NAPIER HOSPITAL INQUIRY

Evening Star, Issue 22686, 28 June 1937, Page 16

NAPIER HOSPITAL INQUIRY

LAST OF EVIDENCE HEARD QUESTION OF STAFFING [Per United Press Association.] NAPIER, June 26. The final witness in the hospital inquiry. Dr J. Cairney,' of Wellington Hospital, said that X-ray films should be available to the medical men. A hospital the size of that in Napier needed a separate tutor sister. The salaries paid were as generous as those elsewhere. In Wellington extra pay might have to be agreed to. If, under the by-laws, a porter should refuse to carry out the instructions of the medical officer the position was not peculiar to Napier. Mr Mosley; I would like the doctor's views on what he thinks should be done. Witness; I think that in Napier a stronger form of administration is very desirable, with, one defined head of the institution. The simplest alteration from the present organisation would he that the medical superintendent should he the head; that, in addition to the staff under his direct control, the matron should be responsible through him to the hoard; and that the same should apply to the managing secretary, with the exception of the purely clerical portion. That would enable him to carry out everything for the welfare of the patients. Sir James Elliott; Would it be any help if we cut out the grandiloquent name of secretary-manager and called him secretary?—t don’t think that it would, make much difference. Would it do any harm?—None whatever. Would it be an advantage to call the bouse manager the “ house steward rT '? —I think it would. Mr Foden: Should the superintendent have charge of the patients?—My own view is that in a hospital of this size it would he advisable for him to have Ids own beds. Otherwise ho is likely to be looked upon as just a manager. Might not the form of organisation you suggest bo nullified by the board? —I would rather not pursue that. I believe that the system would work quite well so long as it was not subject to too much interference by the board. Will you give some of your experiences iu connection with the size of an honorary staff?—At the outset I would say that the size of this hospital is such that it could be run by a nurely stipendiary staff, with the addition of one. I wish to make it clear ’hat I am not suggesting that this point should be adopted, hut only as a co nparison. “ That would seem to suggest that a large honorary staff is needed,” the witness continued. “ I think a staff of three physicians and three surgeons would be ample, and the medical superintendent might be one of those. That is just an expression of opinion, and may be based on inadequate faers.” Sir James Elliott: Do you think a part-time visiting staff, with an honorarium, would be better?—l believe it would. You look upon a hospital as being a workshop fo? all practitioners?—Not all of them. Do you consider that a stipendiary staff can, for any longhty period, remain efficient without rubbing shoulderswith the medical practitioners?—No. Mr Mosley: Suppose a part-time stipendiary staff was appointed for a period of three years, would that be an advantage? The appointments would have to be made on their merits. The commission then adjourned to Wellington.