HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3179, 6 September 1881, Page 2

HOSPITAL COMMITTEE.

The Hospital Committee meeting, adjourned from last Friday, waa held last night. Present: Messrs T. Tanner (in the chair), Cotterill, Winter, M. R. Miller, and A. McKay. Two letters were read, one from the Mayor resigning his office of chairman of tbe committee, the other from Messrs Kempthorne, Prosser and Co's agent offering to supply drugs at wholesale rates. HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT. The report of the sub-committee waa read as follows: — After a complete inspeotion of every part of the building we find everything in a thorough state of cleanliness, and the general conduct of the hospital very satisfactory. Some few repairs (especially to the plaster* ing) are urgently required. The staff now consists of the doctor, matron, cook, two nurses, housemaids, and porter. A laundress is also engaged from one to three days a week. The matron merely attends to the household affairs, and does not, except very occasionally, assist in the nursing. The present number of patients is 22, and we understand that the average may be taken at about 20. In our opinion the above-mentioned staff is far larger than there is any necessity for under the circumstances. We would suggest that a housekeeper at a salary of £60 per annum be appointed, who, with. 1 the assistance of one housemaid at 12s a week, could do all the house work, and that the present matron be employed as nurse for both wards at a salarly of £70 per annum. This would effect a saving of about £110 per annum in the wages, exclusive of the saving upon a reduction of three in the number of the staff. There appears to have been a considerable sum of money due which might have been recovered from patients who have left the hospital and were then able to pay. The appointment of a paid secretary will probably prevent such losses occurring in the future. Mr Winter stated that he believed the liabilities of the institution to be about £323 ; tbe balance at the bank was 12s Id, and the subsidy due from the Government £87. He (Mr Winter) had made a balance-sheet up to June 30. For the three months ending that quarter the expendiCure had been £923, aud the receipts £705. All the funds had been anticipated except the £250 voted by the Hawke's Bay County Council, which, with the Government subsidy, would make about £600 available. The following letter was read from Dr. Menzies: — As so much, attention has been drawn to hospital affairs by articles and correspondence in the newspapers, and as there seems to be such a general and wide-spread idea that I, as Surgeon-Superintendent, am in a measure responsible for the "lax discipline, the wanton waste, and reckless expenditure " (to quote the words of the late secretary at the last meeting), I feel I am only doing myself the commonest justice in demanding that tlie committee should place it on record that in no way am I connected with the alleged mismanagement; and am the more resolved in this action, seeing that the committee have as yet taken no steps to remove from me as surgeon of the hospital the onus that does otherwise not unnaturally in the eyes of the public and the subscribers—and will continue to—attach itself to me. And I wish it to be distinctly conveyed through the committee that in no way am I responsible for the " wanton waste and reckless expenditure," as this is a matter for which the late secretary alone is answerable to the public. I hold my appointment as surgeon to the hospital, and as it never came within the province of any surgeon so mix himself up with the internal economy of an institution, I altogether refuse in this case to consider myself in the light of a house -steward. The committee appointed a matron; • and any undue expenditure could have at once been checked by the committee through their secretary. As to the " lax discipline," the following minute made by the visiting committee is a sufficient answer : —" After a complete inspection of every part of the building we find everything in a thorongh. state of cleanliness, and the general conduct of the hospital very satisfactory." I may state that former minutes confirm this satisfactory state of affairs. As the question of hospital management has so much engaged the public attention I should wish this letter to be published in extenso with the report of the committee's proceedings at their next meeting.—l have, &c, Edward Menzies, Surgeon-Superintendent. September 5,1881. The consideration of the letter was deferred till the next meeting. v , Mr Cotterill said the conduct of the hospital was admirable ; everything was beautifully clean, nothing could be found fault with because everything was done

well, but it was done expensively. Tbe difficulty was ways and means. He referred to the recommendations of the subcommittee's report, and said, if carried out, there would be a saving of £110 a-year. He said the matron "had lately adopted a plan of checking supplies. Mr M. R. Miller agreed with the recommendation, and blamed the late secretary for tlie extravagance of the management. He moved the adoption of the report. Mr McKay seconded the motion. After some further remarks the motion was carried unanimously. THE SECRETARYSHIP. Twenty-six applications had been received for the above appointment. It was resolved to appoint Mr Harker at £75 per annum ; a month's notice on either side to terminate tbe engagement. The pay-sheet was passed for payment. NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr Cotterill gave notice to move at next meeting:—" That it is desirable that, where possible, all parties entering the hospital should sign an application lorm stating whether tbey enter tbe institution as paying or pauper patients." The Committee then adjourned.