Administration of the Second Thorndon Hospital
Statement by Dr Gillon, reproduced from the New Zealand Mail, 4 September, 1880, p16	courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of NZ, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa
"When I took the position of resident surgeon here, under Dr Johnston, vice Dr Keating (resigned), I found matters in a peculiar condition. There were certain regulations signed by Dr Johnston relative to patients, but the positions of the house surgeon, matron and dispenser were not defined. I refer you to Dr Johnston as to how I performed my duties then. The patients (in and out) were practically under my solo care, with the advice and help of Dr Johnston as a consultant. The outpatients were entirely under my care, and I saw an average of 20 daily. I also treated several eye cases, as I had studied eye diseases specially. I have often had eight or nine eye out-patients a day, and three or four in cases. No charge, of course, was made. The steward, who also did the dispensing, had charge of all stores and liquors. I had nothing to do with them, and had no supervising power. I merely confined my whole attention to the in and out patients and their treatment, surgical or medical. Dr Johnston initialled all accounts and supervised things generally. He also had to do with the vaccination, with which I never had anything to do. In time, after some four or five months, the honorary staff began their duties, still there were no defined rules as to each officer's respective position. I was merely led to understand that the members of the honorary staff were to have alternate admission weeks for in patients, and had certain wards allotted to them. These instructions have been carried out. I then appealed to the Council for a set of regulations, defining my position and those of my subordinates. The Hospital Committee met frequently at the Hospital and went over the accounts, I believe, with the steward. I did not attend, as it was ruled that it was the steward's work, and not mine. I was now in a very trying position for a young man. The patients had got to consider me as "the doctor", and were slow to recognise the advantages of the attendance of the honorary staff. Often, a member of the honorary staff could not, from pressure of work or otherwise, attend the Hospital regularly, and as, perhaps, the patient needed changes in his prescriptions during the doctor's absence, I frequently altered the medicines to suit the patient's case, for they were apt to grumble and say they were being neglected if I did not. I found, however, that this did not please the honorary staff. In fact, the change in my position was so sudden that I had not perhaps properly realised it. About this time then, after my return from Nelson, I began to see where the hitch was, and have since endeavoured, as far as lay in my power, to act more in accordance with what I conceived to be the wish of the honorary staff. How far I have succeeded, I leave to the honorary staff to decide. Of course, it takes time to produce any thorough change like this. I did not come into the Hospital, like most house surgeons, with my position and duties marked out for me. There was absolutely no guiding line. Everything has had to be formed by a gradual method of progression. Another great difficulty in the way of making a well-ordered institution, was the absence of any rules relating to the house staff. My predecessor, Dr Keating, was very friendly with the matron and Magill, I believe, and they often dined together. When I came, I saw the position of affairs, and with all due consideration for both Magill and Miss Sutherland, determined on taking up a different position. I may say that Magill has given me great satisfaction in the discharge of his duties, and so has Miss Sutherland, and, for that matter, so have all the warders and nurses, with one exception (J. O'Donnell). I have kept myself aloof as much as was possible, but all this time I really did not know who was master. I had the patients certainly, but my power extended no further. I never saw the accounts, and had nothing to do with the administration of liquor or food. I repeatedly mentioned this to the Council, and asked for rules &c. No attention was paid to my request, however. In May, I, as a last resort, wrote out a set of rules, and sent them to the Council for ratification. The honorary staff objected to this proceeding, and the Council referred them back to the honorary staff. Some weeks afterwards, I was informed by the secretary that they would consider and draw up rules when it was decided who were to govern the Hospital. Still my rules were not ratified. I posted them up, however, in the wardsmen's room, but as everyone knew of the correspondence about it, and that they were not ratified, much attention was not paid to them; the subordinates evidently looked to the honorary staff, instead of first to me. Both Magill and the matron were older than me, and had been longer in the institution, and naturally would not be pleased at any alteration in their positions as regards myself. Again, there is only one room for surgery, consulting room, out-patients' dispensary, and in-dispensary, doctors' board room, and store room for liquors. The whole day there was a constant rush of some one or other to the surgery on business. Till lately the fences around the hospital ground have been broken down, so that any patient that liked could roam about wherever he pleased. There was no lodge-gate, and no porter; in fact nothing approaching to order in the whole building. The Hospital, instead of being a hospital proper, was and is what the Lancet calls a "workhouse infirmary". It is a hybrid institution, with no laws whatsoever, and I have never received proper authority to deal with it. I want, and must have, if things are to be conducted well, complete authority, in the absence of the honorary staff, in all things........... Since I came to the Hospital I have increased the out-patient's department (to which it has been said I pay to much attention) from some 14 or 15 patients, to as many as 45 or 50 a-day, and these I see within the space of two or three hours. There is no regular visiting hour for the staff, they come whenever it suits their convenience. With regard to beds, bedding, night nursing, food, &c, &c, in the Hospital, I have, with the matron, asked for these things, but the Council would not accede them, as they said the Hospital was too expensive already. Grant me power to organise the Hospital and rules, and I will undertake to put the whole thing in smart working order within a reasonable period of time............. ......The Hospital is far more comfortable now than it was 12 months ago, and the patients are, I consider, better fed than most Hospital patients. They get considerably more than those in English Hospitals. The diet and wine cards should certainly have dates appended to each ordering, to serve as a check on the storekeeper." Top of Page

Administration of the Second Thorndon Hospital

Statement by Dr Gillon, reproduced from the New Zealand Mail,
4 September, 1880, p16

courtesy Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of NZ,
Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa

"When I took the position of resident surgeon here, under Dr Johnston, vice Dr Keating (resigned), I found matters in a peculiar condition. There were certain regulations signed by Dr Johnston relative to patients, but the positions of the house surgeon, matron and dispenser were not defined. I refer you to Dr Johnston as to how I performed my duties then. The patients (in and out) were practically under my solo care, with the advice and help of Dr Johnston as a consultant. The outpatients were entirely under my care, and I saw an average of 20 daily. I also treated several eye cases, as I had studied eye diseases specially. I have often had eight or nine eye out-patients a day, and three or four in cases. No charge, of course, was made. The steward, who also did the dispensing, had charge of all stores and liquors. I had nothing to do with them, and had no supervising power. I merely confined my whole attention to the in and out patients and their treatment, surgical or medical. Dr Johnston initialled all accounts and supervised things generally. He also had to do with the vaccination, with which I never had anything to do. In time, after some four or five months, the honorary staff began their duties, still there were no defined rules as to each officer's respective position. I was merely led to understand that the members of the honorary staff were to have alternate admission weeks for in patients, and had certain wards allotted to them. These instructions have been carried out. I then appealed to the Council for a set of regulations, defining my position and those of my subordinates. The Hospital Committee met frequently at the Hospital and went over the accounts, I believe, with the steward. I did not attend, as it was ruled that it was the steward's work, and not mine. I was now in a very trying position for a young man. The patients had got to consider me as "the doctor", and were slow to recognise the advantages of the attendance of the honorary staff. Often, a member of the honorary staff could not, from pressure of work or otherwise, attend the Hospital regularly, and as, perhaps, the patient needed changes in his prescriptions during the doctor's absence, I frequently altered the medicines to suit the patient's case, for they were apt to grumble and say they were being neglected if I did not. I found, however, that this did not please the honorary staff. In fact, the change in my position was so sudden that I had not perhaps properly realised it. About this time then, after my return from Nelson, I began to see where the hitch was, and have since endeavoured, as far as lay in my power, to act more in accordance with what I conceived to be the wish of the honorary staff. How far I have succeeded, I leave to the honorary staff to decide. Of course, it takes time to produce any thorough change like this. I did not come into the Hospital, like most house surgeons, with my position and duties marked out for me. There was absolutely no guiding line. Everything has had to be formed by a gradual method of progression.

Another great difficulty in the way of making a well-ordered institution, was the absence of any rules relating to the house staff. My predecessor, Dr Keating, was very friendly with the matron and Magill, I believe, and they often dined together. When I came, I saw the position of affairs, and with all due consideration for both Magill and Miss Sutherland, determined on taking up a different position. I may say that Magill has given me great satisfaction in the discharge of his duties, and so has Miss Sutherland, and, for that matter, so have all the warders and nurses, with one exception (J. O'Donnell). I have kept myself aloof as much as was possible, but all this time I really did not know who was master. I had the patients certainly, but my power extended no further. I never saw the accounts, and had nothing to do with the administration of liquor or food. I repeatedly mentioned this to the Council, and asked for rules &c. No attention was paid to my request, however. In May, I, as a last resort, wrote out a set of rules, and sent them to the Council for ratification. The honorary staff objected to this proceeding, and the Council referred them back to the honorary staff. Some weeks afterwards, I was informed by the secretary that they would consider and draw up rules when it was decided who were to govern the Hospital. Still my rules were not ratified. I posted them up, however, in the wardsmen's room, but as everyone knew of the correspondence about it, and that they were not ratified, much attention was not paid to them; the subordinates evidently looked to the honorary staff, instead of first to me. Both Magill and the matron were older than me, and had been longer in the institution, and naturally would not be pleased at any alteration in their positions as regards myself. Again, there is only one room for surgery, consulting room, out-patients' dispensary, and in-dispensary, doctors' board room, and store room for liquors. The whole day there was a constant rush of some one or other to the surgery on business. Till lately the fences around the hospital ground have been broken down, so that any patient that liked could roam about wherever he pleased. There was no lodge-gate, and no porter; in fact nothing approaching to order in the whole building. The Hospital, instead of being a hospital proper, was and is what the Lancet calls a "workhouse infirmary". It is a hybrid institution, with no laws whatsoever, and I have never received proper authority to deal with it. I want, and must have, if things are to be conducted well, complete authority, in the absence of the honorary staff, in all things........... Since I came to the Hospital I have increased the out-patient's department (to which it has been said I pay to much attention) from some 14 or 15 patients, to as many as 45 or 50 a-day, and these I see within the space of two or three hours. There is no regular visiting hour for the staff, they come whenever it suits their convenience. With regard to beds, bedding, night nursing, food, &c, &c, in the Hospital, I have, with the matron, asked for these things, but the Council would not accede them, as they said the Hospital was too expensive already. Grant me power to organise the Hospital and rules, and I will undertake to put the whole thing in smart working order within a reasonable period of time.............

......The Hospital is far more comfortable now than it was 12 months ago, and the patients are, I consider, better fed than most Hospital patients. They get considerably more than those in English Hospitals. The diet and wine cards should certainly have dates appended to each ordering, to serve as a check on the storekeeper."

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