CO129-389 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [3-4] — Page 109

CO

107

8 APR 12,

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COPY.

Hon. Colonial Secretary,

دية

In my opinion a Principal Civil Medical Officer is required who shall be the recognised head of the Medical Staff proper. As the Committee appointed by Sir W. Robinson to enquire into the

Medical Department in 1895 advised his duties must be both executive

and administrative.

2.

It would not be possible for the officer in charge of the Government Civil Hospital to undertake all the administrative

work including as it does all the correspondence with the Government

concerning such matters as the Opium Ordinance, the Hidwives Ordinance,

Leper Ordinance and all such medico-legal matters.

3.

He is also Inspector of Hospitals and this takes

up a considerable portion of his time especially when any epidemic

exists.

4.

When the Victoria Hospital was handed over to the

Government I advised that to save the expense of another Government

Medical Officer the Principal Civil Medical Officer could undertake

this work, in my opinion it is advantageous for him to have the post

as it keeps him in touch with disease and so enables him to carry out

better his duties as Consulting Physician and Surgeon, an important

part of his work.

5.

He is also the adviser to the Government on all

sanitary and medical matters hence his position on the Executive

Council.

6.

All important Crown Colonies have such an officer,

I need only instance Singapore which is on the same footing as this Colony with regard to inhabitants and size.

7.

has increased.

Since the New Territory has been added his work

(Sd.) J. M. Atkinson,

P.C.M.O.

lat. March, 1912.