1881 - 1900


An evolving Staff Structure : 1921 - 1940
Dr D Macdonald Wilson, Medical Superintendent returned from extended study leave in the USA and Canada in 1923. In his report to the Board, in respect of medical staffing he wrote: "I would recommend that the honorary staff be reorganised early next year, and that there be appointed surgeons and physicians with assistant surgeons and physicians: the assistants to relieve and assist the seniors in ward work, and also to control the out-patient department. Future senior appointments should be made from the assistants. Continuity of service is to the advantage of the hospital, and a system of election whereby members of the honorary staff can depend upon appointment for a reasonable period should be instituted." The assistant staff did not have any beds of their own, and were required to seek the permission of their senior colleague before admitting one of their own patients. The first assistant surgeons and physicians were appointed in 1924. Thus there was a significant increase in honorary medical staff, and this system of the pairing of seniors with assistants continued until the 1960s. Honorary senior medical staff were required to retire after 20 years service or upon reaching the age of 60yrs. An interesting regulation was in force for some years, namely that, 'if two or more medical practitioners are in partnership (ie private practice), only one shall be eligible for election to the honorary staff'. In 1931, a formal investigation into the organisation of the medical staffing was undertaken by the Board. Existing medical staff, together with input from the local branch of the BMA, recommended that there be three main Divisions of Staff - Medical, Surgical and Gynaecological, and Pathological. Each Division was to have a number of Departments. For details of this recommended structure, In the 1930s, another new category of staff appointment was created for some services. That was the position of 'Clinical Assistant', which was rather like a senior registrar position of today. Such posts were established in Eyes and ENT, and in Orthopaedics.

An evolving Staff Structure : 1921 - 1940

Dr D Macdonald Wilson, Medical Superintendent returned from extended study leave in the USA and Canada in 1923. In his report to the Board, in respect of medical staffing he wrote:
"I would recommend that the honorary staff be reorganised early next year, and that there be appointed surgeons and physicians with assistant surgeons and physicians: the assistants to relieve and assist the seniors in ward work, and also to control the out-patient department. Future senior appointments should be made from the assistants.
Continuity of service is to the advantage of the hospital, and a system of election whereby members of the honorary staff can depend upon appointment for a reasonable period should be instituted."

The assistant staff did not have any beds of their own, and were required to seek the permission of their senior colleague before admitting one of their own patients. The first assistant surgeons and physicians were appointed in 1924. Thus there was a significant increase in honorary medical staff, and this system of the pairing of seniors with assistants continued until the 1960s.

Honorary senior medical staff were required to retire after 20 years service or upon reaching the age of 60yrs. An interesting regulation was in force for some years, namely that, 'if two or more medical practitioners are in partnership (ie private practice), only one shall be eligible for election to the honorary staff'.

In 1931, a formal investigation into the organisation of the medical staffing was undertaken by the Board. Existing medical staff, together with input from the local branch of the BMA, recommended that there be three main Divisions of Staff - Medical, Surgical and Gynaecological, and Pathological. Each Division was to have a number of Departments. For details of this recommended structure,

In the 1930s, another new category of staff appointment was created for some services. That was the position of 'Clinical Assistant', which was rather like a senior registrar position of today. Such posts were established in Eyes and ENT, and in Orthopaedics.