Sessional_Paper_1902 — Page 184

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I recommend that the Female Venereal Wards be done away with and that they be utilized as 3rd class wards for destitutes, this will give us 28 more beds, and there will still be a ward available for the few female venereal cases which may voluntarily come to hospital; this year up to date there has been only eight female venereal patients admitted.

As the raison d'être for Mrs. ACKERS' post (Matron of the Female Venereal Wards) has ceased, I recommend that she be pensioned off for loss of office.

If the staff of probationers is maintained, we shall be able to work the wards with- out any addition to the staff of Nursing Sisters.

There is at present a vacancy for one probationer Nurse, and I request that I be authorized to advertise for one, provision for her salary is made in this year's Estimates.

We shall require, to work these wards, two more Chinese boys (Nurses) at $9 a month and one more coolie at $7 a month. I enclose a tabular statement showing the present staff and the staff I suggest. I have not included the amah, as our staff of amahs is sufficiently large.

The rooms now occupied by Mrs. ACKERS, I propose to reserve for the Assistant Surgeon already sanctioned. I may state that Drs. Lowson and MARQUES formerly occupied these rooms for some time.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Yours obedient Servant,

J. M. ATKINSON, Principal Civil Medical Officer.

The Honourable

SIR,

THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.

Appendix IX.

DOWNING STREET,

I am directed by Mr. Secretary.

to inform

you that, subject to your being passed by the medical adviser of this Department as physically fit for service, he proposes to select you for appointment as Assistant Medical Officer of Health, Hongkong, with salary at the rate of...

The duties of the post will be generally as stated in the enclosed memorandum.

I am to add that your standing will be that of a member of the Medical Depart- ment of the Colony seconded for service under the Sanitary Board.

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