STAFF RESIGNS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 46, 24 February 1936, Page 8

STAFF RESIGNS.

GREY RIVER HOSPITAL.

BOARD MEMBERS' ACTIONS

CRITICISM BY CHAIRMAN.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, Sunday. Following on tlic resignation of tlie medical superintendent, Dr. J. W. Drilljrinnii, and tlie matron, Mi-* X. J.

Sullivan, a special meeting of the Grey River Hospital Hoard was called last night to deal with the resignations of *ix of tho eight nursing sisters at the hospital. The sisters gave a month's notice and jointly requested- the board to refrain from asking them to appear before the board to discuss the matter. They further intimated that under the conditions they felt they could not carry on in their positions.

Following the board's refusal, on a majority vote, to accept the voluntary resignation of a nurse who had resumed duty, the % medical superintendent tendered his resignation, giving three months' notice. Then the matron resigned on Friday night, leaving the next day for Wellington. The sisters' resignations were received yesterday morn-

The chairman, Mr. T\. McTaggart, at last night's meeting, said a sub-com-mittee had been set up to_ bring down a report 011 the administration of the institution, but the inquiry had not been completed. The position was booming alarming, and he felt that they were going from bad to worse. It was a repetition of what the board had had two years ago, and was also similar to the trouble at Waihi. There was nothing wrong with the hospital internally. There was far more efficiency than ever before, and there were 110 complaints from the patients. He suggested that the board members should resign. People would be surprised at. the things that were done in the hospital, not by members of the staff, but by board members themselves.

The board decided, by a majority vote of six to four, to ask the sisters to state their reasons for resigning, an amendment by the chairman, Mr. R. McTaggart, that the medical superintendent and sisters be asked to withdraw their resignations, being defeated.

A member of the board, Mr. James 13. Kent, also intimated his intention of resigning, as he felt he was wasting bis time on the board unfcr the conditions existing.