CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11187, 8 February 1897, Page 6

CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Would you kindly allow me through your columns to congratulate the Board on retaining the services of the House Surgeon, and the amicable settlement of any difficulty which may have arisen ? But Ido not think the salaries as at present paid to our hospital staff are sufficient to retain the services of such men as at present fill the positions of house and assistant surgeofis. At a previous meeting a member of the Board made a statement that people able to pay went elsewhere for treatment, and those who entered the hospital were chiefly composed of those who were unable to pay the required' fee, viz., 4s per diem. If such bo true let the Board make it worth the while of the present able staff to hold their positions, and I am sure in a short time the Board will be satisfied with any increase they may make in the present salaries, and also the public that they are trying; to keep for ourinstitu- | tion such gentlemen as the public may place i confidence in for any treatment they may [ require. As this is a working man’s insti- | tution I must say after the able way in { which-you put the matter in your leading (article of Jan. 16, and also your reply to Dr Mickle, of Jan. IS, I am not a little sur- . prised at the small encouragement given } you through your correspondence columns, which I have always found open for the | discussion of matters of public interest. | I would like to ask, are our workers desirous of maintaining the present satisfactory state of things, or would they prefer the { suggestion of Dr Mickle that only young | graduates should be appointed, and then only for short periods ? As a working man, j I think further comment needless. —I am, | &c., - . . AN EX-PATIENT.