TUAPEKA HOSPITAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 180, 20 July 1871, Page 6

TUAPEKA HOSPITAL.

SPECIAL MEETING.

In accordance with the following resolution, "passed at a meeting of the Hospital Committee, on Tuesday,- the 11th inst., a meeting was held on Friday last to receive the Surgeon's report:—"That the Resident Surgeon be instructed to report to this Committee the proportion of chronic cases, or those which could have been sent to Dunedin, during the last three years ; that he also be instructed to state whether tho services of any of the employees of the institution could j be dispensed with." The meeting was held in the Commercial Hotel, and j there were present — the President, Mr. Bastings ; Messrs. M'Lean, Farrer, (xooday, M'Beath, Abel, Simpson, Harrop, ' Morrison, M'Swiney, M'Kunuiie, Drs. Stewart and Halley, and the Secretary, Mr. Hayes. The minutes of the previous special meeting were read and confirmed. The Visiting Committtee's report was then read. VISITING COMMITTEE'S REPORT. In accordance with your request, we have made evt-ry po.vible enquiry relative to patients of the Hospital who have been reported 5 to have been seen inebriated about ilif» streets of L-wvrence. We have to report thaf the three patents referred to have been dismissed from iho Hospital on account of their misconduct ; and thnt stringent rules have been posted on the Hospital walls to inform pntient* that they cannot leave the Hospital without the permission of the Surgeon, or in especial occasions th it of the wttrdsman. WIIiLIAM M'BISATH Jonas IJarkop Members of Visiting Committee. Dr. Stewart said if there was no objection he wished to say a few words upon the occasion of the report. Some short time since he asked the committee for a sum of money to get cards printed showing the rules which must be adhered to — without that authority he could not prevent what had occurred. He, at that time, dismissed two patients for. not conforming with the rules of the Hospital. Now t no patient can go beyond the Hospital gate without bis permission.

Mr. M'Kimniie said as . he had mooted this matter at the previous meeting, he might now say that he did so purely iv the interest of the public. He was quite satisfied with the report,

Mr. Abel moved the adoption of the report. He was glad to hear it, and he thought it perfectly satisfactory ; also the Doctor's statement.

The motion was seconded and carried.

RESIDENT SURGEON'S REPORT. Tuapeka Hospital, July 13, 1871. The Ommittee of the Tuapeka Goldfields Hoppitul.

Gentlemen, — I hive the honour to report, in accordance with the resolution passed by you last Tuesday, that I am of opinion that about' eighty-five out of the three hundred and seventy-five patients that have been admitted for the three years ending June 30th ulr., were chronic cases on admission, and could with safety to themselves have proceeded to Dunedin

I irni further of opinion that unless a larger number of patients than the average for tho p-ist nine yeirs seek admission int» this Hospital, nni «hould the Committee adhere to their resolution of forwarding ail chronic and J-r.cTiVa.ble cises to Dune Jin, that the dwily s-rer.i^e nurnbei-of patien(;9 will not exoepd 12 or 13, instead of a daily average of 20 as heretofore.

The question of a reduction in the number of servants is somewhut difficult to deal with. I bplleve it is possible to carry on the institution by having only two servants along with the Surgeon, extra absistanee to be provided when necessary ; but the work would not be so efficiently carried on.

At present, each ?errant ha-t bis or her specific fluty to perform, bur in the event of one beiirg dispense-! with, the duties would be co mixed up that if auv pirt were left uuperforvnod. if. would be difficult to make any one responsible for the omission.

I am, G-entlemen, Your obedt. eervt., Alex. Stbwabt. .Resident Surgeon. Mr. Sirrfpson moved tlie.reception of the report. Seconded and carried. Mr. MBeath moved its adoption. Seconded. Mr. M'Swiney said that by carrying out the resolution adopted at the last meeting, he understood from the Surgeon's report the average patients in the Hospital would be reduced from 20 to 12 or 13. He wished to know what reduction that would make in the -working of the- institution. Dr. Stewart said there would be a rodutition of one-third' in rations and medicine*., Mr. M'Swiney — Bat what of the entire cost in 12 months. •' Dr. Stewart — That depended upon the amount of salaries paid in carrying on the wotk of the institution. The reduction, he thought, would be £200 at- least — perhaps a little more. Mr. Harrop asked if a married couple could carry "on the work. ;l)r. Stewart stated that he had said sain his report. ', Mr. Harr.op — The-' reason he asked' the question was his belief that a married couple would work more harmoniously. ' - " . ■* (Here several members of Committee gave expressiou"to '-'their experiences of having known married couples who did not work harmoniously.)

Mr. M'Swiney asked if a good doal of 'light work could not bo done by the patients, and thus relieve tho servanfs.

Dr. Stewart here pointed out that such work bad been done Ly patients

suffering from chronic diseases; but by the step which had been taken to rid the Hospital of these cases, there would be none left in the institution excepting perfectly helpless individuals, and the "Wardsman would have more work than formerly. He thought if the Committee decided upon having only two servants, they could do the work, but not so efficiently as it was done at present. Mr. Simpson enquired if there were only two servants, what outside assistance would be required. Dr. Stewart — Could not say. At present the only outside assistance required is for washing, which costs the sum of 7s once a fortnight. Mr. M'Swiney — Does the report state the number of cases fit for removal ? Dr. Stewart — No ; but there are six. The cost of removal was set down at £2 each. Dr. Stewart said the wardsiuan's salary could not possibly be reduced, as he was not over paid. He thought the cook's salary might be reduced by £25. The matron's he would not say anything about. (Here Dr. Stewart retired from the meeting.) CHKOXIC PATIENTS. Mr. Simpson said if auy patients are admitted and found to be suffering from a chronic disease, they must be forwarded to Dunedin. The query was suggested, " Will they take them in Dunedin ?" and was replied to as follows : — " They must ; the Dunedin Hospital is a public institution, a sort of* poor house." In reference to the first part of the report, Mr. Simpson said their could be no doubt from the statements made that one-third of the cases admitted into the Hospital might be pronounced chronic, and by adopting the suggestion which had been made, to send these cases to Dnnedin, a considerable saving would be effected. He thought there could be only one opinion in the matter. Parties might say that they (the Committee) had been doing what they should not have" done; but if they had erred, they had erred on the side of charity. He would move that the first part of the report be adopted, and he thought the effect of passing such a resolution might cause persons suffering from chronic diseases to go at once to Dunedin, aud not entail any expense on the Hospital. He would further move that a rule be drawn up to the effect that all cases which are pronounced chronic be sent to Dunedin. Mr. Harrop called attention to Mr. Simpson's motion, which he said was not in order, as any alteration in the rules required a notice of motion. Mr. Simpson said his motion was simply that a rule should be drawn up for submission to a future meeting. • The motion was agreed to. Mr. M'Swiney thought exception should be made to paying patients. Understood. PAYING PATIENTS. The above remark of Mr. M'Swiney's turned the attention of the Committee from the report immediately before them to the question of paying patients, when Mr. M'Kimmi© asked if it was the Visiting Committee who were responsible for patients admitted into the Hospital as so whether they were destitute or able to pay. The Chairman did not thiuk the Visiting Committee had auythiug to do with that matter. The subscriber who gives the ticket of admission to the patient is the responsible person. A member of the Committee said he knew of a so-called destitute out- • patient of the Hospital who was in receipt of £3 6s a week.

The Chairman — If he knew such a man 'he would certainly refuse him. If the doctor is aware of it, he should report it to the Committee. That is where he thought people erred — they know these things, and do not take the proper steps to put a stop to them. ■If he knew any one who was loafing on the institution, he would certainly expose that person.

It was then stated that the person's name was Moor.

Mr. Morrison said he was glad that matter had been mentioned; as a perr son called upon him some' tiinG ago aud said she bad been accustomed to get Dp. Stewart to prescribe for her. She had formerly gone to Mr. Peter Robertson for a ticket, but she came •to him (Mr. Morrison)' for some reason or other. He gave her the ticket, and 'was justly hauled over the coals for doing so. This he considered a similar ; case.

The Chairman considered it nothing short of an imposition on the Hospital.

It was then moved and seconded that the Visiting Committee enquire into tho matter, and report at next meeting. — Carried.

The Chairman read the rule bearing on the subject,' which rule inflicts a fine of 2 is. upon any person imposirg on the institution.

The discussion of the Report was then continued.

The second part of the report, viz., that bearing upon the reduction of salaries, officer and servants included, was then discussed.

Mr. M'Kitnmie did not approve of the offices of cook and matron being combined. (Here some members were holding

conversattooVwith each other across the table, and our reporter tried Tiis [ best, without success, to hear tho su'iject which had the ear of the Chairman.) After the chit-chat subsided, the Chairman was heard to say — Affirm some principle of reduction, for il is certain we cannot get more subsidy than has been agreed upon. Let us consider which reductions will be the most judicious. Mr. Simpson then proposed that the salary of the chief Surgeon of the Hospital be reduced by £200, making it £250 a year, and that he be allowed private practice within an area of five miles of the Hospital. Mr. G-ooday seconded. Mr. M'Kimmie moved as an amendment that the two doctors, viz., Dr. Stewart and Dr. Halley, be paid £100 each. He did not see how they could j expect Dr. Halley to do Dr. Stewart's work if he were away from -the Hospital unless he was paid for it. It would be unfair. Mr. Morrison seconded the amendment. The Chairman asked who is to be responsible ? Mr. Abel considered the amendment out of order. The Chairman stated that what was done that e veiling was simply to be embodied in a report to be drawn up and submitted to the subscribers at a mectiug to be held on Tuesday. Mr. Morrison would like to ask if Dr. Stewart would be agreeable to all this. The Chairman said Dr. Stewart had nothing to do with it. The position was forced upon the Committee, and if Dr. Stewart was not pleased to go by their decision he had no doubt some one else would. Mr. M'Kimmie understood that the Hospital would be £600 short this next year if the expenses were not reduced, aud the Committee are responsible for the expenses. It therefore was for them to meet the difficulty in a straightforward manner. Mr. Harrop said that the proposals, so far as they had gone, would leave the Hospital £150 still behind. Mr. M'Kimmie, in explanation, said that in proposing an amendment that £100 be given to each doctor, he wished to draw out remarks from other members of Committee, get a full expression upou the existing rules, and if they are Avrong, they can be altered to suit the times. Mr. M'Swiney said when the Committee, or any body of gentlemen, accepted a position of honour and responsibility as they had done, they should do their best in every way to deal fairly with all parties. He thought the fairest way to carry out the matter would be to solicit tenders for competent medical men, and do all they could to get a number of offers. By doing this, the Committee would relieve themselves, and have the satisfaction of having done their duty. (Dr. Halley here considered that from the nature of the discussion ho should retire from the room, which ho did.) Mr. M'Swiney continued by saying that the idea he had expressed had occurred to him — it might, however, be rather a crude one, but he thought it would meet the case. He only feared there were but few medical i men to choose From in the province. ] Mr. Farrer thought it altogether j out of the way of the Committee to take the step indicated by Mr. M'Swiney. He thought the best thing to do would be to reduce the Resident Surgeon's salary, and ask him if he will accept it — if he will still continue it at a reduced rate. Mr. Simpson said his motion had nothing to do with who was Resident Surgeon — Dr. Stewart or anybody else — not with the man but the office. Mr. Morrison said what he inferred from Mr. M'Kimmie was that the Surgeon, if allowed private practice, would often be absent from the Hospital, and some one would require to fill his place. If they could get a man to work for nothing, well and good ; but he did not think they could. At the same time it must be admitted that Dr. Stewart could make far more than £-150 a year ; and although, at home, there is competition amongst medical men to occupy the position of honorary surgeon, stilf, in an outlandish place like this, where people expect to make a fortune in a year or •two, it cannot be expected that gentlemen can be found to occupy such honorary positions. The question asked by Mr. M'Kimmie is — would the Hospital be attended to in the absence of J)r. Stewart if that gentleman were allowed private practice. The Chairman could not agree with the remarks of Mr. M'Kimmie and Mr. M'Swiney. He (the Chairman) put Dr. Stewart out of consideration altogether. He objected to advertising for another doctor. The first gracious aefc the CommittQQ can do, unless they have any fault to find with ! Dr. Stewart, is to offer him a certain salary — what they can afford to give. Lawrence, he considered, ought to be thankful for the class of medical mon it had got. By advertising they would get, no doubt, good characters, so far as written characters were concerned, but that would be all. He could not see how Mr. M'Kimmie's plan would work. Both doc-tors might be away at the same tiaie — the one at Tapanui and the other at Waipori, and between the two stools the Hospital would fall to the ground. By limiting the Resi-

dent Surgeon's practice to five miles, he is made come-at-able ; but the Committee don't know yet that he would accept these conditions. Mr. M'Kimmie thought that a jealousy might spring up between the two doctors, by which the right haud of fellowship would be severed. Mr. Farrer did not see there could be any danger in that direction. Ai the Dunstan, where there were two doctors, no such feeling existed, and the hospital surgeon is allowed private prrctice. At Queenstown there is only one doctor, and he is allowed private practice. Mr. Grooday thought it would be a great' mistake to alter the machinery of the Hospital. He would ask how often in twelve months would a case be brought to the Hospital in the doctor's absence, even although he were allowed private practice ? As a matter of course, he would require to give the Hospital his first attendance. Mr. M'Kimmie wished to know in the event of a patient being ill and requi.-ing the doctor's attendance when he should be at the Hospital, what would be done ? Mr. Harrop — According to the rules he would require to be in the Hospital between tho hours of 8 and 10 in the morning, and 5 and 7 in the evening. Mr. Simpson said that one thing wns evident to him, and that was, they must have a Resident Surgeon — a responsible person. If that person is caught out when he should be at home, he is responsible for what may go wrong. If they found he allowed bis private practice to interfere with his duties towards the Hospital, then dismiss him. If any malpractice were indulged in, or took place at the Hospital, the difficulty under Mr. M'Kimmie's amendment would be to know who was responsible for them. The amendment was put, resulting in a show of hands of two for, and five against. The motion was then put and carried, with the following addition made to it : — " According to the rules." The question then of servants' salaries was discussed. The amount at present paid is — Wardsman, £100; cook, £100; matron, £50; secretary, £30; extra labour, £9— equal to £289 in all. Mr. Simpson proposed that the following be substituted, viz. : — Wardsman, £100; cook, £75 ; matron, £15; secretary, £25. Mr. Morrison Recondo-1. Mr. Grooday moved an amendment that the matron's salary be £50. He thought they could not with any fairness ask the matron to do the work for lers than a £1 a wek. Mr. M'Beath secomLJ. The Chairman said no doubt Mrs. Marriott could do with £60. He thought, however, that the wages paid to females in this country were too high altogether — the consequence being that they come out dressed far more extravagantly than their mistresses. Mr. M'Kimmie supported the motion. The motion was put and carried. Mr. Harrop moved another amendment upon the motion, viz. : — " That notices of dismissal be served upon all the servants, and that tenders be called for a married couple to do the Whole of the work, including th« duties of wardsman, matron, and cook, for the sum of £150." The reductions they had proposed in the motion weve so trivial that they were hardly worth entertaining — they were too paltry to be of any good. He thought by adopting his amendment they would effect a saving of at least £100 a year. They must look at the matter straight in the face. Dr. Halley remarked that he had recently been at the Clyde and Wakatip Hospitals, and they had only two persons to manage them They had a •rood number of patients, and the rlospitala seemed clean and well con- ■ ducted. No doubt in Tuipeka they would be better to remaiu as they are, but that c.inuob be, as a curtailment must be made pomewhere. Mr. Simpson withdrew from his motion the secretary's salary. After which, the amendment was put, for which three hands were held up. For the motion there were six hands held up. Mr. Simpson moved that the secretary's salary be £25. Mr. Abel seconded.' Mr M Kinunie moved an amendment that it be £20. Mr. Morrison seconded. — Carried. The following members of Committee were then elected as a "sub-com-mittee to draw up a I'epovt based upon the resolutions passed by the meeting, viz. : — Messrs. Simpson, M'Beath, and M'Kimmie. The meeting then adjourned.