HOSPITAL STAFF

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21534, 25 July 1935, Page 22

HOSPITAL STAFF

APPOINTMENT OF OFFICER DISCUSSION PROVOKED BY RECOMMENDATION An assistant medical superintendent, With a salary of £450, will be appointed at the Christchurch Public Hospital, according to a recommendation approved by the North Canterbury Hospital Board at a meeting yesterday, The recommendation was made by the finance committee of the board, to which a suggestion had been referred by the hospital committee, that a resident assistant medical superintendent should be appointed with a salary of £SOO a year, and that a medical registrar, "living out," should be appointed as part-time officer, at £250 a year. The finance committee recommended that, acting on the suggestion of the hospital committee, supported by the medical staff executive, the board should approve the appointment of an assistant medical superintendent at a salary not exceeding £450 a year. Some members questioned the alterations made in the proposal as contained in the report of the hospital committee, and there was some discussion before the clause was adopted. Mr H. H. Holland, chairman of the . hospital committee, explained that the point of view of the committee was that it approved of both the appointments suggested. The proposal had, however, been referred to the finance committee. Explanation Requested Mr L. B. Evans, chairman of the finance committee, said that the committee had gone into the matter with the medical superintendent, Dr. W. Fox, and it was convinced that it could carry on if an assistant medical superintendent were appointed at a salary of £450 a year, but that it could not consider the appointment of another officer at £250. At present the board could not afford to spend more money. Mr J. K. Archer: Further explanation is required. I imagine thai the hospital committee must have considered carefully before recommending the appointment of two officers, one at £450 and another at £250. The chairman, Mr H. J. Otley, said that the appointments had been recommended to the hospital committee j by the medical staff executive, and the recommendation had then gone to the finance committee. Mr Archer: There is nothing in the minutes to suggest that the hospital committee did not approve. For some reason or other, which Mr Evans has not adequately explained, the finance committee completely changed the recommendation in two respects. They changed the salary recommended from £SOO a year to £450 a year—indeed, not to £450, but to "not exceeding £450," which might mean £250. Mr Otley: We are paying £4OO now. Mr Archer: Are you going to advertise the position at a fixed salary? And if it is to be what is it to be? Mr Otley: £450. Mr Archer: Then why say "not exeeeding"? Clause Amended Mr Archer questioned whether the board would obtain an efficient man at the salary suggested. He asked how the work of medical registration was being done at present. The chairman said that it was being done by the assistant medical superintendent. "Then the finance committee thinks that he can do both things?" said Mr Archer. "There must be some reason why the medical staff executive proposed the alterations, and I want to know the reason, and why the finance committee has changed the recommendation. Sir Hugh Acland said that at present the work was being carried on under a temporary arrangement made some months ago, when the board had advertised for an assistant medical superintendent at a salary of £4OO. The medical staff executive had made its suggestion because it was felt that the temporary arrangement should not continue indefinitely. As in the past, £4OO a year had been paid, the committee felt that £450, £SO more than the salary previously advertised, would be enough. The report of the finance committee tvaa adopted, the clause being amended by the deletion of the words "not •xceeding."