Page 4 Advertisements Column 3

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1986, 23 January 1907, Page 4

THE HOSPITAL STAFF. SUBJECT FURTHER ADJOURNED Tlio adjourned mwlii!!! of M*« Hospital Trustees whs lioltl nt _ the office of tlio Secretary (Air T. A. Colonmn) yesterday aftei-noou, there being present: Captain Tuckor (in tlio clmir), Messrs. AV. D. S AlacDonald, J. \Y. Bright, A. F. Matthews, E. J, Lysnar, and A. 'l’uohy. Tho Chairman said that that was. a continuation of tho previous mooting, and ho was proceeding to state the stage lit..which they lmil left off. Air. Bright: Aren’t you going to road tho minutes ? Tho Chairman said it wns not necessary, but perhaps they had hotter do so, and tho minutes wore accordingly read by the Secretary. In the minutes it was stated that tho resignation of Dr. Morrison had boon accepted. Tho Chairman said that boing an adjourned mooting it would perhaps be bettor to pass the minutes when the whole business was concluded. Air Matthews: 1 agree with you. Tho Chairman : Excepting that it is now fresh in our minds. They will bo road in tho ordinary course at next meeting. He went on to say that the mooting left off at A 1 cBright’s motion, which was as follows —“That applications bo invited by advertisement for. the position of medical superintendent for the Gisborne Hospital at a salary of £3OO per annum, with free residence at the Hospital, private practice within Borough limits allowed; applications to close on 190". Duties to include the attendance on Charitable Aid «Board cases within tho Borough.” (Seconded by Air Tuoh.v.) To that, continued the Chairman, an amendment was spoken of, and it now took sliapo in writing, being proposed lr- Air. AlaeDonahl, i s follows:—“That tho Trustees call for applications for a resident surgeon for tlio- Gisborne Hospital, to act with an honorary staff, the salary to bo £loo to £2OO a year, the engagement to be for one year only, with the right to continue for another year if mutually agreed between tlio Trustees and the doctor.” Air Matthews: Has it been seconded P Air. Lysnar:, Yes. I second it.

Mr. Matthews said lie would move another amendment, as this was really putting the cart bofore tile horse. They should find out first whether they would got other medical practitioners to act. Ho would oppose as far as lay in liis power anything in the way of paying a subsidy to a medical practitioner to come here and oppose those already in practice here. He did not think they would got the medical men to agree to it. His amendment would ho to take steps first to find that out. Mr Lysnar considered that would be putting the cart before the horse. He would have them ask the medical men before they had even decided to havo an honorary staff. Supposing the amendment was not carried? Mr Matthews: But supposing they do carry it? Mr Lysnar: Then it is time for you to suggest 1 the Trustees meet the medical profession in the matter; If they will not act there will bo no other way than to appoint a medical superintendent as in the past. Mr MacDonald: Mr Matthews’ amendment is not seconded. Mr Matthews said if they carried Mr MacDonald’s amendment they would be advertising for a man whom they might not employ at nil. Obviously, it was necessary to first find out whether the local medical gentlemen would act on the honorary staff. If so the road was clear, but he objected to any single man going to the medical men and asking them what' they would do. The proper and courteous way would bo to write to them, and to get a reply in writing. They did not want to have any verbal replies. If they appointed the man as proposed and the suggested honorary staff could not be obtained, the motion (re honorary staff) would be no use at all. Mr MacDonald said they would not advertise until first certain of having the honorary staff. The Chairman said ho would second Mr Matthews’ amendment, as a etep in the right direction. It would bo beating the wind if they found the medical gentlemen would not act. Ho himself had perhaps assumed too much in supposing the medical gent-, lemen would act here as elsewhere. Mr Matthews said he knew some would not act. The Chairman: I have heard that Mr Lysnar: Why bring in an outsider to"oppose them? Mr Tuoliy said they wore all outsiders at the outset. They did not' want any doctors to think they were dependent on them alone. Mr Bright said they were not there as guardians of the medical profession. Mr Tuoliy: They are not going to rule us.

The Chairman: They can take care of themselves. Mr Tnoliy: Our duty is to take care of the patients., Mr Lysnar said they had resident medical practitioners here, and had no need to bring an outsider in. Mr MacDonald said he agreed to Mr Matthews’ amendment to a certain extent, and that the steps he suggested should have been taken some time ago. There should have been a conference with the medical men, asking their advice,and whether they would act on the honorary staff, but at this stage, after they had had four meetings, it was hardly right to go on adjourning. He felt confident the Board would get an honorary staff of gentlemen in the district. They might not get all, but they would get' sufficient for the requirements of the Hospital. This was the fourth meeting they had held in the month, and it was rather late now to make ntm&her adjournment to carry out Mr Matthews’ proposal. He (Mr MacDonald) had a suggestion to offer that there should be four on the honorary staff, and he was certain they could be got. It would be for the Trustees to invite the local medical men t'o apply to be put on the honorary staff, and then the Trustees could by ballot or otherwise select tho four. That, he thought', would meet Mr Matthews’ objection. To adjourn again would be only further delaying matters. It would be quite easy for the Trustees, if his (Mr MacDonald’s) resolution were passed, to invite applications at once before advertising for a resident surgeon. Mr 'Bright said if they made the appointment as proposed by’Mr’MacDonald’s amendment an honorary staff must follow to make it effective, as the resident surgeon would depend absolutely on tho honorary staff. The Chairman : Undoubtedly. Mr Bright said that was the main difference between motion and amendment. They were thorp, whilst not seeking to do injury to the medical profession,because they all recognised their merit, but to have proper justice for the Hospital. That was their first concern, without regard as to how it might affect the medical men in Gisborne. His resolution, lie thought, offered sufficient inducement for good local men or outsiders to take the position up. They could not have the Hospital on independent lines with the men they were seeking to appoint (by the amendment). Mr Lysnar: Yon are wrong. Mr Bright: It is for you to show that I am. This depends on the appointment of an honorary staff. The Chairman : Obviously it does. Mr Bright: My resolution would ensure a capable man who would make the Hospital Independent. I have a resolution to projiose with respect to the appointment of an honorary staff, hut do not propose to make tho two things hang together. Let us first decide on a course of action in regard to a medical superintendent; then Invite applications for an honorary staff. Continuing, ho said he did not see what right they had to consult the medical men as to whether they would act on the staff. They should first have a man of sufficient ability to control the Hospital to make it self-dependent. What was the difference in principle in giving £l5O a year or £350? Tile principle was just the same. . The Trustees should consider the difference between this place and larger places. Mr (MacDonald asked what Mr Bright was speaking to? If it was his amendment he (Mr (MacDonald) wished the right to speak. Mr Lysnar: It is Mr (Matthews’ amendment.

Mr Bright: You can’t have two amendments at the same time. One has to be disposed of before another can be allowed. Mr Lysnar asked for the Chairman’s ruling. After some discussion on this point the Chairman said he would allow Mr Matthews’ amendment to be taken. Mr I.ysnar asked whether MiBright would confine the applications to the local men. Mr Tuoliy: I object to that. The Chairman: He can let us know when we come to that. Mr Lysnar said it would help them a lot to know. The Chairman: Well, when we come to it. Mr Tuoliy said ho would oppose Mr Matthews’ amendment. If they voted j to consult these medical men at present it would look as if they could not do without them. Mr Bright: Hear, hear. Mr Tuohy: I want to go independent of till medical men.