IN REPLY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 279, 25 November 1941, Page 6

IN REPLY

LETTER RESENTED MR. MOODY'S DEFENCE SCHEMES FOR THE FUTURE "The criticism contained in the letter from the Director-General of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt, was unfair and uncalled for. particularly in view of the fact that the Auckland Hospital has never before neen more carefully watched by the board," said the chairman of the board, Mr. Allan J. Moody, this morning, when referring to a Departmental letter which was before the board last night, and reported on page 9. "It must be borne in mind as well that matters referred to by Dr. Watt have been receiving attention, the board being fully aware of the position. Personally I resent the tone of the letter as far as it reflects on the board. The subjects to which attention has been directed and criticism levelled should have been discussed with the board by the responsible authorities. They should not have been made the vehicle of coldblo<pded official communication upon which the public, not knowing the whole facts, are apt to draw hasty and wrong conclusions."

Dealing with the medical staff, Mr. Moody said that the suggestion underlying the criticism was that Dr. W. Gilmour and Dr. C. B. Gilberd were overworked and that the administration was too much for them. "This is misleading and inaccurate," he said. "It has never been suggested to me that either of these medical men are unable to control the institution, and I am at a loss to understand why the suggestion should have been made. Dr. Gilberd is at present supervising the infirmary, and he is carrying out his duties to the entire satisfaction of the board. He has made no complaint whatever of overwork. Personally I am more than satisfied with the control of the hospital at a time when it must be admitted the conditions are trying and difficult in view of the absence overseas of many of the leading surgeons and physicians who attended the institution, and also the medical superintendent, Dr. J. W. Craven, who also is on military duty outside NewZealand. It is difficult to maintain a resident medical staff owing to army requirements. The DirectorGeneral is a member of the appointments board and knows full well how the Auckland Hospital has gone out of its way to assist the appoint-

ments board and the army in seeing that adequate provision is made for the boys overseas. No Doctor Offering "The letter complains that the Department has previously indicated the necessity for strengthening the full time medical staff by the appointment of at least one senior physician. This matter has been before the board repeatedly as the result of a communication from the Director-General. I wrote to Dr. Watt and said that the board had advertised more than once for an officer to fill this position, but had received no replies. I then asked Dr. Watt if he knew of any medical practitioner who could fill the post to let the board know and he would be appointed. To this the DirectorGeneral replied stating that he did not know any medical man who would accept the appointment. This communication was received by the board as far back as April last." Dealing with infectious diseases, Mr. Moody said that this subject was considered by the board and action taken long before the letter was received. He recalled that the board itself had decided to reconvert to its original use the old infectious diseases block which was built of brick and specially designed and equipped for this purpose and approved by the Health Department. This had been closed by a former board and used for other purposes. At the time of this recent changeback it was found that active cases of T.B. were in medical wards, and the board's decision was welcomed by the medical staff. The question of additional equipment for the block had received adequate attention by the board. Most of the T.B. cases were now housed in the old wooded infectious diseases block. The change had met with the appreciation of the nursing staff and the approval of the medical administration.

Cross* Infection "It must be admitted that cross! infection has occurred in the past in the children's ward," Mr. Moody said. "The matter has received the attention of the board, and without any Departmental suggestion the board of its own volition erected cubicles in the block for isolation purposes. It must be soothing to the Departmental officials to throw a brick or two at the board immediately before the Christmas Natation, but in public life one becomes' accustomed to this type of criticism. 1 1 am glad, however, that Dr. Watt admits that the provision of cubicles is a step in the right direction." i Referring to th-j ventilation of the Wallace Ward, Mr. Moody said that 1 one of the chicf causes of bad ventilation was the closing of the verandahs, to which the Department itself agreed. The ouilumg committee had considered the matter i months ago and the subject was! receiving the attention of the medi- i cal administration. Dealing with the ! question of office accommodation ati

the hospital itself, Mr. Moody said that the complaint was not new. The board had suggested a reasonable remedy in respect to converting ward four into an office, but the proposal was resolutely opposed by the Health Department on the grounds of loss of beds.

"Conscious as it has been of the many defects in the main hospital, the last hoard decided to erect a new hospital in the grounds of the Kpsom Infirmary." Mr. Moody continued. "This was to be a si\--'storey building to accommodate 250 beds, and two floors are now nearing completion. It was visualised at the time that it was not necessary to complete the full scheme, in view of war conditions, but last night the board decided that the full plans should be gone on with immediately. Pressure Needed "This, of course, means that the Department has to approve, and if Dr. Watt is so greatly concerned about the Auckland Hospital he. together with the Minister, should put on all the pressure they can wield to see that the building is speedily completed. When this is accomplished the block will be used for general hospital purposes, and a new era in hospital control will be inaugurated. I feel sure that overcrowding and congestion referred to by the Director-General will be overcome as soon as the new building is opened. When this unit is in occupation it is the intention of the board to demolish all the small wooden encumbrances in the main hospital grounds, thus preparing the way for the major building scheme that has been the subject of discussion over the years.

"It is a matter of satisfaction to me and to my colleagues that the board has had the courage and foresight to proceed with the infirmary block scheme. Had it not been for this decision the board would not be in the favourable position it is in to-day despite official criticism.''