:
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 25TH MAY, 1895.
future be visited at least once daily, and have already provided for the performance of this duty by a member of the medical staff. As regards other non-Government Hospitals we consider that power should be taken (by law if necessary) providing for the periodical inspection by an officer of the Government of all hospitals in the Colony, public and private.
Question 6.—Whether the scheme suggested in the enclosed letter from the Acting Superintendent of the Government Civil Hospital for the training of nurses locally is practicable, and, if so, whether it is desirable in the interests of economy and efficiency?
Answer. We consider that the scheme referred to is practicable to this extent, viz., that the young women, whom it is proposed to train, should be trained on the understanding that they can qualify as "nurses" only and can never attain to the rank of "sisters" to whom they will and must always remain subordinate. We are of opinion they cannot be trained locally with a view to ultimately taking the place of the European sisters, and that, even if they could be, it would be obviously undesirable on the grounds of their nationality and origin to accord them such equality. Subject to the above limitations, we are prepared to recommend the scheme as a tentative measure and on the grounds of economy. We understand that in the future two of the sisters will be away on leave at the same time, and it is anticipated that with the assistance of the young women whom it is proposed to train, the remainder of the nursing staff will be able to carry on the work satisfactorily, and that the necessity of obtaining an extra sister from home to enable members of the nursing staff to take leave when it falls due, will thus be obviated. We are also prepared to recommend the scheme on independent grounds in the hope that, if it succeeds, the want of an outside nursing staff which would be available for private cases, would be gradually supplied. Whether or not the training of these young women will ultimately enable the Government to reduce the staff of European sisters, we are unable at present to say. It is possible, however, that if they prove to be capable nurses, the duties of the sisters may gradually become of a lighter and more supervisory nature, and in that event their number might eventually be reduced to what is necessary for the purpose of supervision, the "nurses so-called doing much of the work at present performed by the sisters. We are not however in a position to forecast events, and we therefore make no recommendation for the reduction of the European nursing staff unless circumstances justify such reduction.
*
We think that the Superintendent of the Government Civil Hospital should report upon the success (or otherwise) of the scheme herein referred to after twelve months, and that its continuance should depend upon the nature of that report.
Question 7 (a).-How far the scheme for the establishment of dispensaries for the sale of European drugs at nominal prices to Chinese is practicable and desirable? Whether such establishments could be made self-supporting without sacrificing the object in view, and, if not, what extra cost would be involved thereby? Further, whether such institutions should be placed under Government control, or whether satisfactory arrangements could be made with the Chinese College of Medicine for their efficient working and management?
Answer. We approve of the above scheme and the object which it has in view, but hesitate to suggest its general adoption not being in a position to form an accurate esti- mate of the expenditure that would be involved thereby and of its relative utility. In view, however, of the fact that British Kowloon is without either a qualified private medical practitioner, or a dispensary for the sale of European drugs, we consider it highly desirable that the latter at least should be provided without delay, and beg to recommend accordingly the establishment of a dispensary in that locality with a Chinese practi- tioner qualified in Western medicine in charge but under the direct control and supervision of the Government.
We consider that a small charge should be made for drugs supplied to Chinese, this being the practice of the Medical Missions in China, and from the results shown by those societies we have every reason to anticipate that the dispensary would prove a financial success. The necessary checks, in view of the native character, should of course be exercised over the Chinese practitioner in charge, who should in our opinion be secured for a certain amount.
As regards the cost of the proposed dispensary, we understand that a sum of $1,500 a year would be sufficient to cover the expenditure for rent, drugs, and salary of the officer in charge, the latter to be fixed at $60 a month without private practice.
In addition to his duties in the dispensary, we consider that the Chinese dispenser should be required to make himself acquainted with and give early information of the existence of any epidemic disease, to enquire into the causes of suspicions deaths for the information of the Registrar General, and to act as public vaccinator for the district of Kowloon.
597