STAFF PROBLEM

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 134, 9 June 1942, Page 3

STAFF PROBLEM

INDICATIONS OF UNREST PROPOSED DEPUTATION The chairman of the hospital visiting staff, Dr. E. J. Cronin, wrote to the Hospital Board at its meeting last evening saying that the staff was gravely concerned with the disturbed relations existing between the board's medical staff and the board, and asked that a full meeting of the board should be called to receive a deputation to discuss the position. Mr. J. Guiniven, in a letter, stated that from information received from outside independent expert sources, and with approximately a year's experience as a member of the board, he was firmly convinced that there was a continuous slackening as regards the morale of the staff, and that the time had come for the drift to be stopped. So far as his own knowledge went, all that had been done was to adopt a method which now seemed to be developing into a policy of dismissing any member of the staff who had the courage to voice a complaint. In his opinion, the best thing to do under the circumstances was to hand the management of the hospital over to the State, but failing those steps being taken, the Minister should be asked to investigate the position.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr.Guiniven said that there had been unrest through interference by lay members.

The chairman. Mr. Allan J. Moody, said that a letter had been sent to Dr. Cronin. asking for an agenda to be forwarded, stating what matters they wished to place before the board, and a meeting would then be called.

Mr. Moody expressed disapproval with Mr. Guiniven's letter, and asked him to give more co-operation. He challenged Mr. Guiniven to produce a letter which he claimed he had received from the Health Department.

The board decided not to receive Mr. Guiniven's letter.