CORRESPONDENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3583, 25 March 1886, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

HOSPITAL RETRENCHMENT. TO TUB KIIITOU <>V TUT. TIMAHU HKIIALD. Sill,— lt is no doubt a great boon to the community at large that there should be such «n institution m the ilir-trkt as the Hospital ; :ind it isti niattcrof thi; first necessity that that institution should be maintained m a thorough state of i IKciency no matter what be the expense. But as the expense is now falling directly upon the rutepiyers it is a question for public discussion whether retrenchment m expenditure cannot ho effected without impairing cillciency. I think it can— nuy moro that tho retrenchment I have to propose would add to the comfort of all concerned un<l make the Hospital »t once more popular, more useful and more ctlicient. I may state that I liaro been for ni:iny years fully conversant with the internal arrangements of the Hospital and their working, so that I mn not writing m ignorance of the facts and the necessities of the case. I should like any ouo n hoi tin answer the question to explain what v tho necessity for a resident medical oflleer P I can see none, and the doing awuy with that otlieial means a saving of £250 per annum of salary, and at least £2 per week for boarding and other expenses necessitated by his residence. Besides it will save a very great expendituro for furnishing apartments under tho proponed alterations and additions to tho buildings. The steward and matron are quito capable of managing to much bettor purpose tho staff of nurse*, etc., required than is tho medical ollicer, inexperienced as ho necessarily is m household management of servants, nurses, etc.; and anything liko duiil authority mutt le.ul to difficulty. If there must bo a resident medical otlicer then let him bo a married man, and us his medical duties are very li-»lit, it being difficult to sco how ho manages to fill up his time and keep hiiueclf from committing suicide through shoer eunni from want of occupation, let him be m solo charge and perform nil tho duties of the steward's position as well. It is perfectly clear to my mind tint both officers are not required, and that the one who can be best dispensed with is the medico. 'iho average number of patient* is about L' 3, out of which there are seldom moro than 5 or 6 really requiring regular medical attendance. "Tho othors Bimply rcqu'iro tho little attentions, nursing, and general comforts supplied by the Hospital. Tho number of accident eases coming to the Hospital are very few. I do not think there has been ono since tho New Year. And on enquiry I think it will bo found thnt almost every caso of accident for years past has been first attended to by somo one of the outside medical practitioners, and has been sent to tho Hospital •imply for tho sake of the nursing and goueral comforts and conveniences obtainable there. Tho average of fivo patients really requiring medical attendance are all eases of which, there are scores similar being treated by the outsido practitioners without residing on tho premises with tho patients and as successfully as m the Hospital. Where is the necessity for a rcsicloDt medical officer for these fivo cases moro than for the scores of similar ones m our various homes ? I for one cannot see it. And now that tho Hospital is m telophonio communication with all tho dispensaries and private houses of the medical men m town it is at a great advantage ovor our privato homes m case of an emergency requiring the presence of a doctor. I beliovo that the three medical practitioners of the town aro quite willing to take up the Hospital work and attond to it thoroughly. Where then tho need for a resident medical officer ? I am, &c, RETIIENCnMENT. For remainder of News see Fourth -Page.