PLASTIC SURGERY UNIT

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25274, 28 August 1947, Page 3

PLASTIC SURGERY UNIT

APPOINTMENT OF SURGEON APPROVAL GIVEN BY MINISTER Protesting that a clause in the report of the hospital committee was ambiguous, Mrs W. S. Bean, at a meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital Board yesterday, said: "We don't know yet what Dr. Manchester is going to do. Are we sure that he is coming back as this paragraph infers?” The clause referred to said the Minister of Health (Miss M. B. Howard) had approved the board's decision to appoint a plastic surgeon at the Burwood Hospital during the absence of Dr. W. M. Manchester. “The. correct thing for Dr. Manchester to do is resign,” said Mrs J. N. Clarke. She referred to various discussions oy the board abijut the appointment. and added: “We are just about fed up with the whole business." The chairman (Mr L. B. Evans): Are you? Mrs Clarke: Yes, sir. “I want to finish this job,” said Mr Evans. “I was asked to see Dr. Manchester to find out when he was going, and the agreement is that he will give us three months’ notice. He has not given notice.” Mrs Clarke: Well, it is time he made up his mind. The hospital was at present closed to two plastic surgeons, one of whom ranked among the-best in the world, Mrs Clarke added. An assurance tnat any appointment would be made by the whole board was given by Mr Evans, who explained that the clause referred to by Mrs Bean was quoted from a letter by the Director-General of Health.