Changes at BCH

WHEN THE BOARD of Trustees of the Department of Health and Hospitals gave Boston University administrative control over Boston City Hospital, Harvard Medical School not only lost control over a major medical school facility, it witnessed the end of a 110-year relationship. We are especially saddened by this connection's end because BCH is precisely the sort of inner city hospital with which Harvard should maintain its links.

In their decision the trustees cited the B.U. Medical School's commitment to patient care. While Harvard Medical Schools is properly well-known for its research and teaching prowess, we hope that Harvard has not shown any slackness in assuming the basic responsibilities of patient care at its teaching facilities.

We commend Harvard for reasserting its traditional responsibilities at BCH. Harvard's decision not to withdraw immediately will safeguard the hospital's daily operations. Any other decision by Harvard, regardless of its long-term intentions, would be grave disservice to current Boston health care needs. We recommend that B.U. activity seek to maintain Harvard's and Tufts's current levels of activity at BCH.

We hope that health care at BCH will not be affected by these shifts in administration. Whatever the long-term policy requirements of the universities operating BCH, the health needs of inner city Boston must not be disregarded.