EX-GRATIA PAYMENT

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30626, 17 December 1964, Page 7

EX-GRATIA PAYMENT

Sequel To Claim

An ex-gratia payment of £l7OO with denial of liability is to be made by the State Insurance Office on behalf of the North Canterbury Hospital Board to Mr R. T. Clutterbuck, who sued the board in 1960 for negligence in the treatment of a hand injury. The jury found in favour of Mr Clutterbuck on certain counts, but he was subsequently non-suited. Registrars’ Leave.—The board will ask the New Zealand Hospital Boards’ Association conference to seek a change in the Health Department’s policy prohibiting the granting of leave on pay to registrars to attend conferences or courses.

Contract Let.—A contract for £16,881 for the new central sterile supply department at the St. Helens Hospital has been let to Mr A. Bullivant. Nursing Vacancies.— A shortage of nursing staff at the Christchurch Hospital had resulted from nurses having to relieve in country positions, the matron-in-chief to the North Canterbury Hospital Board (Mrs M. Chambers) said in a report received by the board yesterday. Most of the country vacancies had now been filled or were being filled, however, the board was told.

No Applications.—No applications were received for the posts of resident assistant physician and visiting psychiatric physician, and for certain registrar vacancies. The vacancies will be readvertised now that new medical salary scales have been announced. The Health Department has approved the temporary creation of a whole-time surgeon’s post if junior surgical registrars cannot be got for 1965. The only application so far for a junior surgical registrar’s position has come from Switzerland.

Parking Area.—A tar-sealed car-parking area for 147 cars will be provided on the site of the third building stage of the Princess Margaret Hospital. Christmas Party.—A combined afternoon tea and Christmas party was held at the Coronation Hospital yesterday by the board and the staff of the hospital to mark the completion of the conversion of the main hospital building for geriatric use.