Hospital Administration

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 133, 29 February 1936, Page 11

Hospital Administration

Sir, —In the discussion on the organisation of the Wellington Hospital two speakers stated .that “Dr. Thorne’s services were administrative and that work was very heavy.” Now how can that be First, the office is run by a fully-qualified secretary and accountant. The house steward controls the porters, kitchen staff and laundry staff. He and his staff see to the ordering.'of all stores, the dispensary is run by'a qualified dispenser ami staff. The engineer has a staff to control and looks after the requirements of his department. The matron and submatron have charge of the nurses, the nursing home and routine work of the wards. The honorary staff look after the treatment of patientsand there are special departments under stipendiary specialists. It must be assumed that all these heads of departments are capable organisers and know their work, else the board would not keep them there. There are two senior medical men appointed by the board to look after the surgical and medical wards in the absence of the honorary staff. If'their duties are not clearly defined, whose fault ie.that? Further, one would expect a colonial-born individual t.o ask the medical superintendent for a clear definition and also to point out to. him where the weak points of their position lay. Further, would it not be a duty of the administrator to get a copy of their agreements from the secretary or turn up the old minutes of the board dealing with the appointments- of the staff to see whether the conditions are really the best for the smooth working of the hospital, and if they are not then he should report the matter to the board. The chairman is paid an honorarium ot £2OO a year. -Has he not a duty to perform in seeing that the medical superintendent is acquainted with the previous decisions of the board concerning the running or control of the hospital? The chai' - , man has been connected with the board for some 20 years now. It is time for the board to do a little thinking about the organisation of the hospital. They certainly want an organiser.—l am, etc.. OBVIOUS. Wellington, February 28. V