SPECIALISTS FOR HOSPITALS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25554, 23 July 1948, Page 9

SPECIALISTS FOR HOSPITALS

• WESTPORT APPOINTMENT DISAPPROVED LETTER FROM DR. L.< C. M’NICKLE CRITICISED When a letter from Dr. L. C. McNickle (acting for the Director-General of Health) disapproving of the appointment of Dr. C. G. Riley, of the Christchurch Hospital, as consulting physician at Westport, was read at the monthly meeting of the Buller Hospital Board, Dr. D. H. Ryder, medical superintendent of the Buller District Hospital, described it as “evasive” and “unsound.” The letter stated that the department considered it unnecessary, particularly for smaller boards, to make individual appointments of that kind, and that where specialist attention was required it was generally preferable that the cases be sent to a base hospital. Until such a hospital operated, therefore, in the West Coast area, possibly by amalgamation, it was considered oest to continue sending patients to the Christchurch Hospital, the letter concluded. Dr. Ryder, in his report to the board, said that Dr. McNickle knew as well as he did that, because of the bed position at the Christchurch Hospital, it would be impossible for him (Dr. Ryder) to secure admission for most of the cases which properly required treatment by a consulting physician. Dr. Ryder added that he was strongly of the opinion that the people of the Buller district should be able to procure the best possible treatment in their own hospital. He quoted from a letter he had received from Dr. Riley. Dr. A. D. Nelson (medical superintendent of the Christchurch Hospital) had advised him to submit the proposal to the visiting staff executive of the Christchurch Hospital to see how other visiting members considered the suggestion. They were apparently very much in favour of extending consult- ' ing services from the main centres to the smaller centres. The board had already asked that Dr. Riley should visit Westport as coni suiting physician every two months at a remuneration of £2l, and, expenses ■ for each visit. It was considered that such a service would obviate the need to send patients to Christchurch Hosi pital, Already overcrowded, for treat- ; ment. Mr W. H. Mclntyre said that • it would be impossible to have ah amalgamation on the W6st Coast to ‘ provide for a base hospital and considered that patients should not be sent ’ to Christchurch except under special circumstances. i Dr. Ryder repeated that Dr. Me- ‘ Nickle should know that the accommodation at the Christchurch Hospital

was overtaxed. The board decided to take the matter of the appointment up again with the Minister of Health (Miss M. B. Howard). _________