HOSPITAL STAFF.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16148, 28 February 1918, Page 9

HOSPITAL STAFF.

—' j UNAPPRECIATED SACRIFICES. b 1 f. y THE BOARI> PAINED. Reporting to the meeting of the Hospital Board yesterday, Dr. W . Fox, Medical Super intend ont, stated:— "The work steadily increases in all departments, and the responsibility and labour of handling all this enlarged scope of work has fallen very heavily on certain sections of the suff, ogling to the fact that during all the war { period, the resident medical sfciff has been under pre-war strength. 1 merely meution the fact as I soe little : appreciation shoivn of the sacnnccs I made." - Mr H. B. Sorensen regretted that i Dr Fox had made this last quoted, remark. "Wo do appreciate the sacri- * ficos made by the staff," he said,. 'and a we are aware that thoy e had to work very hard indeed, and they have i 'buckled to' and done it early and ; lato." If necessary, he would move a motion on tho subject, but he "id not think it was necessary. Dr. rox s re- ■ mark read, in cold print, looked as it one said: "I'm working niyßelf to - death, and you don't care's- bit. He felt sure that lie expressed tho feeling , of the Board when he said that ovcry j member appreciated what had been ' done by the staff, and that they were working hard. Mr W. 11. Cooper said that when an increase in salary was offered him, Dr. Fox, quito unusually, said that he did not want his salary increased, that he was quito satisfied with his income, but thought that ho should have some recognition for the extra service being done. A» the Board had expressed its thanks to Dr. Blackmoro, he (Mr ; Cooper) thought they should do the same in rospoc-t of Dr. 1 ox, and lie moved accordingly. Mrs Wilson said that Dr. Fox had . come to their aid at a most awkward time, and she, for one, very much appreciated his work, and, as far as she knew, tho Board had always done so. i The chairman (Mr F. Horrell) said that he did not think that on any occasion Dr. Fox had made representations • regarding shortage of staff, without the Board doing its utmost in the matter. (Hear, hear.) All admitted that there was a shortage of doctors, and that Dr. Fox and his assistants had been, at times, hard pressed. "But to say that we haven't shown appreciation of the work done," continued tho chairman, "is going a little bit too far. We have endeavoured to meet tho doctor in every way." Mr O. Bradley said he could explain. The doctor was present at a meeting of the Health Committee, and had said: "I am disappointed that I don't see moro members round tho hospital— . they don't seem to appreciate our work." He (Mr Bradley) thought that that was what the doctor meant. Mr S. Andrew said he did not think the remark in his report was intended to refer to the doctor alone. Tho staff was over-worked, and in many cases under-paid, and the Board, as far as possible, ought to try to remedy that. Ho admitted that he did. not see how they could do it in face of war conditions, but he hoped that, when the estimates came down, a little more consideration would be shown, especially to the nursing staff, on whom tho bulk of tho work fell. Thoy iolt the increase of the cost of living. A lady member: It doesn't affect them. * . Mr Andrew: But it does. Tho cost of wearing apparel and of other things is higher. _ In addition, the salaries in this "institution are lower than in others, and that might be *"oxnedied. It was agreed:—"That a letter of appreciation of . tho work done by Dr. tt -^ S slss ' s tants be forwarded." Mrs Wilson: And that members walk round the hospital a little more!