HOSPITAL TROUBLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 16, 19 January 1916, Page 8

HOSPITAL TROUBLE.

. HONORARY STAFF RESIGNS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) TIMARU, Tuesday. A difference between the Hospital Board and the honorary medical staff came to a head to-day. Some time ago the board set up a committee to inquire into the way the store book had been kept, and the committee found that the matron had been somewhat careless in making entries. The honoiary staff interpreted some of the expressions made use of as a. reflection on the matron's honesty. The matron, through a solicitor; asked for further inquiry. On this being refused by the board as unnecessary, the honorary staff and all other medical men in the town signed a.letter to the board demanding an inquiry, .and this being refused, the honorary staff resigned. They then asked Dγ Valintine, Inspector-General, to visit Timaru and conduct an inquiry. Dr Valintine. consented, but eaid he could not come before the end of the month. On this, the doctors wrote to the board, asking leave to withhold their resignations in the meantime.

The board to-day questioned the right of the Inspector-General to interfere, and by eight votes to three resolved to accept the resignations of the honorary staff, the resident surgeon to make the best arrangements he can for assistance in operations until the hoard secure a permanent assistant resident surgeon, who may be allowed outeide practice. Dr Loughnan, late of the honorary staff, who is an elected member of the board, took part in the discussion, urging the right of the matron to further in° quiry, and supporting the doctors in their action, but he did not vote. In the course of discussion some members of the board indicated that they had a grievance against the honorary staff, and other outside doctors, in that they sent to the hospital no patients who coild pay them, therefore patients' payments I were a small item of the revenue.