OPERATIONS IN THE COUNTRY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21255, 29 August 1934, Page 10

OPERATIONS IN THE COUNTRY

HOSPITAL HOARD'S ATTITUDE Concern at the attitude of the North Canterbury Hospital Board towards operations by country doctors was expressed at a meeting of the ratepayers of the Amuri county held yesterday at Waiau. "The Hospital Board does not look favourably upon, or encourage, operations by country doctors," said the chairman, Mr E. P. H. Burbury, in his statement of the position. "If the Hospital Board persists in this attitude, we are debarred from the services of able and competent doctors." IMajor and Minor Operations Later, in reply to a question, Mr Otley said that the board's attitude was that major operations should be done in the main hospitals. The Rev. E. B. Moore: Would Mr Otley define the difference between major and minor operations? Mr Otley, amid laughter, expressed his inability to do so. He referred to the extra facilities at the main hospitals, and said that if additional medical assistance was required, it was at hand. Did they want a surgeon? Mr Otley asked. Voices: Yes. It was remarked that previous doctors in the district had been forbidden to operate, and that, at the present time, there was no surgeon in three adjacent districts. Later in the meeting, Mr Moore asked if country hospitals were equipped for major operations, referring to urgent cases such as appendicitis. Mr Otley replied that they were equipped for such cases.