THE WAIRAU HOSPITAL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 146, 25 June 1902, Page 2

THE WAIRAU HOSPITAL.

TO THE KDITOB.

Sir,—No institution in the district has excited the public interest more than the Wairau Hospital, has done more good for the community, or has been more deservedly praised for its general good management. It has always boasted of a competent Medical Officer and Matron; has been controlled by a Board selected from the very best members of onr local bodies; and has been invariably reported npon highly by the Inspector. And yet, in spite of all this, there are some who are constantly throwing stones at the institution, complaining of its government, its restrictions, its fees, and in fact everything and anything that may tend to bring it into disrepute, lower it in the estimation of the public, and create dissatisfaction among the ratepayers. These adverse criticisms are partly due to ignorance, but more frequently to overlooking the fact that "The Hospital and Charitable Institution} Act," the regulations and directions of the Inspector-Ganeral, and the bylaws of the Board, have all to be regarded, and that the Board cannot do as it likes, cannot violate the law, sacrifice its subsidy by defying the Inspector, or altogether ignore its own by-laws. I ihink, therefore, it is in the best interests of the Hospital, the ratepayers, and the public that several points which have lately been matters of general discussion should be explained, and some erroneous statements which have been made should be contradicted. At a public meeting held a short time ago one gentleman said " the doors of the Fever Ward were not open to the fever patients of the medical profession generally." At the meeting on Wednesday last it was remarked that "It was a matter of impossibility for the general medical profession to send a patient to the Fever Ward, and that the institution was ruled by Dr. Anderson and a few others." Again I have it on the test authority that it has been stated and believed that it is necessary to obtain the Medicai Officer's certificate and the Secretary's order in every case before admission into the Hospital is permitted, no matter how urgent the case or severe the accident* Indeed, it has been said that only Dr. Anderson's patients are admitted to the Hospital at all. Now, these statements are not only misleading, but untrue, of course the Hospital is ruled by the Board in the first place with the Medical Officer (Dr. Anderson) as officer in command ; so are all Government Hospitals throughout the colony. The Medical Officer is, of course, the responsible head, responsible to the Board, responsible to the public, and responsible to his own profession. The Government lays down, the Inspector insists, and the bye-laws declare, that the Hospital is in effect a charitable institution for necessitous persons suffering from disease, etc., who may or may not be able to pay the fees (locally 21s per week), but who cannot afford costly medical attendance, nursing, drugs, etc., in their own homes. Moreover (bylaw No. 3) " The ordinary method of admission shall be by certificate from the Medical Officer to the Secretary, who shall enquire into the circumstances of the patient, etc., and if satisfied, issue to the Matron an order for admission." But the doors of the Hospital and the Fever Ward are open to all, subject to exactly the same restrictions, quite irrespective ol what doctor is attending them; any resident in the district who cannot afford medical attention at home has an equal right to entry; any doctor may send bis patient to the Medical Officer for a certificate with the certainty of admission if the case is suitable, As

for the Medical Officer sending only bis •wn patients to the Hospital, the very feet that he cannot make them any charge while there is sufficient proof of the1 absurdity of that idea, The state- * ment that this doctor's patients are admitted and that doctor's patients are refused is quite incorrect; all are received alike; indeed, the moment a neirsofl is taken into the Hospital he or she is in fact no longer a patient of any particular doctor, but a patient of a Government institution, a patient or the Hospital, a patient of the Board. So much for " the ordinary method ot admission"—bub there is an extraordinary method/of admission sufficiently referred to in bylaw 2, which directs that one of tbe purposes of tbe Hospital is to provide for " the reception of accident and urgent cases at all hours of the day and night, subject to payment by those admitted in proportion to their means." In these cases the medical certificate and the Secre tary's order are generally omitted, and where life or limb are endangered are never required at all; any medical roan may send them to the Hospital, or they may come without any sending. In point of fact, in urgent cases, or cases of serious accident, the patient may at once be taken to the Hospital, no matter what his position or his means, or where or whom he comes from ; and the Medical Officer is swt_ for atanee. The Hospital and the Medical Officer s residence are connected by telephone night and day, and it is often a mere aueation of minutes before the doctor is on the spot. I trust I have said enough to give a correct explanation of the matters referred to, and have relieved the minds of some who nave labored under a misapprehension as to the principles which guide the Hospital management and the admission of patients.—l am, etc., O. J. W. Griffiths, Secretary, Wairau Hospital.