HOSPITAL BOARD.

Press, Volume XXXII, Issue 4422, 2 October 1879, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARD.

A meeting of the Hospital - aud Charitable Aid Board was held yesterday at 4 p.m. Present —Mr H. Thomson (chairman), the Mayor of Christchurch, Dr. Turnbull, aud Mr J. E. Brown.

The Hospital committee reported as follows:—■ "The Hospital committee have the boner to report that in compliance with a resolution passed at the last meeting of the Board, they selected and appointed Mr E. T. Bell as house steward. During the past fortnight twenty-six patients have been admitted and twenty-two discharged. Three deaths have also occurred during the same period, leaving sixty-six patients at prese-t iv the Hospital. The receipts for the quarter ended 39th September amounted to £281 5s 6_"

The following letter was read from the Government:—

" Colon—l Secretary's office, '' Wellington, 27th September. " Sir,—l have the honor to transmit to you the copy of a letter which has been addressed to the Government by a number of the medicpractitioners residing in Christchurch who Bit various' tim— have been connected with" the Hospital, in which they draw the attention of the Gov—nmeat to the extremely unsatisfactory condition of the present administration of that institution. The Government would be glad to be favored with any remarks that may suggest themselves to the Board, of which yon are chairman, as being desirable to make upon the statements contained in the enclosed letter. In the meantime, a? the Government are informed that the Beard of Administration propose to appoint a perma* neat medical officer to the Hospital at a ecu-, a—enble salary, I desire to suggest that such appointment _ay be delayed until the present difficulty is arranged, when I hare received your rejuy. •*' I have, Ac, " Your obedient servant, " G. 8. WhxtscoM.

"Chairman of the " Hospital and Charitable Aid Board." The Chairman then read the letter of the medic— profession, enclosed, as follows:— " Chriatchurch, September 22nd. "Sir,—We the undersigned medical practitioners residing in Christchurch, who at various times have been connected with the Hospital, beg respectfully, through the representatives of our city, to draw the attention of the Government to the extremely unsatisfactory administration of that institution.

" We desire to bring under the notice of the Government the fact that while we were giving ora gratuitous profession— services as officers of the institution, we found ourselves forced imto strong an—go—am with the present Hospital

" We would remind the Government that many-of us had for years rendered material services to the Hospital, and that after the abolition of the provinces we had initiated and carried cut important reforms in the lay management of the institution, result— g in a large saving to the colony. When those reforms were brought into operation, and the lay management placed upon a more satisfactory basis, in view of the severe tax upon our time, we urged the Government to entrust the whole management of the business affairs of the Hospital to a board of laymen.

" In accordance with our recommendations, a Board was called into existence. Through the unfortunate appointment of Mr J. Evans Brown, late member for Ac hi ey, the present antagonism has been brought about. Since Mr Brown became a member of the Board he has availed himself of every opportunity to asperse the whole of the profession. Im_ediately after he was appointed he tabled a resolution having for its object tho removal from the Hospital ef a staff which every member of the Board (Mr Brown himself included) confessed had discharged their duties iv a moat satisfactory manner. In support—g his proposition he adopted a most offensive tone towards the profession, which roused the feeling of antagonism before referred to. Mr Brown wa3 for some time absent from Christohureh, and no further action waa taken by the Board iv tho direction in_cated by him. Daring that period the most perfect harmony existed between the Board and the staff.

" On Mr Brown's return, antagonism on the part of the Board towards the staff was again manifested, and Mr Brown asserted that the professional department of the institution could not be properly administered without ita officers being secured by what he called ' public tender.'

" The Board adopted Mr Brown's suggestion, and without in any way consul—lg the staff, and contrary to the recommendation of your Government, aud in terms go irritating and uncalled for that the staff had no alternative but to resign. ,r We unhesitatingly assert that had that consideration been shewn which men giving gratuitous services have a right to expect, the staff would have agreed to any reasonable compromise. Mr Brown's invective against the whole prof ession rendered it impossible for menpo—ess—gthe alight est self-respect te make any overt—ea to the Board. The staff resigned, the Board advertised for applicants to fill the Tac_icies. Only five practitioners applied, all of whom were appointed, aud a_ong the number, Mr Campbell, whom your government had compelled to resign twelve months' previously, in consequence of a Royal Commisalon having found him guilty of improper and _tprofesgional conduct, calculated to lower the status of the medical profession. " The new staff, finding it impossible to work with Mr Campbell after unanimously censuring Ids conduct, with one exception, resigned their appointments. " The Board again called for tenders, but were able only to secure a Mr Townenil, whom, although legally qualified, the profession have never recognised, in consequence of his advertising himself after the manner ef a small tradesman. " The staff, at present, consists of three members, who the Chairman ef the Board, at its last meeting, ——erted were net ou speaking terms. The Board caanot increase the number of the prose]— staff, as the wh—ocf the >prof— 3k»a have declined to ssrve with them. "Public op—ion, as expressed through the leading columns of " The Lyttelton Times " and other Christchurch papers, urges immediate interference on the part of the Government. "We would, therefore, with the utmost respect, venture to suggest, as a so—iios of this

very serious difficulty, that the appointments of the present Board and staff should beat once cancelled.

" We have, Ac, " James S. TurnbuH, M.D. " William Deamer, M.D. " Courtney Ned will, M.D. . " J. D. Fran__h, M.D. " J. Ilewenyß Powell, MX>. " P. Doyle, M.D. " W. H. Sym—, HAD. " S. A. Patrick. -E.8.C.5., Tug., L.8.A., Load. " Edward Mis, M.D.

-" The Hon. Cola—ial Secretary." That letter, he (the chairman) might iK} had only reached him the day preiious, and .he thought it only right to say that they were —- debted to the kin dress of the representatives of the city for a copy of tbe memorial of the medical profession, ss it had been sent to the Government without any notilicatic— whatever to the Board of its enntents. He was glad to find howevtr that their representatives had taken a different view :of what was due to the Board, and had ze?[uested the Government to forward a copy or their information. He thought that it was very much to be regretted that ns in—oaatieu had bees given to the Board by the medical profession of the very serious charges which bad been made to the Government against it. He must also say thai he was both astonished and grieved to find that the first signature to that letter containing charges against the Board was that of one of their colleagues—a proceeding ou the part of Dr. Turabull at which he was astonished.: The letter was composed of statements without a Bingla tittle of truth. He repeated it, that the statements made therein were totally unfounded. It was peculiar, aa showing the way in which these matters were arranged, th*t there were the same expressions in this document - that were to be found hi an anonymous letter iv the Paxes on this subject, appearing on the r receding day. For himself he might Bay that he took no notice of charges made iv anonymous letters, and it would ba sufficient for him to say that he had said no such things as were attributed to him. The letter now before them from the Govern—ent would take a great deal of care to answer, and it was one which differed from others of an official character, inasmuch as it would require to be answered by the Board and not by the chairman only. The charges were very serions against the Board, aud would require to be answered by j stating simply facts from the minutes of the j Board. It would also be necessary that an answer should be sent to the Government as soon aa possible, as the Government required the . reply of the Board at as early a date as convenient. He would suggest that in the meantime the secretary should be instructed to—form the Government that the Board would consider the matter referred to in the le, fcer'' of the medical practitioners as forwarded, and send their reply as early as possible, and that in the meantime the appointment of a resident surgeon, as contemplated by the Board, would be held in abeyance, as requested by the Government. Of course iv postponing the appointment of a resident surgeon there waa a certain amount of responsibility incurred as to the safety and wellbe—g of patients, but the responsibility would not rest on the Board. [Hear, hear.] It would be the result of the action of a portion of the professional men of the city, because the Board could not proceed in the matter until a reply to the very grave charges—charges which, as he had said, contained not a tittle of truth—had been sent, no action in the appointment of a resident surgeon could be taken. After some discussion, Mr Brown moved—" That the letter of the Colonial Secretary be acknowledged, and that the Government be informed that the Board will forward a reply as soon aa possible, and that in the meantime the Board will delay appointing a resident surgeon as desired by the Government."

The Mayor of Christchurch seconded the motion, which was agreed to. Mr Brown said that he desired to say, aa to the letter of certain medical gentlemen in Christchurch, that it- contained statements which were wholly untrue, and which could easily' be refuted. He wished Dr. Turnbull to distinctly understand his (Mr Brown's) opinion of' the position taken up by him in _ connection with the medical gentlemen in this matter, f He was surprised at the position he had assumed, and contended that he had not acted in any way loyally by his colleagues on that Board. They had met Dr. Turnbull there, | and had discussed all matters connected with | the Hoßpi— 1 not only in the Board, which went . before the public, but also ia committee, where .it was considered a matter of honor that they were dealing loyally with each other. He felt ; grieved that Dr. turnbull should ait there in confidential relations with them as a colleague of theirs on the Hospital Board, and that then, in another place, he should have gone in to undermine what had been done by the Board of whioh he was »• member. This might be Dr. Trumbull's idea of medical etiquette, but amongst gentlemen it would be characterised by a harder name. He confessed he could not reconcile the conduct of a gentleman who met them there oue day te discuss in confidence as a colleague the affairs of the Hospital and then on another day met gentlemen who were endeavoring to undermine the Board, and applying to the Government to remove them. He felt this the more because he (Mr Brown) had been specially aimed at in this letter, while Dr. Turnbull had been appointed to a seat on that Board at the request of Mr Montgomery and himself as the head of tha medical staff then in office. He thought that Dr. Turnbull should have retired when the medical staff did, and have shared their fate, whether in or out, but he did not do so. He might Bay that the opinion outside was that Dr. . Turnbul'. should have retired, aud the new . bead of the medical staff taken his pl«se. What Br, Turnbull should have done was to have told his medical colleagues that he would act loyally by hi<j colleagues on the Hospital Board, and that he could not take any part in this matter with j .them. He (Mr Brown) desired publicly and ! emphatically to state that in ho way had he acted antagonistic to the medical staff, as stated in the letter. He would now move—" That the chairman be requested to draft a formal reply to the letter from certain medical practitioners in Christchurch to the Colonial Secretary, and submit the same for the approval of the Board."

Dr. Turnbull desired to ask the chairman if he had the " Gazette " with the Barnes of the members of the Board.

The Chairman replied that the names were iv the minutes of the Board.

Dr. Turnbull—Then they were gazetted as private individuals were they not.

The Chairman—Yes. Except the Mayor. Mr Brown said that the Board recommended the appointment of Dr; Turnbull as the head of the medical staff.

Dr. Turnbull said he thought he was right in stating that the chairman was gazetted as being Mayor of Christchurch at the time.

: The Chairman said that was not so. He was appointed as a member of the Board, because he had interested himself in getting the Board formed. The Colonial Secretary telegraphed that the Government looked to the city authorities to osrry on the Hospital. The reply to that was that the local bodies would. have nothing to do with it. In reply to further communications he had stated he would have no objection to form part of a Board. The Government agreed to form a Board, comprising the Mayor of Sydenham, Mr Montgomery, the chairman of the County Council, Mr J. E. Brown, and himself; Of these, however, Hon. Mr Hall had declined to act. Dr. Turnhnll desired to point out,to the chairman that when he was no longer Mayor of Christchnrch he still held office as chiirman and member of the Board, although the present Mayor of Christchurch was a member of the Board. As to his conduct iv signing the letter before the Board, he (Dr. Trumbull) held that :ha had a perfect liberty to do so. Finding that > there was no chance of carrying any resolution brought forward by him at that Board for redress to the profession to which he belonged, he had advocated an appeal forthat redress to a higher power. He had felt it incumbent upon him to do what he had to vindicate the honor of the profession to which he had belonged for a quarter of a century. He said this, that for the benefit of the patients, the interest of the publio, and the institution, the sooner the Board was di—usse-i the batter. He was sorry to huve to say this, but it was the truth.

The Mayer of Chriatchurch was very glad to hear Dr Turnbull prof e„ such interest in the welfare of the patients. He had thought that this had been but. a secondary consideration, aud that medical etiquette had been; the first to be considered. He must say that iv common with the other me—hers he was surprised at the action taken by Dr Turnbull. He felt sure of this that the public had every confidence iv tha medic— staff as at present constituted, and that when the whole was placed before tbe pnblic they would see that the Board had done the best they could in the interests of the institution and the patients. Besides this, if there had been the miamanagement alleged in the letter, why had not Dr. Turnbull, as a member of the Board, taken means to bring it before the public.

The chairman said he desired to point out that the letter was signed by some gentlemen who, six weelra «go, were under the Board, and by one who was not in the province when the matters referred to took place. Mr Brown, in reply, went lengthily into the whole subject, and asserted that had it not been for the action of Dr. TmmbuTl at the Board ia stating that the staff would no* work under the Board, and those gentlemen conceiving themselves bound by bis words, they would have had the whole st—t reappointed. Some further discussion took place, and ultimately, the resolution having been seconded by the Mayor of Christchnrch, was carried. Mr Btown drew att_.taonto a tetter in one of the papers, —-plaining of the diet in the hospital. The chairman said that thematter

wculd f» euqTared ioto by tbe io:pitsl comtnittee, but fie 6f diet Vii fa ibe hanii of tne uocioivr ~ ■ A ]$a«nra read from Xhr. Syiaes, WEnting that the late st»f! kepi no iniirafceibook. Correepopdencewae retd from tia lame geatleana, in wbich it was stated that the minute book of tbo staff was priTat* property. It «si reeolred—" That 4he chairman be antharised to take what steps he deem necesiary to reooTer the Kiiaute book." The report of the If aster of the Orphanage wm read, thamng at present tßere wen sixty four bojs and tkirty-nino girls is the institution.* The Board tbfin '