New Superintendent For Hospital Board

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30192, 25 July 1963, Page 12

New Superintendent For Hospital Board

Dr. L. M. Berry, who was yesterday appointed medical superintendent-in-chief by the North Canterbury Hospital Board, wants to be “one of the workers in the place,” rather than a medical superintendent “in a dapper suit.” Dr. Berry told the board that he hoped to do some abdominal surgery in Christchurch. Aged 40. Dr Berry has been medical superintendent of the Hawera Hospital for the last 11 years. He expects to take up his new position in October. Asked about his interests in hospital administration, Dr. Berry said in an interview with “The Press” that he was very interested in Hawera in domiciliary care for patients. This domiciliary care by home aids, district nurses and others who visited persons in their homes helped to avoid an increase of beds in hospitals Persons could be kept

out of hospital by giving tbem a little assistance. There was much more scope for domicilary care in a compact area than in a rural one. “It is a progressive policy,” said Dr Berry Some persons could return home earlier from hospital because of domiciliary care Pome of these were elderly people who could not fend tir themselves They needed just a little more help than was easily available in the community Day Beds Dr. Berry said that he felt another progressive policy was the establishment of day beds only and night beds only. This system was for persons who were living at home Relatives in these cases often required some relief, either during the day or in the night For the remainder of the time the relatives could look after them quite well at home.

“Some people get very confused at night and wander around the house and don’t sleep,” said Dr Berry. “Other people can’t be left alone. If the people who care for them had only one or two days off

a week they could look after them for the rest of the time. The times during the day when the people were in hospital would enable the relatives to do their shopping, and so on.

“This sort of thing seems to be the modern development of hospital care.” Dr Berry, on learning of his appointment yesterday joined the hospital board’s meeting for an hour or so to familiarise himself with procedures. Dr. Berry said the post was one of the biggest of its kind in the country. The board was about the third biggest Asked about his plans, Dr Berry said that, without any detailed knowledge, he could not offer any definite opinions about what should and should not be done here. “It is a board with a very good reputation,” he said. “It would be unwise, obviously to ‘jump in.’” Dr. Berry said he wanted to mix freely with the staff to find out what was going on and what the problems were. Interest In Hockey Dr. Berry was educated at Rongotai College, Wellington, Victoria University and Otago University, where he graduated M. 8., Ch. B. in 1945. He became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1951 He spent two years in England, doing a course at Guy’s Hospital and holding general and orthopaedic surgery positions. He is a Member of the Order of the British Empire. Dr Berry described himself as a hack golfer but a hockey enthusiast. He had been umpiring hockey regularly for 17 years. He is a New Zealand hockey selector and coach. In 1961 he umpired the New ZealandIndia match at Lancaster Park. Another interest is music—mainly instrumental —and he has recently become a keen bowler. Dr Berry is a member of the Hawera Rotary Club. The acting medical super-intendent-in-chief of the North Canterbury Hospital Board (Dr. John Cairney was medical superintendent of the Hawera Hospital in 1927. Dr. Cairney will continue his work until Dr Berry takes over.