WELLINGTON HOSPITAL

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 117, 13 November 1931, Page 5

WELLINGTON HOSPITAL

CHANGES IN PROGRESS

DR. BEGG'S SCHEME APPROVED

A special meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board was held yesterday afternoon to consider certain proposals made by the Special Investigation Committee, of which Dr. B. Campbell Begg was chairman, which committee was appointed to report on the reorganisation of the hospital, including the medical organisation. The-chairman (Mr. F. Castle) said the meeting had been called to consider certain recommendations of the special investigation committee1 in regard to the future administration of the hospital. , Members of the board, he said, were aware of what led up to the appointment of the special investigation committee, of which Dr. E. Campbell Begg was chairman. That committee had made certain recommendations in regard to the reorganisation of the hospital. Those recommendations included the setting up of committees with specified duties in regard to adminis^ tration. The proposals included trie abolition of the existing general comntitteo' comprising ail . the eighteen members of the board,.and the setting up of smaller committees. Under the new arrangement, the major committee would be the General Purposes Committee, with two sub-committees. Mr. Castlo stated the duties of the committees and the sub-committees. At the request of the chairman, Dr. "R. Campbell Begg outlined the changes proposed in respect to medical reorganisation. MEDICAL COMMITTEE. "The Medical Committee," recommended the report, "shall, subject. to the approval of the Board —(a) Define the. sphere, privileges, and responsibilities of the different divisions and subdivisions in conformity with the best hospital practice and the local conditions; (b) consider reports from the representatives of the different divisions and co-ordinate their requirements and adjust their separate responsibilities in accordance "with the general regulations laid down by the toard; (c) consider requisitions for new medical and surgical equipment and report upon, them to the House Committee of the Hospital Board; (d) arrange staff meetings at which the professional work of the hospital, post--mortenv findings, specimens removed at, operations, and clinical cases presenting difficulty be considered; (c) advise the board, through the House Committee, in regard to the standard of nursing service and service. given by the house surgeons; (£) if called upon it shall advise the board on the respective merits, qualifications, and experience of candidates for the different medical appointments the board from time to time has to make; (g) the.Medical Committee shall have the power and it shall be its function, subject to the control of the Hospital Board through its House Committee, to formulate, and adopt all the-necessary rules, regulations, and measures in harmony with- the- declared- policy1 of the Hospital Board; (h) it shall undertake, in conjunction with the House Committee and Medical Superintendent, the government and control of the clinical work of the hospital, and be responsjblo for the harmonious working of tlie senior and assistant honorary staff, and the stipendiary staff with the nursing and auxiliary staff so as to secure the best service to the' patient and the smooth working of the whole organisation.". . . .. .. NURSING COMMITTEE. The functions of the Nursing and Training Committee shall be:—(1) To consider (a) the whole question of the proper training of nurses, with special relation to the treatment of patients; (b) the formation of a students ' organisation among the. nurses in the.different grades, if considered desirable; (o) the standard of education to be demanded from applicants before being admitted as trainees to the hospital. (2) To make recommendations on questions concerning ■ the responsibility, status, duties, and scale -of remuneration of sisters and nurses. (3) To supervise generally the work of the District Nurses, and make recommendations to the board in regard to appointments. (4) To consider the •whole.question of the opportunities of nurses, the number of trainees required to fill the ranks of the nursing profession, and generally look after the interests of nurses, both in regard to position in the institution and outside. (5) The consideration of granting travelling scholarships, bursaries, or other means to reward merit, securing welltrained nurses in the higher grades, ■jind generally all matters relating, to the nursing profession and the training of nurses. (6)' The furthering of study clubs and other organisations among the senior grades—the provision, of a library. The scope of the duties of the Endowment and Building Sub-Committee, the General Purposes, the Tees and Belief Committees are also denned. NO MEDICAL CONTEOL. Dr. Begg said there was no suggestion in the recommendations that there should be medical control.. He was sure the board would find that, the new .scheme would work satisfactorily, and would prove of advantage ■to the hospital. The chairman said it seemed to him that the new scheme, as outlined, would meet the purposes aimed at. He spoke in terms of general approval of the new medical organisation proposed. He.did not look at this proposal as an attempt by the medical profession to get complete control of the hospital. The main question was what was best in the interests of the patients, and secondarily that there should be due "consideration for the medical men and others who carried out the work. He thought the changes would promote efficiency in the medical side. On the motion of the chairman, the committee's recommendations were agreed to. The several committees, including the medical committees, will be set up at the next ordinary meeting of /the board. .