Report of Sub-Committee on Out-Patients.

  • Westminster Hospital. Sub-Committee on Out-Patients.
Date:
1873
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of Sub-Committee on Out-Patients. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    keepers may be in such distress or difficulty—temporarily if not permanently—as to render them real objects of Charity. This is said advisedly, and notwithstanding that improvidence may have had no small share in bringing them to this condition. Some from the long continuance, and others from the grave nature of their maladies, need the highest Medical or Surgical skill, not to be obtained with any certainty, by persons in straitened circumstances except at the London Hospitals.. Your Com¬ mittee conceive that this difficulty is to be met in a spirit of Charity, and that the Secretary should be instructed to act accordingly, when doubtful cases are referred to him by the Registrar. The Governors, as a body, would undoubtedly rather prefer, if error be unavoidable in some cases, that it should be on the side of Charity. The better to secure this end the annexed instructions (A) have been drawn up for the guidance of the Registrar and Secretary. It being understood that all casualties and accidents shall be admitted without question, and at all times as hitherto, there are in fact but two classes to be excluded in reference to worldly con¬ dition,—those able to pay for the advice they require, and those in receipt of parish relief; and these, as far as possible your Committee think should be carefully eliminated. It is not a new rule that is needed, however, to effect this, or the introduction of a novel element, so much as the more strict application of a principle laid down from the beginning by the Founders of the Hospital, Under these conditions, the doors being open to all eligible patients, your Committee believe that the Governors will not hesitate to relinquish the exercise of any existing privilege of giving Out-Patients’ letters of recommendation. Admission being in effect secured to all jit objects of charity, without any recom¬ mendation other than their need, there will no longer be any necessity for such letters, or any recommendation, to obtain the benefit of the best advice the Charity can command. To sum up. The measures required are three only :—- 1. The voluntary surrender of the privilege of giving Out- Patients’ letters by Governors and Subscribers; and for this purpose the general consent of these must be first asked and obtained. 2. The exclusion of all who can afford to pay for medical advice and medicines,—and all who are in receipt of parish relief, and therefore already provided for by the institution of Poor Law Dispensaries. For the better ordering of the service your Committee recommend that the notice annexed in the Appendix B should be put up in some conspicuous place for all to read at the entrance of the Hospital. 3. The strict observance of the above rule by a Registrar of Out-Patients, to be appointed by the House Committee for -that special duty, and to be held responsible for its faithful performance, with specific instructions as drawn up in the appendix A. They would further recommend that the different