HONORARY HOSPITAL STAFF.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3798, 8 April 1913, Page 5

HONORARY HOSPITAL STAFF.

BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION DELEGATES CONFER WITH HOSPITAL BOARD. QUESTION DEFERRED UNTIL FRIDAY NEXT. A meeting of the sub-cornr.«jttee of the Cook Hospital Board was held yesterday afternoon to confer with the members of the local branch of the British Medical Association re the appointment of an honorary medical staff for the Gisborne Hospital. There were present : Hon. Capt. Tucker (in the chair), and Messrs R. Johnston, J. Brown, T. Jex-Biake, H. Ivenwav, T. Holden (members of The Board); and Drs. W. P. Porter (president), C. F. Scott, and J. W. ‘Williams (members of tlie British Medical Association). Dr. Williams stated that the local division of the British Medical Association had approached tlie Board some time ago re the appointment of an : honorary staff. In bringing this matter forward they were not actuated by any animus against Dr. Wilson. They were dealing with the new hospital, and not w ; ith the old building. In 1902 there were only four medical men in the town, and in 1907, when the number of medical men bad considerably increased, they bad received a circular letter asking them to act as an honorary staff at tlie Hospital. They had agreed, -but as ail were aware, that staff had been strangled at its birth. There were now a larger number of doctors in the district, who were on the best of terms with each other, and they thought the time had arrived to start a honorary staff. The position of the medical profession in this town was anomalous. Gisborne stood alone as the only hospital in the Dominion which was worked with only two stipendiary practitioners. Tho medical superintendent received £453 per year, while as against this the honorary .staff would cost nil. Gisborne cost £B9 per bed, as against the average for other hospitals of £7B. He instanced Waikato, Wanganui, Timaru, Southland, and other hospitals to show that Gisborne was beingadministered at a more expensive rate which could bo obviated by the appointment of an honorary staff. Another point to be considered was the general knowledge to be gained by the doctors at the hospital. One doctor was better than another in some cases, and further, the public got the advantage of consultations. It was also an advantage to the patient to have free choice of doctors. A large number of people preferred to be under their own doctors. There was also to be considered the advantage of attention to sudden emergencies if a larger number of medical men constituted the staff. The new hospital would be a larger building and further away from the town, and it would bo a decided advantage to have a larger staff to call upon. The doctors had also to contend against unfair competition subsidised by public money. Patients who went into the hospital became acquainted with the medical superintendent and naturally went to him again next time they had nec-d of a doctor. The •hospital afforded means for experiments in new forms of treatment, whioli were not open to doctors in private practice. By establishing an honorary staff, it would mean an immense advantage in the way of consultations, If the Board could .not see its way to appoint an honorary staff, they asked that it would appoint a resident house surgeon with no outside practice, and a consulting staff. Dr. Scott said that for some years back tlie Board bad used public money to subsidise a man.to compete against the doctors in private practice. Tho doctors had to pass out of their hands each year large numbers of surgical cases. As a ratepayer ho protested against this. All the member* of the medical profession were prepared to act as specialists at the hospital free of charge. For instance, they had a radiograph at the institution which had never been made use of. It would be an advantage if a doctor specialised in this particular branch of science. Dr. Collins asked if in the event of theli Board agreeing to appoint an honorary staff, Dr. Wilson would agree to act upon it.

Dr. Scott replied that at the conference of the British Medical Association in Timara, the question of the unfair subsidising of superintendents of hospitals had been discussed, and Dr. Wilson had agreed that the position was unfair._ He had further stated that providing his position was safeguarded, and no one was appointed in his place, he would willingly forego his position and take his place upon an honorary staff. Dr. Porter. President of tho local branch of the British Medical Association, corroborated this attitude as far as Dr. Wilson was concerned. The Chairman stated that the subcommittee was pleased to have heard the views of the doctors on the subject. It would go into the question carefully, and report its deliberations to tho Board. On the motion of the Chairman, it was then agreed to adjourn tho meeting to 4 o’clock on Friday afternoon next, when the subject would, bo- considered in committee.