CORRESPONDENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3585, 27 March 1886, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

0 HOSPITAL RETRENCHMENT. TO THE KDITOK OF Tlip TIMARCT HERALD. Sib, — Allow me to inform " Convalescent " that I have had many a chut with patients and ox-patients about Hospital matters, and know both their experiences and their opinions, so that I do not need at this stage of tho discussion to take his advice on that point. Ib is, aided by all that I have gathered from that source of information as well us from chats with experts and officials, from personal observation and the cxerciso of a littlo common senso judgment on tho facts, that I have arrived at tho opinion expressed m. my previous letter, not merely as to tho feasibility but the desirability of tho retrenchment I propose lam also quite conversant with tlio whole history of tho placing of a resident medical officer there, when there was no necessity for it, haying, m fact, initiated a correspondence m your columns which led to that appointment. There was at that time

an abuse and a grievance which called for a remedy, the institution being under the sole care of one tho of medical practitioners of the town instead of the joint care of them all, and the Commissioners wore urged to admit all on equal terms. Kather than do that they appointed a Resident Surgeon with no private , practice. So long as the General Government had to provide tho funds to pay for this hobby the arrangement has boen quietly acquiesced m, but now that the taxpayers have to provide the ways and means directly, the question is raised with the hope ;of its being looked into. What is the necessity for this expense? "Convalescent "has not touched the question of necoaslty on its 1 merits. He has turned aside fromit with tho expression of a kindly sentiment m eonnec-' 1 tion with the case of Mr John Lewis j and : asks the question " Can any one say that Mr JJewis would have liad the same cbanco of recovery had he not elected to stay m an institution where ho had a competent > and ' attentive medical man constantly near him to 1 do always the right thing at tho right time ? " ' Mr Lewis did well to elect to stay m an in--1 stitution where there is every comfort and 1 convenience and attendance of nurses, and ' that he had there a competent and attentive 1 medical man I also admit. But I demur to the insinuation that he would not have hadaa 1 competent and attentivo medical or rather ' surgical treatment had there been no resident ' surgeon. Indeed, Mr Lewis would, m the circumstances, have had the skilful and attentive treatment of the whole Btaff, not one of whom but would have taken the deepest ■ interest m his case. The citing of this , case 1 is no answer to the facts which I stated m i my last. lam not writing with any purpose to cast a slight upon the skill or attention of the resident officer. I wish the Board to look at the question of the necessity for this office, and the expense which it entails. And on this point let them call for tho evidence of the medical men of the town, of their own medical officer, of the Steward, tho nurses, the ex-patients, and their records of the hooks of the institution. Let them point out m how many cases life would have been imperilled or comfort lessened had the Institution been under charge of a non-resident staff instead of a resident medical officer ; and from facts ascertained, and not merely Bentiments entertained, let them decide as to the necessity. I havo no doubt as to what the result would bo. Regard for your space forbids me entering upon the further question of usefulness, popularity, etc. Only allow mo to point out m regard to usefulness, that if this institution was under the charge of tho medical men of the town, there are many patients who have had to be treated under most unfavourable circumstances as to the comforts and conveniences of their homes and boarding-houses, who could havo been Bent to the hospital to enjoy there comforts and conveniences, and bo had their chanco of recovery increased, and their suffering during illness greatly alleviated. Tho present arrangement shuts tho door against many. patients. This may appear to bo an argument against myself m the matter of retrenchment, but what I am arguing for is not retrenchment per se, but where it can be effected without injury, and I for ono should not grieve, but rejoice if that saving were nil swallowed up by increased expenditure through an increase of those admitted to ; tho comforts and conveniences of the institution, but who are now shut out from them. I am, <ie, ' KETKEUCniIEST.