid before the Trußt with regard to out-door patients. ' Mrs Tayler said that it was the opinion of the Ladies' Committeo, who h'ad canvassed for the recent ■ Ball, that something of the kind suggested would be very beneficial to the poor and needy ,and not- necessarily interfere with the staff of the Hospital or its medical officers. It was suggested that the Trustees might issue tickets to the sick and . needy, and these persons could pay for drugs if able. The Committee believed, fiom the expressions of opinion heard when canvassing for i the Hospital, that by adopting this i system, the funds of the Hospital i would bo incieased. They had not I taken into considerationthe increased expenditure. Beyond the actual work of dispensing thero would not be much oxtra work entailed on the Hospital staff. If the Canvassing Committee had some definite object to canvass for, funds would be more ' readily forthcoming. It was noiM expected that there would be manj^j

aises. A good many peoplo looked ipon the Hospital as a private institution. The Chairman said the Hospital ,vas opon to all. Mrs Tayler said a good many people did not think so. The Chairman said the balance meets wero published every year, io that all could see how their funds were expended. Mrs Taylor said she had never seen a balance sheet of tho Hospital. The Secretary, in reply to the Chairman, said every subscriber of 5s and over, got a printed report and balance sheet. Mrs Tayler said people would' prefer to see the balance sheet printed in the papers, or circulated in sheet form. The Rev. Father McKenna said perhaps the peoplo who got tho Hospital pamphlets took them to bo advertisements of patent medicines. Mrs Solor said,that a complainthad been made to her by a employing fifty hands, who all cmfljl tributed to the Hospital funds, that they wero debarred from voting at tho annual elections, unless they came to Masterton, and he could not spare fifty men to come into Masterton at once, and therefore the men would not subscribe again, The Chairman said he thought there must be a mistake, and until they heard the name of the run* holder they could not accept this information. Mrs Soler said she would ask permission to give the name of the gentleman. The Secretary saidMessrsßeetham Bros, wero the only runholders em-

ploying fifty hands who subscribed to the Hospital funds. Mrs Soler said it was not Messrs Beetbam. * The Chairman said his experience was that the country people had expressed themselves as well-pleased with the Hospital. Ho would like Mrs Soler to give the name of the ■ gentleman she alluded to, to tin Secretary, and the matter could be gone into. With regard to the question of voting, however, the Trustees were bound by the Act, and could not go away from it. Mrs Soler said she did not understand this, but merely brought tho matter up as requested. Mrs Taylor said they came merely to ask the Trustees to deal with the question of out-door patients' tickets.- - They did not think there tas any likelihood of the system, if started, boing abused. She was sure that tho wage-earners would contribute more finely if if were started. Tho Chairman said that his experience was that tho poorer classes took advantago of the benefits of tho institution. Mrs Taylor said the Hospital was for those not able to pay. The Chairman said no one had ever been refused admission whether they could pay or not, Had Mrs Taylor ever heard of any person being refused ? Mrs Taylor said sho had not. Thoy did not complain in any way; of the Hospital management, bufl wished to see its usefulness extendeiH They felt sure that the funds would be increased, and hoped that tho Trustees might open a consulting room in Masterton. Mr Feist said it would bo somo guidance if tho deputation statod how thoy thought the fuuds woro to be increased to meet the proposed extra expenditure. Mrs Taylor said they did not wish to dip into iho question of funds, they left that with the Trustees! The doputation was simply tho voice of tho public after canvassing. Thoy were of opinion that tho wageearners would contribute moro freely if the out-patient system were adopted. Thoy did not say their proposals must be carried out, or that they should be carried out, but simply left it for tho Trustees' con. sideration.

The Chairman assured the deputation that their proposals should, have the most careful consideration of tho Trustees. / The deputation then thanked tho Trustees and withdrew. The Secretary said he had received a list of hospitals dealing with oiflfc patients. Picton and Thames were ; the places nearest approaching Masterton as regards population,'who dealt with out-patients. Each of the places mentioned, however, had a resident medical ofjicer. Father MoKenna sai<} the first thing U> see intq was how much increase would their medical officer require in his salary to undertake the extra duties. ■ • Mr lorns said drugs," etc,, wquj'tT then have to he allowed for. The Ol|airn|an'Bnjd |io"(]id nflj. think their funds would be muoh ont? j hauced if they did adopt an outdoor patient system. Father MoKenna said thoir Hospital was maintained by voluntary subscription. They had no certain revenue. The Chairman agreed with, this. If they had a rate to go upon, (hey could mako provision for any mated expenditure, and, if necessary, expend more than they 'did sent. ..' ' \^ Mr Keith said, bofqra goipg into the detailsiit wpa]c( be well to really ascertain if there was any oall for snch a system as proposed. He believed in Hospitals, but he did not "Believe in. doling. out bottle? of medicine, and.thought Ruoh a'system would do more barm than good. Mr Feist pointed out that the Beneyolent Society supplied medi. cine 'and medical attendenoe to

roally necessitous cases. He agreed with Mr Keith's remarks. The Secretary then read the conditions under which out-relief is granted at certain Hospitals; such as patients bringing thoir own bottles and gallipots; the payment of bus shilling per bottle for raedi- 1 oinej the issue of tickets signed by oajrustco and the Secretary, etc. ».£M:ließev. Father MeKonnasaidns situated at present they could do nothing. Ho would move that a special meeting be culled to consider tho matter, the medical officer to be asked to attend, and the Secretary, in the meantimo, to obtain all necessary information re cost of patients, how other Hospitals wore maintained (by voluntary contribution or rate) and other necessary particulars, It was his opinion, and ho believed the opinion of all the Trustees, that if they could do any good for the people, they would do it, but _jt was a question of ways and means. Tlie Chairman and Mr Keith said thoy quite agreed with this view, the latter also remarking that Mrs Taylor evidently had the Old Country dispensary system in view, hut it was really a question whether, such a system was needed in Masterton; if not, its establishment would do more harm than good. Mr Feist seconded the motion which was put and carried, other then being dealt with. *ri —„„„