Sessional_Paper_1895 — Page 554

[ii]

In view of the above it appears to us that some re-arrangement of duties is desir- able with a view to distributing the work more equally among the Officers of the Department. At present, chiefly owing to the reason given in (b) above and to the fact that the services of the Health Officer of the Port owing to his being allowed private practice are not available for the general work of the Department in time of great pres- sure or emergency, serious inconvenience is likely to arise should the Colonial Surgeon or the Superintendent of the Government Civil Hospital or the Assistant Superintend- ent be incapacitated for duty by sickness. Further, under the existing arrangements, it is difficult to provide for leave due to Officers of the medical staff without outside assistance and this, we understand, is not readily available owing to the lapsing pay of the absent officer or officers being insufficient to induce doctors from ships, for instance, to place their services at the disposal of the Government. The result is that when either the Colonial Surgeon, the Superintendent of the Government Civil Hospital or the Assistant Superintendent takes leave, his share of the work must necessarily fall on the other two officers, the Health Officer of the Port and the Medical Officer of the Gaol for the reasons stated above not being available.

Being satisfied from the evidence before us that the present numerical strength of the medical staff, although not too large, is quite sufficient for the ordinary require- ments of the Colony, it remains to us to suggest such re-distribution of the duties as may, if not effectually overcome, at least considerably minimise, the disadvantages of the present system of administration in the department. In considering what re- arrangement is necessary for this purpose we have been guided by the following facts which have been brought to our notice :---

(1) That much of the Colonial Surgeon's time is occupied at present in at- tending subordinate officers of the Government and Police Officers and their families. Also that he is charged with the duty of inspecting the Tung Wa Hospital. This work we consider should not be ordin- arily performed by the Principal Medical Officer of the Government and we shall accordingly recommend the performance of these duties by a junior officer.

(2) That the Health Officer, although nominally under the control of the Colonial Surgeon, is not absolutely at his disposal in an emergency, owing to his being allowed private practice.

(3) That the services of the Medical Officer of the Gaol are not at present availed of when assistance is required in the Government Civil Hospital.

In view of the above facts, we beg to make the following recommendations for the re-constitution of the medical staff and a general re-distribution of the duties per- taining to them,

We consider that the title of Colonial Surgeon is a misnomer and should be abolished, and that in his place a Principal Medical Officer of the Government, whose duties should be both executive and administrative, should be appointed. Such officer should be the recognised head of the medical staff proper, but should, in our opinion, also perform the duties of the Superintendent of the Government Civil Hospital in so far that he should superintend and be responsible for the satisfactory management of that institution.

The Principal Medical Officer should have under his control and at his disposal the following staff:--

(a) Two Medical Officers who should ordinarily perform the duties of Assist- ants at the Government Civil Hospital. One of these officers to be available for attending the subordinate officers of the Government and the Police.