HOSPITAL CONTROL

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20230, 26 June 1937, Page 8

HOSPITAL CONTROL

FORM OF ADMINISTRATION. WELLINGTON DOCTOR'S VIEWS. NAPIER SITTINGS CONCLUDE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) NAPIER, Saturday. The final witness at the hospital Inquiry, Dr. J. Cairney, of Wellington Hospital, said the delay in admitting the hoy Berry had no effect on the result vf the illness hut the delay should not have occurred. The X-ray films should have been available to the medical men. A hospital of the size of Napier’s needed a separate tutorsister. The salaries paid here were as generous as elsewhere. In Wellington extra pay might have to be agreed to. Under the by-laxvs a porter could refuse to carry out the : instruction of the medical officer. The | position was not peculiar to Napier. | Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M. (the chairman) ; I would like the doctor’s views jon what he thinks should he done. | Witness; I think in Napier a strong form of administration Is very desirable with one defined head of the institution. The simplest alteration from this organisation would be that a medical superintendent should be the head, that in addition to the staff under his direct control the matron should be responsible through him to the board and that the same should apply to the managing secretary. With the exception of the purely clerical portion, that would enable him to carry out everything to the welfare of the patients. Influence of the Board. Sir James Elliott: Would it be any help if we cut out the grandiloquent name of secretary-manager?—l don’t think it would make much difference. Would it do any harm? —None whatever. Would it he an advantage to call the house manager “house steward”?— I think it would. Mr. Foden: Should the superintendent have charge of the patients? —My own view is that in a hospital of this size it would he advisable for him to have his own beds. Otherwise he is likely to be looked upon as Just a manager. It does not make his difficulties insuperable. Might not the form of organisation you suggested be nullified by the hoard? —1 would rather not pursue that. 1 believe that the system would work quite well so long as it is not given too much interference by the board. Will you give some of your experiences in connection with the size of the honorary staff —At the outset I would say that the size of this hospital is such that it could be run toy a purely stipendiary staff with the addition of one. 1 wish to make it clear that 1 am not suggesting that this point be adopted, hut only as a comparison. Suggested Staffing. That would seem to suggest that a large honorary staff is needed? —I think a staff of three physicians and three surgeons would he ample and the medical superintendent might he one of those. That Is just an expression of opinion and may he based on inadequate facts. Sir James Elliott: Do you think a part-time visiting staff with honoraria would he better?—l believe it would.

Do you consider the stipendiary staff can for any lengthy period remain efficient without rubbing shoulders with the medical practitioners?—No. Mr. Mosley: Suppose a part-time stipendiary staff was appointed for three years. Would that be an advantage?—The appointments would have to he made on their merits.

The commission then adjourned to Wellington.