HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11537, 23 November 1900, Page 3

HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

DISCUSSION ON THE CITY COUNCIL'S REPORT. A srECTAL meeting of the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board was held in tho Board-room, High-street, last evening, for tho purpose of considering tho recommendations of the Finance Committee of the City Council, upon the report of the Ratepayers' Association on hospital and charitable aid management. Tho following were present: Messrs. A. Bruce (chairman), R. Salmon, R. Tudehopo, A. P. Friend, and J. Jamieson. The Finance Committee, after carefully considering the various matters detailed in the Ratepayers' Association's report, and particularly that portion dealing at some length with tho cost of the Auckland Hospital, recommended: (a) That in the opinion of the committee, a saving might be effected if greater care were taken to admit as patients only those persons who were not in a pecuniary position to pay for treatment cither in their own homos or in a private hospital; (is) that the committee believed a groat improvement might bo effected if, in lieu of the present arrangements, a firptclass medical man was appointed to "take absolute charge of tho hospital; (c) that tho Council expresses its appreciation of the care and attention bestowed by the Ratepayers' Association in dealing with the matters contained in t!ie report; and (d) that tho Council also records its high appreciation of the valuable efforts of the members appointed by the Council to tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board in conducting tho work of tho institution in an economical manner, in so far as they were able; but as they formed a minority of the Board, the Council recognise they have' not been enabled to do all they would otherwise have dono in the direction desirod by tho Council.

The report of the Finance Committee was adopted at the last meeting of tho City Council. ,

Upon consideration of the report, Mr. Friend moved, and Mr. Salmon seconded, that, in answer to resolution A, a letter be sent to the City Council, that as long as the cost of tho hospital is provided for by public funds, any person has the right of admission for treatment at the hospital; and that if all paying patients were excluded, tho cost of tho hospital would bo greater than at present'. A lengthy discussion took place regarding resolution B.

Mr. .Tamieson said he thought that if they had a first-class medical man, and the present nursing staff, the honorary staff would not bo required. Mr. Friend said he did not think that one first-class medical man and two assistants could cover the work, as the superintendent would bo responsible both for surgical and medical work. Ho would bo inclined to propose a first-class surgeon, and a first-class physician, and an honorary staff subject to certain extent to the men in charge. Mr. Tudehspo said he thought that if this was intended to reduce expenditure, the Finance Committee were altogether wrong, as the engagement of a first-class medical man would increase the cost instead of reducing it. One man in any case could not cover the work. If anything went wrong the medical officer would bo criticised for inefficiency. He considered that with the present system of having an honorary staff, the hospital patients obtained the best treatment possible. He thought that a polite letter should be sent to the City Council, informing them why the Board could not accept the recommendation. _ _ It was decided, on the motion of Mr. Salmon, seconded by Mr. Jamieson, that a reply be sent to the City Council, that as the system of management by a medical superintendent excluding an honorary visiting staff, had been already tried by tho Board and found unsuccessful, and inasmuch as the principle of an honorary staff is universally acknowledged by all largo hospitals in the colonies, the Board cannot endorse the recommendation of the Council; and, further, that on the score of economy it would be found inadvisable to pay tho high salary which would be required by a first-class medical man to take the entire work of-the institution, and also in the opinion of the Board, it would not be possible to obtain in any one medic."! man the combined ability of an honorary staff. It was decided that clauses (c) and (D) required no discussion. The secretary was instructed to writo thanking the City Council for their recommendations, and enclosing copies of the resolutions arrived at by the Board, after consideration of the Ratepayers' Association s report. „____^