Page 4 Advertisements Column 4

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

Mr Mntlhows said tho _ appointee pronosod would bo usolohh in hnnson, tvnd would have to depend on the other medical men. AVliat they wanted was eflicioncy and economy. Of tho whole of tho money contributed to tho Hospital two-thirds was given by tho County ratepayers, mid they should not throw it away just for a sentimont. If they were going to work the Hospital properly and economically, they must got medical Alien they could depend on and not; leave a student there. Who was going to perform tho operations tlioy hud hoard of Dr. Morrison doing? Mr Lysnur: Tho honorary staff. Mr Mattliows: I _ know somo of thorn will not act on it. Mr Bright: Tho more reason to have a mail of our own. Mr Matthews said thilfi someone would bo required to administer anaesthetics. Mr Bright: Any of thorn would do that' for payment. . . Mr MacDonald said that in writing to the doctors regarding an honorary staff they would expect to have somo information ns to conditions. Mr Bright asked what would bo done in case Mr MacDonald’s motion woro passed. Mr MacDonald: I will toll you afterwards.

Mr Bright: I want to know now. Mr MaciDonald said that if they had- a house surgeon at £250 a year, and ho made a stipulation that he would not enter into other practice— Mr Bright: Ho has got to practico there. Mr Matthews: If we do not come to. some compromise it? will he a house divided against itself. After further discussion, Mr Mac--Donald said ho would ho willing to supoort Mr Matthews’ amendment, if he altered it so that they would get' replies before advertising for the doctor.

Mr Matthews said: That is to be assumed it is the same thing. The amendment was then put, and carried by the Chairman’s casting vote. For: Messrs Matthews, Lysnar, and tlio Chairman. Against : Messrs Tuohy, MacDonald and Bright Mr Bright: It will not do any harm. The Chairman said that it cleared the way, and they could now go on to discussion of Mr MacDonald’s amendment. Mr Bysnar again wanted to know whether Mr Bright’s motion would coniine applications to medical men in the Bay. Mr Bright: I would confine them to the world. Mr Tuohy: Hear, hoar. If Mr Bright said lie would confine them to the Bay I would withdraw as seconder. The question was raised as to whether tlio residence would be on Hospital grounds; and that was made clear in tlio motion as above. Mr Lysnar: Would ho bo a married or single man. (Laughter.) Mr Bright : That' just depends on himself. (Laughter.) Mr Lysnar said it had an economical point of view. They would havo to .get a good house erected for a Jiiarried man, while a single man would be able to do with rooms adjacent to tho Hospital. Mr Bright said that if ho was a competent man it would bo worth while providing him with a good house. Mr. Tuohy: If ho is a single man wo would not prevent him getting married.

Mr. MacDonald said that a great deai depended on the honorary staff. If such a staff cotdd bo got to act iu conjunction with a man who had recently completed a course of five years in medicine and surgery; his duties .would be to look after the cases under the direction of the honorary staff. He should be able to dispense medicine and prescribe. He should be capable of attending to all minor eausalties. Of the members of the honorary staff, lie took it, one would be appointed, say, for accidents and casualties every month. It would be his duty to summon the doctor to act in a case lie had in the Hospital if emergency arose. He would look after all ordinary cases. Sueli a man would be bettor able to supervise all cases left in liis charge than any matron would be. The patients in the Hospital would have the advantage of the advice of four men instead of one, and in case of necessity there would be a consultation of the whole staff. It seined to him that this would give both efficiency and economy, and be better for the Hospital in every way. Tile surgeon would be able to give anaesthetic, which would lie a great saving. The honorary staff would save all consultation fees, as was only natural for their own reputation. This system had been found to work efficiently in other places, such as Napier and other districts. It had proved a big success in Napier. He had spoken to nurses and patients, to nurses who had worked with an honorary ■staff, and those who had worked with a medical staff, and they all said they preferred to be in a hospital with an honorary staff and a house surgeon. The system would bo cheaper than at present, and be believed they would have sufficient control, and that the honorary staff Mould assist the surgeon in any difficulties in the performance of his ordinary duties. The speaker- went on to emphasise his belief that they would get a good man, and a callable honorary staff.without trouble.

Mr. Tuohy referred to wliat seemed to be a dread of bringing in an outside man, and repeated that all the present doctors had been outsiders when they first came to Gisborne. He opposed what be termed the idea of bringing in a school boy. A competent man would be. able to do the work himself, and have control, whereas a school boy would have to call in others. If they brought in another good man so much the better. The Chairman: They may come in spite of ns. Mr. Tuohy: We cannot boycott them from coming. Mr. Matthews: If the business is here they will come, Mr. MacDonald: By my proposal the patients would have the advice of four men instead of one. Mr. Lysnar: And we would save £SOO a year. Mr. MacDonald : Wc would save all anaesthetic -fees. Mr. Tuohy: Our object is to save the patients. Mr. Lysnar said the only difference in Mr. Bright’s proposal was that the doctor lived at the other end of the town instead of at the Hospital. Mr. Bright: There is a great deal of difference. Mr. Lysnar: Ho is always at call on the telephone. Mr. Bright: Ho takes practice outside the borough. Mr. Matthews urged that it would bo better to adjourn until after they had heard whether, the doctors would act on the honorary staff. He believed the longest way would be the quickest. Mr. Tuohy: I think we have been long enough about it now to do what is right. Tlio Chairman said it would clear matters up a good deal if they could make up their minds whether or not they would appoint a liou.se surgeon. Whichever they passed he took it would lend to the other (honorary staff). Mr. Bright: I have the resolution in my pocket.

The Chairman : If wc are going to have an honorary staff I don’t see why we should give another £‘3oo if you have plenty of applications at, say. £IOO. Mr. Toohy: He would ho a dear man at the price. The Chairman : It is not the salary that is sought for so much. Mr. Bright: It is the practice. (Laughter.) Mr. Tuoliy : A man who wants no salary is too dear. The Chairman said ho had been informed that in some largo hospitals the surgeon only got from £IOO to £2OO. ■ The question was then discussed at length whether there should he an adjournment, and eventually Mr MacDonald’s amendment was reverted to. Mr. MacDonald said he had been informed that they could not got a competent man at £4OO or £SOO. Mr. Bright : Yet you tell us we could get oho at £l5O. Mr. MacDonald said that was under different circumstances. Mr Matthews said that many doctors found it hard to make a living in England. The Ghariman said that he could vote for both motion and amendment, as neither was antagonistic to his views.

Mr. MacDonald's amendment was then put and lost. For: Messrs. MacDonald, Lysnar, and the Chairman. Against: Messrs. Bright, Tuohy, and Matthews. Tlie Chairman said that ,although lie had voted for the amendment, he would follow the ordinary course, and give his casting vote against it. because it meant a change. Mr. Bright said he could perceive that this meant a deadlock in regard to his own motion, and therefore lie moved that the meeting adjourn. Mr. Matthews: I could see' that coming, and that was why I moved for the adjournment. He seconded tlie motion. Mr. Tuohy did not think the adjournment would alter the positiou much. Mr. Bright said they would probably have Mr. Harding there. (Ho had had to leave for Tahora.) The adjournment was tlieu agreed to (Mr. Tuohy dissenting) until Fri-