THE HOSPITAL REPORT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 161, 12 July 1867, Page 2

THE HOSPITAL REPORT.

The Select Committee appointed to consider paragraph No. 11 of the Superintendent's Address, and to report ou the future management of the Nelson Hospital, report that they have come to the conclusion that it is unnecessary for them to devise any rules for the future management of the Hospital, agreeing, as they do, with the opinion expressed by the Superintendent in the paragraph referred to, ( viz., that the Act in question " contains provisions for the efficient management of the establishment." They therefore recommend that the Council should give immediate effect to that Act by appointing the two persons out of the committee of three, in ■whom the management of the hospital is . therein vested; and the Superintendent has already expressed. his desire to co-operate with the Council in bringing the Act into operation. The Committee is of opinion that fitting persons having been selected for the

government of the hospital, the direction of its affairs may with safety and propriety be left to the unfettered judgment of the committee of management. The Committee believes that it would on mary accounts be desirable that one of the managing body should, when possible, be selected from among the members of this Council. The funds voted by the Council for the maintenance of the hospital might either be placed entirely at the disposal of the committee of management, along with the power of creating such offices as they think dependent on the number and functions of the medical and other officers being prearranged, the powers of the committee might in this respect be limited to the appointing to offices already created by vote of Council. The latter course is, the Committee believe, the most advisable. The Committee recommend that on the completion of the present building, a resident medical officer should be appointed. Whether the officer should be an experienced msdical practitioner having sole medical charge of the establishment, or a junior practitioner acting under direction of a visiting physician or surgeon, there may be room for difference of opinion. Until the actual working of the hospital shall suggest another course, the Committee desire to recommend the latter arrangement. The Committee are further of opinion that the Lunatic Asylum (and perhaps the Gaol), might be brought under the same medical management and supervision as the hospital itself ; with a view to economy and the avoiding unnecessary multiplication of offices; the Committee beg to suggest that the duties of the health officer, whoso appointment has just been recommended by the Sanitary Commission of Nelson, should devolve on the same person as may be intrusted with the discharge of the other duties above specified.