STORM IN TEA CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 37, 13 February 1929, Page 15

STORM IN TEA CUP.

THE HOSPITAL DISPUJE. HONORARY STAFF A IRIS GRIEVANCE. REFLECTION NOT INTENDED. CFTA IR MA\ "S EX PL AXA TI (IS ACCEPTED. Finality ha« been reached in ilμ- dispute between the honorary in»><lir-.tJ start of the Auckland Hospital, and tli«- chairman (Mr. W. Wallace I concerning the recent airing by the latter of complaints liy patients that the honorary jjnedical men were lio^lt-ct inyr their dittia-s and leaving matters "to the tender mea-oies of the resident doctor?." After much plain speaking Inud been indulged in at a special ineeiiiig* of the Hospital Board last evening, a nVputation from the honorary staff, consisting of Drs. K. H. B. Milsom. A. MtA.iregor Grant. Carrick Robertson, and ( . H. Tewsley, accepted Mr. Wallace's assurance that his utterances had !iott been made with the object of casting- reflection on Uie staff, either individually or collectively.

"I think I can >tate tiie case uf tilt honorary staff (juite shortly." said Dr. Milsom, in his opening remark.*. "The whole of the staff denies knowledge of any neglect, and deprecate the chairman's action in making statements before investigation and report. We for substantiation of the statements or the withdrawal of them. We consider, in the interest of all. the matter should lie finalised as soon as possible. The staff are not taking action out of wounded feelings, though they naturally feel the position, but they hardly expected the chairman to make such ungenerous reference to them. The • etiicien.v of the hospital i< as dear to them as to any member of the board. The ke*H desire is efficiency at the hospital, and it cannot be gained by ventilating grievances in the Press. We have n<> desire to attack anyone or indulge ill mildslinging, but we feel the public should not be excited to anxietv and sKlarin.

Groundless Apprehension Caused. '"The statements that have been made have caused groundless apprehension among those who have sick ones in the hospital. Mr. Wallace has said it was his desire to help the hospital, but he has done nothing of the sort. His remarks havo caused alarm, and we are here to ask that he substantiate or withdraw his charges."

That if there had been any ntsgligenee complaints of such negligence should have first been made to the honorary staff, was the contention of Dr.. Carrick Robertson. Instead of that, 'however, public accusations had been macje. The action of the chairman in declining to prove his charges could not but help to create discord amongst the staff, he said.

Dr. Grant said the staff considered that if there were any complaints vcaicerniug them, they should have been made through the proper channel, Ln\ C. E. Maguire, the superintendent.

Mr. Wallace: I would like to say that neither directly nor indirectly liave I made any charges against the honorary staff. The discussion was a general one in'respect to conditions of appointment. I mentioned at the board meeuing that I had heard a number of c< nnplaiiits that patients did not even knx>w their honorary doctors. I therefore a.sked that should be passed requiring sine Finance Committee to draw up conditions of appointment, so tihat the honorary staff would know wliat was expected of them." He added that he had been paying attention to the bylaws relating to the honorary siaff. One paragraph stated that members of the honorary staff should take charge of new patients, and attend to their waitts while under treatment. The doctor's themselves would know whether that 3iad been" done. He assured the deputation, that he did not intend, however, to give, any information relative to any patienrt in the hospital. Another by-law reqnired the honorary staff to sign their naanes, and times of arrival and departure in the attendance book. "Has that betni done?" he asked. Dr. Grant: Has it not been clone? Mr. Wallace: It has not! Dr. Grant: You are prepared to say it has not? Mr. Wallace: T am prepared, to say the time of arrival and departure has not been entered. Dr. Robertson: If the entries liad been made the board would realise |ust how long we do spend there.

Dr. Grant: It is beside the point. You have charged us with neglect.

Mr. Wallace: I have not chained you with neglect. But I want conditions of appointment drawn up. The Pt»?ss did not give the full context of the discussion that took place.

Dr. Milsom: Why cannot yifcu with draw the stigma cast upon us?

Wallace: I have left no stigma

Dr. Milsom: We will leave th;ii to the public. The opinion of the staff is that you have affected the harmony of the hospital.

Mr. Wallace: If there is anyone that the cap fits he can wear it as far as I am concerned. I have made no charge against the staff, individually car eolleetivelv.

Dr. Milsom: You the statements in the paper are not charges of genera) neglect in the hospital'' Mr. Wallace: Yes. Dr. Grant: Why did you not let us know that before? Doctors' Attendance Questicmed. Mr. Wallace: Because the Jbonorary rtaff has been discourteous. Mr. Coyle: Is it a fact that the doctors attended patients and omdtted to sign the register? Dr. Grant: We may attend four times a day. Mr. Wallace: It is rarely that they attend that often. Each and every honorary doctor should order diet and stimulants for his patients. [ think the whole of the by-law* provkle that the honorary staff are responsible for patients, and not the resident diK-tors. Dr. Grant: Undoubtedly. Mr. Wallace: Then how are thijv going to do their duty by their patienis if at times they do not see them for a "week?

Dr. (.rant: You are putting ;four*i-lf in the position <>f a profi-ssimi.tl man. .•>n<l telling us how many times wts should mv our patient-.

Mr. Coyle thought tlu , name of tincomplainant ahuiiM be mentioneiL Jle did not hold with availing the reputation of anyone without specific t> riileiK-e. Unless the complainant war- wilting to put his complaint in writing it vras not worth a snap of the finger*. Jf any of the doctors neglected their duty* he would be the first to come down oii^tliein,

but he would not hnng a cut on the] •statements made by an anonymous per- i

\ J)r. Mil.xoni: 1 think wo are stvnyinjj J ii-i.iii the point. Wo did nut i-otne henj |>re[iared to the duties of the ' honorary >talT. The ]>osition a= it aji-pi-als to nit , i> that Mr. Wallace has received complaints and ha* not given the mt'dical superintendent a chance to inI vpstigate rhf truth uf them. Wo have ■ iiil_\- i-i)im> to see whether Mr. Wallace is prepared to withdraw his charges. Sir. Wallace: I «m certainly not going t<> >ay that I am sorry, but I am sorry if I trod on any of the corns of the honorary -tail". Dr. Mii-nin: --It i< the pnbli-- defamation von have pur on the hospital. Tluhonorary >tati' has tried to make good, and here is a glaring i-a=i- of publicity. It may he 1 rue xv.u Aid nol mean what you said. Imt tile Press and everyone i'Ue t<iok it that the honorary miff left tin- eliU-iem-v of the hospital to "the tender mercies: of the junior resident doctors.'" The men that Mr. Wallace lielittlerl were men appoint rd hv the hoard itself, iiml were coni[ietent to look after every patient. Mr. M. .1. Savage s»aT<T Mr. Wallare had referred to the constitution of the >tilil". ami the time wa- rapidly approaching when tlipy would have to appoint a stipendiary -tall'. "We get fine service from the medical stuff, and h< far as the chairman is concerned We yet e.inallv a> good service." ' g Mr. A. M. S. Luiiig thonoht ;)ie diairinan'-- remarks had l.eeri indiscreet and should have l.een taken in committee. Dr. Tewslcv was certain there had never been a more conscientious staff at the. hospital than at present, and they had taken the chairman's remarks seriously. They were jifraid the good name uf the institution would suffer, especially as the chairman a few days after the meeting said he had visited the hospital and fmin.l a great improvement. That lent added weight to the impression thai a had opinion was being given of the hospital. Mr. Wallace reiterated his explanation that he did not wish tn do any harm to the honorary staff and. God forbid, to the hospital. Tie had always spoken highly of the medical staff. Dr. Grant urged that Mr. Wallace should let the deputation take back to the hospital the explanation that he was quite satisfied with the honorary staff. Mr. Wallace: Personally, F do not know of any neglect, but I have received auompL-iints from patients. T moved the resolution so that Dr. Maguire could confer with the staff regarding the conditions of their appointment. 1 say now I did not intend to cftst reflection on any member of the staff. 1 defy any member of the staff to say I have ever said a disparaging word concerning him.

Dr. Grant: Will the board give us some indication of what we can take b:n-k?

Mr. Wallace: You can lake back tiir.t I did not intend to cast reflect ion -on the honorary staff.

Dr. Grant: Can wo take that us the considered opinion of the board? It was agreed that the secretary .should write to the honorary staff conveying the chairman's explanation. Describing the whole matter as a "storm in a. teacup," Dr. Milsoni said he was sure that the chairman's explanation would be received with satisfaction by the honorary staff.