HOSPITAL BOARD

Evening Post, Issue 122, 26 May 1933, Page 8

HOSPITAL BOARD

NEW BYLAWS

DEPARTMENT'S CRITICISM

Tho Wellington Hospital Board yesterday received a letter from Dr. M. H.. Watt, Director-General of Health, commenting on the new bylaws recently adopted by the board. In his letter Dr. Watt said:— " . "The proposed amending bylaws divido the responsibility to the board for tho management, general discipline, and working of the institution between tho medical superintendent and the secretary. Tho Department considers that for smooth running it is advisable to have ono officer definitely the official head of tho institution. I should bo glad to know of any special reasons for taking the engineer and house steward from the general control of the medical superintendent and placing them under that of the secretary, who, it is understood, is to remain non-resitient. "The Department sees no objection to the staff of the relief department and of the Ohiro Home being under the secretary, as these activities are very largely extraneous to those of the hospital. '' A departure from the principle of unified control also appears to be involved in tho proposed allocation of duties and responsibilities to the "medical superintendent and assistantmedical .superintendent. respectively. Clause 11 properly makes the medical superintendent responsible for the discipline and supervision of the house surgeons. Under clauses 16 and 17, however, certain administrative work; e.g., the allotment of clinical duties to house surgeons or house physicians, may be made by the assistant-medical superintendent without reference to the medical superintendent. Whilst the designation assistant-medical superintendent may imply that the medical officer is under the general control of the medical \superintendent, it is desirable to provide specifically for this. "It is-suggested, that the designations of medical superintendent and assistant-medical superintendent only be used, that tho responsibilities; and duties defined under clauses 1(5 and 17 be those of tho medical superintendent, and that the assistant-medical superintendent shall act under tho direction and control of the medical superintendent as provided for under existing bylaws (44-88). • ... "Paragraph (d) of clause 17 relating to the resident surgical officer (who may be tho medical superintendent) reads: 'He shall carry out such surgical work, including operations, as is deputed to him. by tho members of the senior and assistant surgical staff.' "I would urge careful reconsideration of this proposed provision. In the first place, the reversal to tho system under which the medical.superintendent is to undertake surgical work, including.' operations, as a matter of courseis believed not the best policy for an institution like Wellington Hospital where there is sufficient medical admin, istrative work' and general administrative work to occupy the full time of tho superintendent. "Especial exception can, moreover, be taken 'to tho' proposal that the medical superintendent shall have work deputed to him by thowarious members of the visiting staff. The medical superintendent is responsible to the board for overseeing the attendance of. members of the visiting staff and for reporting any irregularity or neglect ontheir part- It is certainly not desirable that they should direct the medical superintendent's work. _ "Reverting to. clause 1 of the proposed bylaws, I take it that the present medical superintendent (Dr. Ewen) is not to be affected,, but that it is intended that any future appointee to the, position must be tho holder of a senior degree in medicine or surgery. ~ . v. ■- "In this connection the Department agrees that, other things being equal,, preference should be given to the holdei of a senior; degree when an "appoint-:, ment is being made. It is questionablev however, whether, the board should, by, a bylaw, rigidly limit its selection to, holders of 'senior degrees, ; ■ - , CAREFUL CONSIDERATION. .'.',- Mr F Castle, chairman of the bp'arfly said that some of the points raised by Dr Watt required careful consideration. He did not vthink it was desirable that the board should at once discuss the details of Dr. Watt's letter, Mr Castle said he would like to know whether the board would prefer to have the matter discussed at once or whether it should be referred to a special committee for consideration and report. He moved that the matter be referred to a special committee "for a report. Dr. R. Campbell Begg seconded the motion, and said that in certain respects the Department had placed a wrong interpretation on-some of the1 new regulations. There was need for a conference of the board and the Department in regard to tho revised bylaws. In his- opinion, a conference of. a special committee of the board and the Department would result in a removal of the Department's misunderstanding of some of the new bylaws. • Mrs. J.. C. Riddel! remarked that several of: the points raised by Dr. Watt were of great importance, and it would be a good thing to appoint a special committee to consider the questions. • ■•'.', • ■ ••.-'. . , ' Mrs. P. Fraser expressed the opinion that the chairman of the board and the chairman of the house committee should confer w;ith Dr. Watt; that would be the most expeditious way of arriving at a satisfactory. understanding. Mrs. A. Me Vicar agreed to the appointment of a special committee. Some of the new bylaws were very far-reach-Mr. E. N. Campbell thought that a responsible officer of the Department should be'invited to confer with a special committee of the board. , The following committee was elected to confer with the Health Department in, regard to the amended bylaws:— Messrs. F. Castle, C. A. L. Treadwell, E. N. Campbell,' Mrs. P. Fraser, Mrs. R. Semple, Dr; R. Campbell Begg, Dr. D. Macdona'ld Wilson, nnd Dr. T. L. Parr.