CHECK ON SURGEONS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29235, 20 June 1960, Page 11

CHECK ON SURGEONS

Audit Scheme .Planned

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) BRISBANE, June 19. A surgical audit scheme is being prepared in Queensland to detect surgeons who perform unnecessary operations. Queensland's Health Minister (Dr. H. W. Noble) said yesterday the audit was necessary to protect the public from unscrupulous doctors who operated for their own gain. Organs and tissues removed from patients would be examined pathologically, he said. The aim was to obtain a check report on every operation. The Queensland Government had opened discussions with the British Medical Association, which had agreed to it in principle, he said. The system would be linked with the teaching of medical students in Brisbane hospitals.

Dr. Noble has given warnings against “phony” operations. One doctor who was warned of Government interest in excessive surgery was reported to have reduced his number of operations by 75 per cent. The chairman of the B.M.A.’s Queensland council (Dr. L. A. Little) said his association favoured the surgical audit scheme, but it had difficulties. Dr. Little said some American hospitals made surgical audits.

Spent Life Savings On Land For Pony

SYDNEY, June 18.

A middle-aged woman today spent her life savings of £3650 for a block of land on which to keep her pet 23-year-old pony. The land was one of 34 blocks auctioned by the Housing Commission at Roseville, a northern suburb. The woman. Miss Muriel Barnes, said after the sale: “It was all the money I had. “Little Kit is a wonderful pony. I’ve had her since she was a baby,” she said. “She’s been on this land all. her life and it wouldn’t be right to take her away after 23 years.”

Miss Barnes said she would not use the land for anything else besides a home for the pony.