LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL.
• Pro THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTTATOR;"1
Sra,—Your correspondent, Mr. Scrutton, and his predecessors are under a strange misapprehension of the circumstances and constitution of University College Hospital.
The nursing is undertaken, under a clearly expressed contract, by the Sisters of 111 Saints, just as the building operations at the College have been done by an eminent firm of builders. It would be as improper and absurd to dictate the religions or non-religious, sectarian or unsectarian, character of the nurses employed by the All Saints' Sisterhood as it would be to dictate as to the qualifications of Messrs. Trollope's workmen. This
may seem a coarse way of stating the case ; but it is the only truthful way.
Mr. Scrutton writes to complain of persons being "debarred from the privileges" of University College ; but he should understand that the College has parted with the privilege, if it be one, of appointing nurses, at any rate while it finds that it is convenient to be nursed by the All Saints' Sisterhood.
I think that your correspondents cannot fail to understand this, however much they may wish the system to be changed. The system may be good or bad—that is a matter of opinion— and your correspondents will do well to make much deeper inquiry before they commit themselves to the decision that the system is practically erroneous. I hear it said by men busy within this hospital walls that though occasional trifling fric- tions occur, they are rare, and that the nursing system is admirable. Of course University College may establish its own independent nursing system, engage a lady superintendent, ward sisters, nurses, organise relays to meet the cases of sickness, vacations, &c., and for pensions to the retiring worn-out nurses and sisters. But let your correspondents and the subscribers first" count the cost." In order to have this excellent hospital as a training school for their young pupil nurses, it is said that the All Saints' Sisterhood do the work for a thousand a year less than the hospital pays. This may well be worth the Sister- hood's outlay, but let not the subscribers to the hospital forget that this is practically a subscription of £1,000 a year.
One is getting sick of the "sectarian" and " unseetarian "- may I without discourtesy write " cant "? Your friends may not unprofitably inquire what the physicians and surgeons at the Hotel Dien in Paris say on the subject of changing the scours to secular sisters and nurses.—I am, Sir, &c.,
GEORGE WILLIAM BELL.
11 St. Edmund's Terrace, North Gate, Regent's Park, July 25th.
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