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WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL. Sept. 8, 1840.
911 WESTMINSTER HOSPITAL. Sept. 8, 1840. MEETING OF GOVERNORS-NEGLECT OF THE OUT-PATIENTS OF THE HOSPITAL BY THE >". SURGEONS.
AFTER
some
he had given letters, to the effect, that 14 they had no attendance but that of boys." Mr. SHEPHERD thought further inquiry should be made previous to the passing of such a resolution. He moved that a committee be appointed to inquite into the
preliminary business, chiefly subject.
Mr. LYNN had made an arrangement with in reference to the reception of accounts, the main business of the day was entered upon, the other surgeons to attend for the purpose notice having been given by Mr. Bicknell, of seeing the out-patients on certain days. at the last quarterly meeting, to the follow- He had always attended on his days, but could get no out-patients.* He regretted ing effect:this, as there were often interesting cases " That, at the next quarterly board, them. should move that No. 38 of the Rules and Dr. BURNE has long known that the surRegulations of the Westminster Hospital be out-patients had been in the entire altered, so far as it is thereby declared that gical the establishment shall consist of three phy- " possession" of the house-surgeon. The officers had long known it, and sicians and three surgeons ; in order that it may be considered, and, if expedient, re- some time since had formed a plan to resolved, That an addition be made to the medy the evil, but this had signally failed. number of medical officers of the hospital, Mr. EDWARDS bore testimony to the fact to such extent as shall be considered ad- of the surgical out-patients being entirely under the care of the house-surgeon. The visable." The worthy governor proceeded to say, house-surgeons, during the five years he that much canvassing had taken place with was connected with the hospital, were regard to his motion, governors being asked none of them qualified. Mr. Edwards then whether they would vote against it or for it, forcibly advocated the appointment of a without their having formed the slightest paid resident surgeon, as a necessary apidea of the nature of the resolution itself, or pendage to the hospital. The amendment was carried. of the grounds upon which it had originated, The Board then passed another resoluHe did not expect, on the present occasion that his motion would be carried ; but he agreeing to the necessity of establishwas convinced that when the grounds upon ing a school of medicine in connection with which it was founded were generally known, hospital. it would be carried ; or, at least, such steps would be taken, as would lead to the esta- BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. blishment of a remedy for that of which he, MEETING OF COUNCIL, Mr. B.,, had to complain. He would take Exeter Hall, September 1, 1840. a should be to circular addressed care that every governor, stating the facts upon which Dr. WEBSTER, President, in the chair. his motion had originated. Mr. Bicknell then proceeded to read two or three of the THE minutes of the last meeting were by-laws of the corporation, in which it is read and confirmed. enacted that the hospital medical staff should Read a letter from the Glasgow Medical consist of three physicians and three sur- Association, which the President is regeons, and that these officers should see all quested to answer. the out-patients on so many days during A letter from Hawes, Esq., M.P., on every week. Now, he would make no per- the subject of Medical Reform, was read sonal allusions in his observations; but he and considered. would make this general statement, founded Letters on the same subject were also on his own personal knowledge, namely, read from Dr. Maunsell of Dublin, and that the surgeons never saw an out-patient at J. of Stowmaket. Some conversation having taken place all, except when particular cases were selected by the house- surgeon for their inspection. He respecting Poor-Law Medical Relief, it was would not go into the question as to whether Resolved,That a letter be addressed to the surgeons should see all the out-patients, the Commissioners, requesting to but he would press for the alteration of a know WHEN they propose to carry into law which had never been carried into effect. effect therecommendations in their Report The out-patients’ cases were often of a very relative to Medical Relief." The other business of the evening was grave character, and should not be left to the house-surgeon’s care, as they were at confined to making arrangements for the present, however competent snch officer approaching anniversary. might be. The physicians’ out-patients This is a curious statement, as conwere not so left. Mr. Bicknell then read his motion, which was seconded by Mr. nected with the fact that, in 1839, there WOOD, who stated that complaints were were 7993 out-patients ! Is Mr. Lynn a with the patients ? frequently made by out-patients, to whom
heI
among
medical
I tion, IBthe
-
Bedingfield
Poor-Law
favourite
AFTER
some
he had given letters, to the effect, that 14 they had no attendance but that of boys." Mr. SHEPHERD thought further inquiry should be made previous to the passing of such a resolution. He moved that a committee be appointed to inquite into the
preliminary business, chiefly subject.
Mr. LYNN had made an arrangement with in reference to the reception of accounts, the main business of the day was entered upon, the other surgeons to attend for the purpose notice having been given by Mr. Bicknell, of seeing the out-patients on certain days. at the last quarterly meeting, to the follow- He had always attended on his days, but could get no out-patients.* He regretted ing effect:this, as there were often interesting cases " That, at the next quarterly board, them. should move that No. 38 of the Rules and Dr. BURNE has long known that the surRegulations of the Westminster Hospital be out-patients had been in the entire altered, so far as it is thereby declared that gical the establishment shall consist of three phy- " possession" of the house-surgeon. The officers had long known it, and sicians and three surgeons ; in order that it may be considered, and, if expedient, re- some time since had formed a plan to resolved, That an addition be made to the medy the evil, but this had signally failed. number of medical officers of the hospital, Mr. EDWARDS bore testimony to the fact to such extent as shall be considered ad- of the surgical out-patients being entirely under the care of the house-surgeon. The visable." The worthy governor proceeded to say, house-surgeons, during the five years he that much canvassing had taken place with was connected with the hospital, were regard to his motion, governors being asked none of them qualified. Mr. Edwards then whether they would vote against it or for it, forcibly advocated the appointment of a without their having formed the slightest paid resident surgeon, as a necessary apidea of the nature of the resolution itself, or pendage to the hospital. The amendment was carried. of the grounds upon which it had originated, The Board then passed another resoluHe did not expect, on the present occasion that his motion would be carried ; but he agreeing to the necessity of establishwas convinced that when the grounds upon ing a school of medicine in connection with which it was founded were generally known, hospital. it would be carried ; or, at least, such steps would be taken, as would lead to the esta- BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. blishment of a remedy for that of which he, MEETING OF COUNCIL, Mr. B.,, had to complain. He would take Exeter Hall, September 1, 1840. a should be to circular addressed care that every governor, stating the facts upon which Dr. WEBSTER, President, in the chair. his motion had originated. Mr. Bicknell then proceeded to read two or three of the THE minutes of the last meeting were by-laws of the corporation, in which it is read and confirmed. enacted that the hospital medical staff should Read a letter from the Glasgow Medical consist of three physicians and three sur- Association, which the President is regeons, and that these officers should see all quested to answer. the out-patients on so many days during A letter from Hawes, Esq., M.P., on every week. Now, he would make no per- the subject of Medical Reform, was read sonal allusions in his observations; but he and considered. would make this general statement, founded Letters on the same subject were also on his own personal knowledge, namely, read from Dr. Maunsell of Dublin, and that the surgeons never saw an out-patient at J. of Stowmaket. Some conversation having taken place all, except when particular cases were selected by the house- surgeon for their inspection. He respecting Poor-Law Medical Relief, it was would not go into the question as to whether Resolved,That a letter be addressed to the surgeons should see all the out-patients, the Commissioners, requesting to but he would press for the alteration of a know WHEN they propose to carry into law which had never been carried into effect. effect therecommendations in their Report The out-patients’ cases were often of a very relative to Medical Relief." The other business of the evening was grave character, and should not be left to the house-surgeon’s care, as they were at confined to making arrangements for the present, however competent snch officer approaching anniversary. might be. The physicians’ out-patients This is a curious statement, as conwere not so left. Mr. Bicknell then read his motion, which was seconded by Mr. nected with the fact that, in 1839, there WOOD, who stated that complaints were were 7993 out-patients ! Is Mr. Lynn a with the patients ? frequently made by out-patients, to whom
heI
among
medical
I tion, IBthe
-
Bedingfield
Poor-Law
favourite