THE HOSPITAL BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 210, 6 September 1939, Page 8

THE HOSPITAL BOARD.

The Auckland Hospital Board at its laet meeting decided on the casting vote of the chairman not to receive a letter from the Takapuna Borough Council, and the resolution to this effect stated that the council's action did not have the support of the people of the borough. The refusal by the Hospital Board to receive a letter from a contributing local body could only be justified by some very exceptional circumstances, and the suggestion in the resolution conies very badly from a body whose own action has aroused widespread protest from its own electors. The refusal to receive the letter leaves the impression that the board knows well that in fact the protest of the Takapuna Borough Council has the full support of the general body of the people and the board is afraid that the publication of the contents of the letter appearing together with the report of its own proceedings will lead to similar protests from other contributing public bodies which have not yet moved in this important matter. In the course of the discussion, the chairman, in a very undignified and ungentlemanly way, insulted the Mayor and council of Takapuna, was very rode to the ex-chairman of his own board, and, in the Mfords of the newspaper report, "created another minor breeze." Xot only Takapnns but the whole electorate of the board it "entitled to object to this way of conducting the business of a public body. But this it only a matter of method, and the question naturally comes to mind, why all this pother and for what purpose is the public being 'bluffed in this way ? The last -board decided to make a change in the hospital system, and it appointed two highly qualified doctors to its staff. In the course of a short period of service these two doctors Lave won the resjard of the people of Auckland, and it is rumoured that they have effected many economies with a promise of more to follow. The board, however. has decided to terminate their services on the ground of economy. The point about which the public is disturbed is this: Under the system which the board has decided to terminate these two highly qualified doctors are available at all times greatly to the benefit of those poor people who at times, when the honorary staff are not in attendance, need ureent attention. The members of the honorary staff each attend probably two mornings in the week. This is excellent for special work, but what about the cases that come in at times when none of the honorary staff are in attendance, and the cases of patients that need dailv attention. It is still to be hoped that the board will reconsider its decision, and that other local authorities will help it along the road to this desirable end. ONE OF THE PEOPLE.