PLASTIC SURGEON AT BURWOOD

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25244, 24 July 1947, Page 3

PLASTIC SURGEON AT BURWOOD

APPOINTMENT OF ASSISTANT

DR. MANCHESTER TO STUDY OVERSEAS

The appointment of a plastic surgeon for the plastic surgical unit at Burwood Hospital was again discussed by the North Canterbury Hospital Board vesterday. when advice was received zrom Dr. W. M. Manchester, the present medical officer in charge of the unit, that he intended to go to England for further post-graduate surgical

Moving the rescission of the board’s oecision to advertise for a full-time plastic surgeon on a two-year contract, to act as assistant to Dr. Manchester until he left, and to be in charge during Dr. Manchester’s absence, at a salary of £1390 a year. Mrs T. Green said she considered that advertising the position overseas would be a waste of time and money. The Auckland Hospital Board had made inquiries in England, she said, and Sir Archibald Mclndoe, the prominent plastic surgeon, had replied that there was no one available in England who was capable of onerating a unit in Auckland. The board had then encouraged a young surgeon to go overseas, and to prepare to return to take over the unit on a part-time basis. "I have no axe to grind as far as Dr. Manchester and his work are concerned." Mrs Green continued. “I think his work is just marvellous, and that he has been doing a wonderful job. However, there are two highlyskilled plastic surgical men here at present, and we should see if they are available to take over in the meantime while Dr. Manchester is away. As far as Dr. Brownlee is concerned, I am not speaking on his behalf. I have only spoken to him once, but I do know of his wonderful work. He was doing plastic work before he went to the war. and had some remarkable results.”

Quite a number of the patients in the unit at Burwood came from the North Island. Mrs Green said, and with a unit in Wellington, and another about to be opened in Auckland, the number of patients in Burwood would decrease. In two years it might not be necessarv to have a full-time surgeon employed there. “I feel that the doors of the hospital fhould not be closed to a part-time man.’ she concluded.

Miss M. McLean, who seconded the motion, was the only other speaker She said Mrs Green wanted to get the board out of the confused Position it was in at present.

Four members supported the motion, and 11 voted against it. u Dr ; Manchester’s Letter It has been my intention for some time to proceed to England for further post-graduate surgical study.” said a letter from Dr. Manchester. “Up to the present, however. I have had no definite plans, and have therefore been unable to make any definite statement as to the time of my departure. I have now decided to leave about the end of the year, and the exact date will deE en A or L^ h< l n 1 can get a suitable berth. This has not yet been decided cut it will certainly be in November December, or January. As soon as I know the definite date of sailing, I will advise you of the date of which I wish to cease my duties at Burwood. I have not yet decided whether I Ehall resign completely from the board s service, or whether I shall apply for leave of absence. I wish to make provision to be away for two years if necessary.”

An assurance that the board would he fully acquainted with any applications for the position was given by the chairman (Mr L. B. Evans). To Mrs Green, he said that until advertisements were used it was not possible to say rnat there was no one available. A man who would not go to Auckland lor instance, might be prepared to take the position at Burwood. A report to the board showed that • here were 57 patients in the unit at ine end of May. During June, 39 were . T’in c’ discharged on leave, c.nd 19 finally discharged.