Galway Hospital, Board of Management Minutes, 1911-1915
Includes:
Report of the House Surgeon advised that ‘one isolated case of Typhoid Fever was sent here from Bohermore, he was however sent to the Fever Hospital next day. Three new cases came in between the 6th and 9ths of October, and were also sent to the Fever Hospital. One of our nurses and one Patient have since developed the Fever, and have also been sent to the Fever Hospital. We have still two suspected cases, one a wardsmaid and the other a Patient who has been here over three months’ (f.16, 21 October 1911).
Report of the Medical Staff referring to the appointment of Dr Walsh stating ‘…The Board of Management replied that it was agreeable to Dr Walsh’s application provided, the Medical Staff co-operate, and ordered the letters to be sent to the Medical Staff for their observation.Without waiting for our observations before the letters were submitted to us, the Local Government Board, ignoring the condition on them, “the Board of Management was willing to assent”, and completely ignoring the Medical Staff, on the 6th July 1911 notified the Board that they had appointed Dr Walsh a member of the Medical Staff of the Hospital…..At present owing probably to the late outbreak of enteric fever in the Hospital, there is not work for two men, let alone six.Dr Walsh is Professor of Pathology, and assistant to the Professor of Anatomy, in the College, the appropriate position in the Hospital would be Pathologist.
As we have more than once pointed out to the Local Government Board, the services of a Pathologist are badly needed, and we have suggested that the duties of that office should be assigned to Dr Walsh’. (f.22, 18 November 1911).
Correspondence was …… as read ‘Thanking the Board of Management for the great kindness, care and attention shown, not only to himself but to all the other patients with whom he came in contact, by the Nuns, Medical Staff and Nurses. And that the class of food supplied was of the best description etc, and also, that no better treatment care or attention could be bestowed on Patients in any Hospital in Ireland’ (f.54, 20th April 1912).
Report of the Medical Staff, ‘We beg to submit Plans revised by the Local Government Board for the Tuberculosis Annex, already appreciated by your Board.The Medical Staff offer no objects to the changes, although they involve the erection of a larger building and the addition of a dispensary.When proposing the smaller building as a starting point, the Medical Staff were not aware that Public Funds were likely to be available, and looked forward to the whole cost being borne by voluntary contributions.Now that Public Funds are available to the extent of 3/5 of the cost per head, per bed for Sanatoria and 4/5 of the cost of the Dispensaries we welcome the larger scheme, and strongly recommend it to the Board of Management’ (ff.57-58, 15th June 1912).
Correspondence from the Committee appointed by the County Council of Galway to ‘drawn up a scheme for the provision of Sanatorium and Dispensary accommodation, informing the Board of Management that it is proposed to erect a Dispensary at Galway, under the charge of the County Medical Officer to be appointed under the provisions of the Tuberculosis Act 1908. The site suggested for the Dispensary is the field at rere (sic) of County Hospital [Prospect Hill], and if the proposal to utilize this site be adopted, it would be necessary to transfer the site to the County Council, and stating that they are prepared to pay the rent at present derived from the field…..(f.72, 17 August 1912).
‘The Medical staff have further considered the question of remuneration and procedure in the case of X-Ray Treatment and Examination in the Hospital, and the suggestions of the Board relating thereto.We suggest the following Rules which substantially give effect to the policy of the Board…’ (f.119, 19 April 1913).
Local Government Board correspondence stating that ‘…they have approved of the Galway Hospital in pursuance of Section 16(i)(a) of the National Insurance Act, 1911 as an Institution for the reception and treatment of surgical cases of Tuberculosis, subject to the following conditions:…. (f.120, 19 April 1913).
Local Government Board letter stating that they had given public notice of ‘the proposal to place certain lands vested in them for the purpose of the Galway Hospital Act, 1892, and situate near the Hospital, at the disposal of the Galway County Council as a site for the Tuberculosis Dispensary; and stating that objection to the proposal has been lodged on behalf of the Medical Staff of the Hospital. The Local Government Board have, therefore instructed their Medical Inspector, Sir Acheson MacCullagh [+1918], to hold a Public Inquiry in the matter at the Courthouse Galway on Monday, the 19th inst…’ (f.126, 17 May 1913).
‘Dr Kinkead reported that he had been informed by Messrs Findlater & Co. Solicitors, Dublin, that the late Miss Eleanor Mary Burke of Ballybroden Castle, Loughrea had bequeathed to him the sum of £50, and one third of the net Residue of her estate to be used at his discretion for the purposes of the Hospital….’ (f.155, 15 November 1913).
Correspondence from Messrs Conroy & Sons, Solicitors, Galway relating to the title to Galway Hospital stating, “That, on looking fully into this mater, it is our opinion that the Board of Erasmus Smith are statute barred against now claiming rent from the Board of Management as, according to our instruction, no rent has been paid for over 140 years. The letter written by the Board of Management t the Erasmus Smith Board asking for a lease does not, in our opinion, contain an admission of title….” (f161, 20 December 1913).
Includes attached report on The Proposed Reconstitution of the Galway Hospital accepted by the Gort Board of Guardians (f.173, 21 February 1914).
Order ‘As five Unions are against the proposed change as Reported by the Hospital Conference, and only one for, and four Unions not having replied the Board of Management are therefore against the suggested change in the Constitution of the Galway Hospital….’ (f.179, 21 March 1914).
Transcript of letter from Mr Thomas Keane, Shop Street, stating “…Last March I contracted with your Board for eggs. At that time no one knew the exceptional things that have occurred since (onset of World War I). In consequence of Foreign Eggs not being imported into this country, our eggs have gone to a price never known before.I hope therefore that your Board will allow me some recompense for what have lost for past 5 month….” (f.228, 19 December 1914) (see f.232).