South Canterbury Times THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1898.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2369, 29 December 1898, Page 2

South Canterbury Times THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1898.

The Hospital Board yesterday fixed up a visiting medical staff of three again ; and we hope that the arrangement will work satisfactorily. A good many people are of opinion that the hospital should have a resident surgeon ; but while this system has many advantages the experience of Timaru and of other hospitals shews that it is not without its drawbacks. The visiting staff system appears to have worked very well for a few years past in this institution, as is proved by the absence of public complaint against it, for there is nothing the public is more “ touchy ” about than hospital management.

The Board yesterday considered a case which, being only one of many, calls for some action being taken. Application was made that the Board take charge of an elderly man, indigent and without relatives in the colony, who is suffering from a disease which is incurable, and who requires some amount of personal attention and nursing, as well as food. The hospital, it is said, is no place for incurables, and the Old Men’s Home is unsuitable for such a case as the one at present under discussion. The Board agreed that the chairman should, “ if possible,” arrange for the admission of this man to the hospital, though it was understood that this would be contrary to the by-laws which say that “no ... . persons who, after examination, shall be deemed incurable, shall be admitted as patients.” The by-laws at the outset, in stating the “plan and objects” of the Timaru Hospital, set forth that the hospital is for “in-patients afflicted with acute diseases,” and that is understood to cut out people afflicted with “chronic” diseases. We cannot find anything in the Hospitals Act entitling a Board to pass a by-law making such distinction. Hospitals established by private charity may have what rules the managers please ; but public hospitals should not be allowed to refuse assistance to a diseased person on the ground that he cannot be cured. At present the incurable is not provided for at all in this district. If his disease is either troublesome or offensive, and if the Board adheres to the letter of the hospital bylaws, they ought to provide a third institution, a hospital for incurables or else a lethal chamber. We do not believe that the Legislature in passing the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Act, dreamt that incurables were to

be cut out from participating in the benefits provided by the public generosity ; and we do not find that that Act countenances any such treatment of them. It is true that the by-laws of each Hospital have to be sent to the Colonial Secretary, but for what purpose the Act does not state. That official does not appear to have any power of approval or disapproval; his reply must be “ received with thanks.” The Governor, however, by clause 63 is empowered “ at anytime” to disallow any by-law. We are of opinion that the Governor should be invited to disallow the Timaru Hospital by-law in regard to the exclusion of incurables, unless the Board set about making special provision for them somewhere.