March 12, 1898.]
5-No increase of the Medical Staff will be required.
In conclusion, I may mention that after con- sulting with the Hon. Director of Public Works I am of the opinion that $50,000 would be a fair estimate of the value of “Cragieburn' as it is at present.
As there is roughly $60,000 available for the Hospital for Women and Children this would leave $10,000 to be expanded on structural alter ations, the Government I understand will furnish the Hospital, although there is no provi-
sion for this in the estimates.
+
Hongkong, 5th March 1898.
J. M. ATKINSON.
P.C.M.O.
THE HOSPITAL TO RE ERECTED ON A
HIGH LEVEL.
A meeting of the Jubilee Committee was held on Wednesday afternoon in the Council Cham- ber.. There were present-Hon. C. P. Chater (Chairman), Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart (Hon. Secretary), Mr. T. Jackson (Hon. Trea- surer), Hon. F. H. May, Hon. E. R. Beli- lios, Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Hon. J. J. Bell-Irving, Hon. Wei Yuk, Messrs. J. Thurburu, N. J. Ede, H. M. Mehta, W. Chatham, W. Danby, A. J. Raymond, R. M. Moses, H. A. Ritchie. D. R. Crawford, Fung Wa Chuen, A. P. Mc- Ewen, and J. J. Francis, Q.C. Dr. Atkinson
(Principal Civil Medical Officer) was present by request.
The minutes of the last meeting held on the 28th February were read and confirmed.
The CHAIRMAN stated that in accordance with the authority given to him at the last meeting he had arranged with the owners of Craigieburn for the postponement of the sale of that property for a fortnight and bad secured the refusal of it for the sum of $60,000.
The CHAIRMAN then laid on the table the. minutes of the Colonial Secretary (Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart) and the reply of the Principal Civil Medical Officer (Dr. J. M. Atkinsou), which appeared in the Daily Press of the 9th inst.
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The CHAIRMAN also read the following letter which he had received from Drs. Hartigan, Sted- man, and Renvie.—
Hongkong, 7th March, 1898. Dear Sir,We understand that there is a proposal before the Jubilee Committee to buy Craigieburn for the purpose of utilising it as a hospital at the Peak. We should therefore be glad if you would lay this letter before the Committee. You are doubtless aware that for some years past we have been maintaining a small private hospital at the Peak, a hospital which was described before your Committee as a "commercial undertaking.” This description is no doubt to some extent true, as we endeavour to make the hospital pay for its maintenance, but it by no means represents the whole truth; - as a matter of fact for the last three years only there has been a small surplus on the annual working of our hospital. Previously to that it was carried on at a loss. You will ask, "Why then do you wish to keep it up?" Our reason is that we are not allowed to treat our own cases
when they are removed to the Civil Hospital (of course, you will understand that in cases of severe illness and in cases requiring operation removal to hospital is almost a necessity), and since from professional interest we desire to continue attending cases WO have begun with, we were driven to maintain a private hospital, even if it entailed some loss to our. selves. And not only so, but many persons prefer to continue under the treatment of their own doctor, although the nature of their illness compels their removal to a hospital. Now, this is a matter which affects not only ourselves, but also the other private practitioners in the colony, since they often send patients of their own to our Peak Hospital, and attend them there themselves, their patients being admitted at the same terms as our own. Now it seems to us that if the Jubilee Committee decide to establish
a hospital at Craigieburn, which is wholly under the Government doctors, a great injustice will be done to us and the other private practitioners in the colony, because it seems probable that the existence of a second hospital at the Peak will so compete with our own that we shall be unable to continue to maintain it, and if we are not to be allowed to treat our own cases who
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
may go to the Jubilee Hospital, we shall be there- by prevented from continuing in attendance on cases we are treating, and members of the community who are forced to go into Hospital will be compelled to change their doctors on entering hospital, whether they will or not.
Of course, if the Jubilee Hospital is restricted to really necessitous cases, who are usually con- sidered to be the only really eligible cases for treatment in a hospital supported by rates and contributions, we have nothing but sympathy for the scheme, and would moreover willingly give our professional assistance if it were required; but at present persons in the upper ranks of society of our own and neighbouring communities, who should be well able to pay the nsual fees for themselves, are being admitted to the Government Civil Hospital, especially to the maternity department, at rates less than they would have to pay at a hotel in the colony, and their medical attendance, nursing, and other extras are thrown in free gratis; the difference being made up by the ratepayers; and we feel that it is not right that a hospital on these lines should be started by: the Jubilee Committee. It has been stated before your Committee that it is impossible for the Jubilee Hospital to be managed by the Government, and yet allow private doctors to
treat their own cases there. We submit that this is not a fact, that such an arrangement is plan holds good at many of the English county perfectly simple, and that a somewhat similar
hospitals, and a so in London at hospitals which have paying wards, for instance at St. Thomas'; proof of this can be obtained by looking at their prospectus, where it is stated that doctors not members of the hospital staff can send their cases there and attend them themselves.
made
One other point we would mention, and that is, that seeing that half the subscriptions were up by the Chinese community, some provision should be made at the Jubilee Hospital for their treatment; whereas from our experience with our own hospital at the Peak, it seems doubtful whether they could be induced to make use of a hospital situated on the upper levels. We remain, your obedient servants,
WILLIAM HARTIGAN. F. O. STEDMAN. ALEX. RENNIE.
To the Hon. C. P. Chater, C.M.G.
Chairman Jubilee Committee.
The CHAIRMAN then explained that this meet- ing had been summoned with the object of con- sidering Dr. Atkinson's proposal, which was explained at the previous meeting and which was contained in his letter of the 26th Febru- ary last and already published. His suggestion was that Craigieburn should be purchased for the purpose of a hospital for women and children.
Hon. Ho KAI inquired whether it was in- tended that the nursing institute was to be a building distinct from the hospital for women and children.
The CHAIRMAN explained that it was the intention to have two distinct buildings, one for the nursing institute and one for the hos- pital for women and children.
A question being asked as to the amount to be expended on the hospital for women and children and nursing institute respectively, the CHAIRMAN pointed out that the accounts laid upon the table at the previous meeting showed that there was a balance in hand of $184,381.38. Half that amount was to be devoted towards the construction of the Victoria Jubilee Road and the other half would be available for the hospital for women
and children and the When inviting plans for these institutions the sum mentioned in the nursing institute. conditions was $60,000 for the building for the hospital and $25,000 for the building for the nursing institute.
After some further discussion Mr. FRANCIS moved that Dr. Atkinson's proposal be rejected.
Hon. Ho KAI seconded.
Mr. EDE spoke in favour of the motion and said that it appeared to him that the Jubilee Committee should not only build a hospital but furnish it, and this matter ought to be borne in mind when the expenditure on account of the hospital was being considered.
Mr. CHATHAM expressed it as his opinion that Craigieburn was not a desirable place for the purposes of a hospital,
191
Hon. F. H. MAY spoke against the motion and expressed himself as in favour of the purchase as recommended by Dr. Atkinson.'
Mr. JACKSON and Mr. MACEWEN spoke against the purchase of Craigiebarn.
Mr. FRANCIS's motion was then put to the meeting and carried, only two voting against it. Mr. JACKSON then moved the following re- solution That it is desirable to erect”: the“ women and children's hospital on the higher levels and on a site not lower than the 'Robinson Road, and to abandon the idea of building on the present Civil Hospital site." Mr. Jackson said the nursing institute could be built on a site adjoining the sisters' quarters.
Hou. Ho KAI pointed out that although the Chinese might not be inclined to go to a hospital- on the higher levels the erection of the building on these levels would, as Dr. Atkinson had pointed out, place more room at his disposal in the Civil Hospital below, and as he understood that the space so left would be available for the treatment of Chinese, he had no hesita tion in seconding the motion,
The motion was put to the meeting and carried unanimously.
Mr. CRAWFORD stated that he wished to make a suggestion which, he trusted, would receive consideration in the proper quarter, viz., that a lady doctor be appointed Superintendent of the hospital for women and children.
necessary to make enquiries with a view to ascertaining what site would be most suitable, and probably it would be necessary to approach the Government, which, be trusted, would see its way to granting a convenient site. In this connection he pointed out that the Government had promised to give a site below, and as the Committee was now of opinion that the site was not a very suitable one no doubt they would be inclined to give another in its place.
The CHAIRMAN then said that it would be
Mr. JACKSON said that although it might not come directly within the province of the Jubilee Committee he thought that the atten tion of the Government might be called to the remarks in the letter from Drs. Hartigan, Stedman, and Rennie, regarding the fees charged at the Government Civil Hospital. He was of opinion that a universal fee should noť be charged.
The SECRETARY stated that he would like to remove a misapprehension that seemed to exist on this point. The fees charged at the Government Civil Hospital were not, as Mr. Jackson had stated, universal, but were divided into different classes. The scale of fees had' been increased from time to time and only a recently as December last the following "new" scale of fees, increasing the former rates was introduced :
CIVIL OFFICERS,
centa per diem. Salaries under $40 per month,.
from $40 to $ 60 per month,
»
J
$.60 to $ 80
""
19
$ 80 to $100
"}
"
$0.15
0.20
0.50
0.75
over $100, as second class patient, 2.00 $100, as first class patient, 8,00 less than $20 per month,
...Free. Wives of Civil Officers will be charged on the same scale.
Inspector,.
European Constable, Indian Constable, Chinese Constable,
POLICE.
97
70 cents per diem. 21 17 "
93
13
34
"
OTHER PATIENTS.
cents per diem.
11
1st Class,
.86.00
31
2nd 3rd
""
$4.00
"
3rd
1
11
(European), (Asiatic),
2.00
0.50*
3rd
21
**
Private Patient,
Seamen,
Children,
), at the Hygeia - ji 577 Kennedy town Hospital,.....$2.00-
$1.50 Fres
Mr. EDE then referred to the desirability of patients being treated by their own private doctors in the hospital.
The CHAIRMAN pointed out that that was a question that did not appear to come within the province of the Jubilee Committee, although, of course, the matter mentioned by Mr. Ede appeared to be one in which the public wof much interested.