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.

    11/12 (page 11)
    coloured cards for men and women used at St. George’s should be adopted, and the Registering admission paper given to each patient should be modified in the way marked in the annex. No. C. The exceptional cases already referred to,—of persons in reduced circumstances who are in need of higher skill than their means will enable them to secure, and also the proportion¬ ally large number which are not fit cases for out-door relief, and cannot derive benefit from medicine or advice alone—should be specially considered by the attending medical officers, as the only competent authority to give any decision. It is believed that with these measures any arbitrary limita¬ tion of numbers as to new cases will be unnecessary, while the existence of three provident Dispensaries in the surrounding district will adequately supply the means (even to those of the working classes who are in the receipt of inferior wages) of obtaining advice and medicine in sickness. The small amount these require from their subscribers to secure prompt and continuous treatment from properly qualified medical men, with the additional advantage of attendance at their own homes when their cases are such as to make it necessary, is within the means of all but the absolutely destitute. The funds of the Hospital will then no longer be misapplied by supplying relief to those who are not in need of charity. The medical staff will cease to be pressed beyond their power to meet the demands made upon them, and enabled to give that care and attention to the cases which is essential. The quantity of advice applied for, may be largely diminished, but the quality will be improved, to the manifest advantage of the patients, and the medical staff. 22nd December} 1873. RUTHERFORD ALCOCK, Chairman of Sub-Qcamnxttee• J'&r J-'' 1 << J * A ■ ff,., f1 * /