HC Deb 06 February 1838 vol 40 cc831-2

Mr. French moved for leave to bring in a bill for the better regulation of hospitals, dispensaries, and other medical charities in Ireland, which had received the sanction of the president of the College of Surgeons in Ireland, and of the highest medical authorities there. It differed in some respects from the bill of last Session, but had the same object in view. He wished that it should be printed, but he did not intend to press it till some of the more important Irish measures had been disposed of.

Mr. Shaw

did not object to the introduction of the bill, and he was glad to find that it had received the sanction of the highest medical authorities. He did not mean to say, that the administration of the medical charities in Ireland was incapable of amendment, but he knew that great exertions had been made by private individuals to effect improvement; and they ought not to do anything to prevent the exercise of private charity, nor to interfere in the management of the medical department, in which there were to be found no better educated men than those instructed in the medical schools in Ireland.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer

rejoiced at the introduction of the bill. He hoped that it would not interfere with private charity, but its object was a more general and perfect superintendence over the hospitals with the view of equalising the expenses and the benefits, and preventing what frequently now happened that 200 or 300 per cent was paid more to support some hospitals, than to uphold others affording the same accommodation. He believed that the medical schools, and especially the surgical schools in Dublin, would compete with any school that he knew of, and thus highly was its character considered abroad; and it was precisely because its character was so good that he believed the hospitals would be benefited by the proposed superintendence. He was glad that the bill was in the hands of so able a Member, and he could assure him that the Government were disposed to render him every assistance.

Leave given. Bill brought in and read a first time.