NIGHT SERVICE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 304, 23 December 1943, Page 6

NIGHT SERVICE

MEDICAL TREATMENT STATEMENT BY BOARD "I regret that the B.M.A. sees fit at this stage to go into print about the night medical service," said the chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, Mr. Allan J. Moody, this morning, referring to a statement by Dr. E. J. Cronin, regarding the maintenance of the service in Auckland. In his statement yesterday, Dr. Cronin said it was the doctor's view that the maintenance of the night service could only be achieved with the assistance of the Hospital Board. Mr. Moody said that a letter had been forwarded by the secretary of the Hospital Board to Dr. Cronin as follows: "Further to j'our communication by telephone yesterday afternoon, I am directed to inform you that it is regretted that my board is unable to assist the medical practitioners in. carrying on the night medical service in Auckland. "Following a report from the medical superintendent that a qualified resident medical officer could not be spared, the president of the Auckland division of the British Medical Association was advised on September 14 last that the assistance in connection with the service would be discontinued as from September 30. This advice was sent as the result of a resolution, of the board. "I have to point out that my board indicated to the association many months prior to this that it could not continue to provide a medical officer for the work. The association was aware that Dr. Fox could not carry on after the end of the year, and it has had ample opportunity to make other arrangements. "The responsibility for the service is entirely that of the practitioners, and it is quite outside of my board's functions. My board has done everything in its power to help the profession in the matter, and regrets that it cannot afford further assistance. The request for a conference would be of no avail."