HL Deb 24 March 1859 vol 153 cc687-8

House in Committee.

LORD CRANWORTH

moved the insertion of a clause to provide that nothing in the Act of last Session, of which this was an Amendment, should prevent any foreigner, who should have obtained from a foreign University a degree or diploma of doctor in medicine, or who should have passed the requisite examinations, entitling him to practice medicine in his own country, from being the resident medical officer of a hospital established in this country exclusively for the relief of foreigners in sickness. For the necessity of such a provision he would refer their Lordships to the German Hospital at Dalston, where about 200 poor patients were received, who were Germans; and he had been told by the royal Duke, the Commander-in-Chief, who took great interest in the institution, that nine-tenths of them could speak nothing but German. It was absolutely necessary that the resident medical officer should be a German, in order to communicate with those poor people in his native language, and the only person whose services could be obtained was some young; German physician who, after having passed his examination in Germany, might be willing for two or three years to accept such a position in London, for the very small remuneration the hospital could afford, with a view to gain experience by practice.

After some conversation Lord CRANWORTH withdrew his Motion, on the understanding that he should move the clause on Report.

Amendments made.

The Report thereof to be received Tomorrow.

House adjourned at Seven o'clock, till To-morrow, half-past Ten o'clock.