DOCTOR'S PROTEST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 173, 25 July 1939, Page 8

DOCTOR'S PROTEST.

RETRENCHED CHIEFS. J HOSPITAL BOARD'S ACTION. I • UNFAIR AND PREJUDICED." , \.- 'i: rl ••.•..; (',. ~1 .;, ti .'i ilia! ill:: ■ ■ ":• •-. .-,.: ~; !>■.(. l:. IS-,,-,.- , uu l i ■•-•■•'•.: -. ■;. |) . .1. |' H.!-•.•! •_-. a i "' '' • .i ■ ■!. .»i:•• I- f: ili" ■-' ■ ■ _ If I _■•-" I! •■ if ! "■■-,,' :, h ':. i .::;"'. i ;.:: ; „;;' 'tj '-'.',: ••„. ■:••••: . - -:■ •;.;•; )„■ ~ii.,w,-.i ■ . .-,.■.,.. i«-f., iL . ' '" '••■■ 'I " -i..l Dv. Hvj;:.. -Mr. ''''•••'.'- ' ■'■ «• • . 1 rep i!; in a -.i \ • '■'I '' '''■ "l - • t ' -•■,! t >!:• lit. ''"lie l«'i I

Dr. Hasting* jw>iiiteU out that it wa* due to efforts made by himself four year, ago that the idea of appointing medical chiefs, took root. 'Die muve was in keeping with the latest developments in medicine and surgery in other part* ■if the world. A quarter of a century nj.i it was possible for a medical superintendent to look after the many ramification- of a larte hospital. To-day, « itii it".an\ advance*, it was impossible, because of the specialised requirements, for one man to he in efficient control of every activity in the hospital. It was al«o a great advantage to have two Ilk-lily experienced men resident at the hospital the wiiolp time. Idealise if an emergency aro-e the patient could reeeive immediate attention, he continued. If this treitment depended entirelv on honorarv doctors who visited the "hospital for two or three hours several times a week delay might occur in treatment, and it was ob\ knis. how serious this delay mil-lit he on occasions. •Having medical and surgical chiefs gives a central point from which the vatioii- activities can radiate,'' said Pr. JTa-tings. -These chi-f- ran correlate the activities* of the different doctors working in the hospital, leading to harmonious action. Dr. Burns has done wonderful work already in organising and in introducing up-to-date methods of treatment. The action taken is a retrograde one. It U a terrible thing that we should go back to the conditions that existed years ago.*' Principle Involved. Beyond stating that there was an important question of principle involved. and that the conveniences might be farreaching. Mr. (.lurk and Dr. Burns said ihi* inoi-iiiiig that they did not wish to comment at this juncture. They added that, they wished to "ire the matter fuller consideration before making any statement. (A report of the meeting appears on page 14.)