HONORARY STAFFS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18634, 8 March 1926, Page 9

HONORARY STAFFS.

A MEDICAL CONTROVERSY. (special to "the pbxsb ") AUCKLAND, March 7. Criticisms levelled by Sir Lindo Ferguson of the methods of appointment of the honorary staffs, to hospitals when he addressed the Hospital Boards' Association in Dunedjn recently were again referred to yesterday by Mr William Wallace, of Auck- ( land, who, as president of the Association, had warmly answered Sir Lindo Ferguson's remarks at tho, time. "It ia difficult to understand wr Lindo Ferguson's remarks," he said, "because the most cordial relationship exists between all' Boards and tho honorary staffs throughout the, Dominion., I came into contact with a great many medical n»n in Dunedin and Chriistchurch and in no caso was approval expressed of Sir Lindo s attitude, I am sure it does not represent the opinion of the bulk of the members of the British Medical Abbot ciation. It is just as well that tho public should know the actual procedure followed in the appointment of an honorary staff to a hospital. When applications close thoy are sub' mitted to the honorary consulting staff composed of medical men of long and tried experience in hospital work in an honorary capacity. These gentlemen carefully scrutinise the qualifier tions of each applicant and report on them to the Board. The Board, with this report of their medical advisefs to guide them, then make a selection and the selection is submitted to the Minister for hi# approval. It will thus be seen that every precaution is taken to get the best /men available.' "Then, again, Sir Lindo Ferguson asserted that the real value of honorary services was equal to tho sura received by the Board from, rates. In my opinion there is both a debit and a credit side on this aspeot of the question. The credit side for the honorary doctor is the invaluable clinical experience gained in the course of his work in hospital. It must be a> real asset to him in his private practice. The amount received by Boih-ds from rates is £430,000, and the total strength of the honorary staffs attached to the various hospitals is about 150., If Sir Lindo Ferguson's statement is correct, then wo should be paying ;£ 2900 per annum to each of these gentlemen for about a quarter of his time." • 1