“ONE-MAN” HOSPITALS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17916, 21 October 1932, Page 6

“ONE-MAN” HOSPITALS

ALTERATION PROPOSED

VISITING SYSTEM ADVOCATED

COOK BOARD TAKES NO ACTION

A proposal that “one-man” hospitals such as the ( ook Jlruspital should be opened to private practitioners, made by the New Zealand section of tire Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, did not meet with the approval of the Cook Hospital Board at itn meeting yesterday afternoon. The suggested alteration in r’ao staffing system was strenuously opposed by Dr. J. G. Collins, a member of the hoard, ami it was resolved that no action should be taken, mention being 'made of the fact that no request had been received from Gisborne medical practitioners for the hospital to be opened to them.

The letter from the college stated that the following resolution passed at a meeting of the New Zealand section had been forwarded to the Minister of Health:—"That in the opinion of the New Zealand section the surgical staffing of the so-called ‘closed ’ or ‘one-man ’ hospitals in certain of the larger cities such as Invercargill, Hamilton, Ashburton, and Gisborne, suffers from serious defects which lessen the efficiency of these institutions as compared with hospitals that have a properly organised visiting staff. The college, therefore, strongly advocates the adoption of the visit- . iug staff system.” Jn explanatory comments accompanying the resolution it was pointed out that in closed or one-man hospitals the medical superintendent had to undertake to the best of his ability the surgical treatment of injuries and diseases in practically every part of the body, and of every grade of severity and complexity. In the opinion of the college it was not possible for one man, no matter how capable or hard-working he might be, to handle with true efficiency all these difficult complicated eases. Further, in the one-man hospitals the medical superintendent received a large amount of surgical experience which to him was undoubtedly very valuable, though not so valuable as it would be if lie had frequent opportunities of seeing at work other surgeons of his town, men possibly of mature judgment and outstanding ability. These other surgeons and the younger men with good aptitude for surgery were doiprrcd from sharing in the advantages a hospital should offer for the acquirement of experience. In one-man hospitals it was impossible to run in an efficient manner the cancer consultation clinics which were proving such a decided success in the main hospitals of the Dominion where there was a visiting staff' and proper facilities for team work. DR. COLLINS ’ VIEWS Dr. Collins remarked that the question was a very vexed one. It would be absurd, he said, for a body like the Cook Hospital Board to undertake the matters suggested unless it could learn by the experience of other boards. The Cook Hospital was a one-man hospital. The medical superintendent did not claim to he capable of dealing with every case, but ho had.sufficient merit and common sense to call in what- - ever opinion lie considered necessary for the benefit of the patient. ‘‘When we have a one-man hospital run on !satisfactory lines,” said Dr. Collins, [“there comes the question, is it neeesIsary for us to consider any alteration to a system which is already satisfactory .’ “Another imperative thing in any hospital,” continued Dr. Collins, “is that there should he complete unanimity between the medical staff and the board. I don’t intend to hurt tho feelings of my follow medical practitioners, but can anyone definitely say to us that affairs would not arise that would cause considerable bickering between the medical staff and the board? • 1 sav definitely that if you attempt to [interfere with the present system you ■will endanger the proper running of [the hospital and load yourselves with uu immense amount of trouble that I you cannot forsee. ” j Dr. Collins moved that the letter should be formally received, and the j motion was seconded hy Mr H. Keuway. The chairman, Air M. T. Trafford, said lu* agreed with what Dr. Collins had said, and considered that as no requests to open the hospital had been received from the local medical practitioners no action should be taken. The motion was carried unanimously.