On charitable and provident medical relief : a letter to Alderman Kenrick, Mayor of Birmingham / from Sampson Gamgee.

  • Gamgee, Sampson, 1828-1886.
Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On charitable and provident medical relief : a letter to Alderman Kenrick, Mayor of Birmingham / from Sampson Gamgee. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    We at once tendered co-operation; but the Committee, which was appointed at the Town Hall Meeting, proceeded to draw up a scheme for the organization of Provident Dispensaries, before consulting the representatives of the local Medical Institutions. The Medical press disapproved that scheme, and it was deemed impracticable by the great majority of the members of the pro- fession who had an opportunity of examining it. It would be tedious and unprofitable to recall the dis- cussion which ensued. It will for the present be sufficient to acknowledge, which I do with unmixed pleasure, that your Worship’s courteous and friendly offices placed all parties in the discussion under very great obligation. Your intervention powerfully contributed to bring about an amicable conference, between an equal number of representatives of the Town Hall Committee, and of the Medical Committee on Provident Dis- pensaries which was jointly appointed by the Birmingham and Midland Counties Branch of the British Medical Association and by the Midland Medical Society. Our representatives were authorised “to exercise their discretion in dealing with facts or proposals submitted to them in conference,” with one important reservation; they were expressly enjoined “ to use their utmost endeavours to obtain the co-operation of the governing bodies of the Hospitals and Dispensaries.” Unless such co-operation was afforded at the outset, it was considered “ that the establishment of Provident Dispensaries would only be adding another means of detracting from the earnings of the profession.” This preliminary stipulation for the co-operation of the Medical Charities was the chief subject of discussion at the first Conference Meeting; and it was deemed of so much importance, that our representatives reported and sought further instructions. A special meeting of our Committee resulted in the following resolutions being carried: