DR. MONCKTON AND THE REEFTON HOSPITAL.

Western Star, Issue 346, 24 April 1880, Page 6

DR. MONCKTON AND THE REEFTON HOSPITAL.

A$ some interest is still felt by his friends in this district, we extract from the “ Inangahua Herald’s” report of the annual meeting of subscribers to the Ee.efton Hospital the following, as throw - ing spine light on the reasons that induced j|r Monckton, founder and late SargeonSupe.rintendent of the Vfallace and Piord Hospital, to sever his connections with tlie fortperinstitution: — Dr Moncktpn said he had been systematically snubbed and ignored by the Committee. All information had been Studiously withheld from him, which could enabled him to forrp a reliable estimate of the cost pf the institution; or as to whether or. not saving could bo ejected. In small hospitals it was usual for the surgeon to go over apd certi y the accounts : so that as chief officer, of the committee he might be responsible. When desirous of doing so, he (D,r Monckton) bad been informed by. Mr Cohen that it was not desirable that; he should know everything. Mr Cohen said that the statement jpst made by the Medical Officer in respect to the matter was entirely at variance with, the facts. It was matter of notoriety that the retiring Committee and the. Medical Officer. |,ad not for some time past worked together, harmoniously; and

he would briefly state the leading causes that had led to'thsß; state of feeling. Dr Moncktou, if not at the flrst, at an early meeting suggested that he should sit on the Commit,tee as an ex officio member, but without a voice it) tlie expenditure. Well, that proposal did not meet the views ot‘ the Committee. It was a novel proposal; and took the Committee by surprise, but the feelipg wgs and he believed unanimous, although no resolution was passed upon the matter that the presence of the Medical Officer was undeshable in a body which bad fo deal with all matters connected with the conduct of the institution. He believed that their action vyoqld be generally approved; at any rate it appeared to him to be aq appropriate decision at which the Committee had arrived. Certainly, had Dr. Monckton dpsiped to examine any or all books and documents the fullest facility would havp been afforded him to 4p \ and any suggestion of his tp secure better results under the ordinary expenditure would haye been glacjly received. The next point of difference, although qnat r tended with the slightest unpleasantness on the part of Dr. Monckton, was with regard to that gentleman’s proposal to ppy visits to the Lyell. He stated that the loca l practice was not SQ large as he had expected, or as he had been led t© believe, which they all knew was perfectly true ; and he thought that he might profitably make occasional visits to Lyell. The Committee considered the matter, and were anxious to meet Dr Monckton s view j b u t decided that they could not dq so. They felt that at any moment an accident might occur, requiring the presence of a skilful rqedical man, and their officer might beaway at Lyell, with flooded riversintervenjng,and consequently unable to affo-d assistance. Their decision was therefore against Dr Monckton’s proposal; and on general grounds he believed that few would b© prepared to condemn their action pi respect to that matter. The next difference which arose was more serious. It had been represented by patients seeking advice that very considerable inconvenience had arisen through the Medical Officer’s visits being made at very uncertain hours. These representations were proved io be g ouuded; and the oo,mnu ttee passed a resolution, which it was thought would have the effect of remedying tins. He believed, and indeed knew, that DrMoncktou was desirous of revolutionising the management,, and, as far as possible, adapt it to what he had experienced in Riverton. The Committee did not acquiesce in this. They had followed the beaten course which in its results had proved in the main advantageous; and they did not think that the management or the comfort of the patients would be improved by giving almost unlimited and sole direction to Dr Monckton.

Mr Williams corroborated af r Cohen’s statement as to the Medical Officer’s proposal to attend Committee meetings in the capacity of ex officio member ; and he also agreed with what had been generally stated.

Dr Monckton contended that his suggestions had beenignoied; and referred to the supply of a proper bath ; while alterations were effected without the slightest reference to him in any way, which he regarded as an indirect means of systematically snubbing one who should occupy the position of a confidential officer. In reply to a question, Dr Monckton said that from his general knowledge of the district he should regard an average weekly cost of 14s 4d per head as sufficiently low.