HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16512, 24 August 1921, Page 7

HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION.

THE “ MINIMUM STANDARD, 55 Hospital administration was the subject of a report by the Hospital Committee of th© North Canterbury Hospital Hoard adopted at to-day’s meeting of the board. The committee had been giving serious consideration, it was stated, to a report by the medical superintendent of the hospital—which was supported by members of the honorary staff—on the various departments of the Hospital, and the committee had generally approved the proposal that it was necessary to adopt the principle of what was known in hospitals as the “ minimum standard.” The report aimed at- competence on the part of the medical staff, it was reported. The following proposals were ' made :—- (a) A complete staff in all its units —organised in groups for team work. (b) The membership to medical staff should be restricted to those showing competence and special knowledge in their respective fields of occupation. A complete staff should consist of major and minor units, the object beincr that any lapse on the part of on© element shall be filled by the remaining unit. Thus, if a major unit is absent owing to illness or other causes, the minor unit shall be ready to fill his place. The staff would then consist of :—Full surgeons—-assistant surgeons : full physicians—assistant phyicians ; gynaecologist—assistant gynaecologist ; ophthalmic surgeon—assistant ophthalmic surgeon ; aural and throat surgeon -assistant aural and throat surgeon ; radiologist—assistant radiologist ; bacteriologist —assistant bacteriologist. This covers the main hospital departments at present; others may have to be crea'ced e.s necessity arises. The numbers (one. two or more) of major or minor units must depend upon the size and amount of work of the department, and must increase with the department. The committee also recommends the board to approve the appointment of a clinical tutor or hospital registrar, when opportunity offers, the suggestion being that such appointment should go to a young man with hospital experience, who is prepared to further his knowledge by going to Kurope, and who has made special studies along the lines which would be of advantage to the Hospital and the board’s work. The suggestion is that such an appointment should be for a period of three or four rears, at a salary( commencing at about £550, rising in annual increments of £SO to a maximum of £7OO.