DOCTORS NEEDED AT NIGHT

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24149, 7 January 1944, Page 6

DOCTORS NEEDED AT NIGHT

DIFFICULTY AT AUCKLAND

COMMENT BY CORONER

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, January 6. “This is by no means the first case in which distresed relatives have tried frantically but unsuccessfully to obtain medical aid at night,” said the Coroner (Mr F. K. Hunt) at an mquesc into the death of Leonard Graham Fincham, aged 54, labourer, Franklin road. “I suggest that the Auckland Hospital Board should reconsider its decision not to allow members of its staff, or at least the younger members, to attend outside calls, particularly at night. I understand the young men are willing, in fact anxious, to do so. Besides being good experience for them, they could be paid for it. Mr Hunt did not suggest that the earlier calling of medical attention in this particular case would have materially altered the conclusion, but he added that it might have. Evidence showed that Fincham had an attack of severe pains in the ches*. on Wednesday night. He went to bed, but the pains increased in severity.

Dead on Arrival at Hospital Apparently his wife attempted to obtain medical attention, said Mr Hunt and finally called her son, who lived nearby. The son said he endeavoured to call a doctor about 7 o’clock this morning. After repeated attempts he drove his father to the Auckland Hospital in a motor-car about 8 o’clock. On his arrival at the casualty department he was told that his father was dead. “The medical profession is labouring under a great disadvantage,’’ said Mr Hunt. Deducting those doctors who were purely surgeons and those who were on active service, there were few enough left to attend to the needs of the public. These few were in most cases attempting to carry on the work of two doctors each. “The public is entitled to a medical service, and'it is high time the question of night medical services in particular was faced up to. The only solution I can see at the moment is the altering of the Hospital Board’s decision,” concluded Mr Hunt. The inquest was adjourned, pending a post-mortem finding.