CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15716, 8 September 1911, Page 9

CHRISTCHURCH HOSPITAL.

TO THE EDITORSir, —I am writing to bear out a correspondent in your journal of September 1 who complains of the manner in which our Hospital is managed, and the stupid, silly questions asked by the attendants at the said institution. I had cause to go to the Hospital myself a few months ago, and my experience was eye-opening. I think that the system of allowing doctors to practice without any remuneration is a bad and rotten system. Undor these conditions an aspiring young doctor is allowed to experiment ©n the poor, so as to cure the rich fos the rich seldom, if ever, go to the Hospital to bo treated, but go to some well-known, physician who has been at the Hospital for a short time learning all ho can at the expense of the poor unfortunate individuals who go there. Certainly, considering the amount of practice at the Hospital, tho said doctors should at least know a little. The doctors at the institution look upon the general public as their servants or their children, and like to remind the public now and then about this matter, speaking to them as if they were in debt to the doctors, instead of tho doctors being favoured very much by learning, their profession at the expense of their patients. Over a verv trivial matter I got sharply reproved by tlie eye doctor at the Hospital, and on writing to tho Hospital Board about the matter I received absolutely no reply whatever. Seme will say my reply was. overlooked; perhaps it was, but I am in a position to say that Mr Tanner knows that I nevor received a reply, and has been aware of the fact for some time; but even in the face of this fact I have not received an answer, and it is now scare months since I wrote and posted my complaint. When at the Hospital procuring some medicine for a friond I camo into touch with th© dispenser. who was no oxception to the rule of tho officialdom which is common at our Hospital, ino assistant dispenser was very sharp with her remarks, and the dispense! himself was worse. It is regrettable that a person should have to writ© as T have, considering the irksome calling they follow, but I do think that they have overstepped the line, and tnr.. something should be done- to remedy things. As to the Board which is appointed to supervise tho institution, think that there arc a few members who do know their work, but I a.so * that most of them do not, and at the next election of the Board som « will be done to get some more progressive individuals to take the place of the present dummie^-^am^m.^