SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 219, 16 September 1930, Page 8

SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS.

SMALL HOSPITALS' PROBLEM.

DISCUSSION AT HAWERA

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) ' NEW PLYMOUTH, this day. The main hospital centres appear to be absorbing all the available newly qualified medical men and the smaller country town hospitals are facing a shortage. That fact was revealed in a discussion at a meeting of the Hawera Hospital Board.

Advice was received from the Asliburton Hospital Board that for some months it had been endeavouring to secure a house surgeon, but had not been successful, and it would J appear that some hospital" boards were going to lind it difficult to obtain a staff. The subdean o£ the Dunedin Medical School had advised that he regretted being unable to give any information as to when a house surgeon would be available for the Ashburton Hospital. The medical examinations were not held until December and as there were only 30 candidates it was problematical whether the demands of the smaller hospitals could be met.

The secretary reported that he had replied advising that the Hawera Board had experienced great difficulty in-the past two years in getting house surgeons. In fact, the position had become so acute that the medical superintendent had carried ton without one for some time, and the board had got over the difficulty temporarily by appointing a physician at £500 per annum with quarters. The latter had agreed to stay for twelve months only, so that the board would be confronted with the problem again in a few months' time. It would appear that the centres were absorbing all the new qualified candidates and that the smaller hospitals would have to make other arrangements.