Hospital Board Wants Inquiry On Charges

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30631, 23 December 1964, Page 18

Hospital Board Wants Inquiry On Charges

The Ashburton Hospital Board at a special meeting yesterday decided to ask the Minister of Health (Mr McKay) to institute a full and urgent inquiry into charges made by four doctors against the board about their conditions of work.

The board’s chairman (Mr M. D. McDowell), who moved that the inquiry be sought, said it was to be regretted that the medical practitioners had seen fit to publicly declare the hospital board to be their battleground.

During the meeting a member said the board had made a mistake, when all the troubles over medical staffing first began, by trying to protect the feelings and personalities of the two doctors involved in the first resignations.

Mrs H. Brown said the board had tried to keep the first troubles in committee for this reason. “But I admit we were wrong.”

Mr McDowell said he had called the meeting as a result of a statement appearing in the newspapers castigating the hospital board and signed by four medical practitioners who have held contracts with the board on a part-time capacity, and have either resigned or not applied for reappointment to their former posts on the hospital medical staff.

In a joint letter to the newspapers, published yesterday, the four doctors—W. D. McKenzie. R. T. E. Baker, W. R. Lane, and M. J. Otley—said they had individually terminated their employment for long-standing reasons known to the board. They said senior doctors in Christchurch to whom they had spoken considered they had a good case for not wanting to work at the hospital under the present conditions. The doctors’ letter said they were informing doctors in other centres of the conditions under which they were expected to work in Ashburton.

“Generous Policy”

Mr McDowell said the hospital board, as the elected representatives of the people, was responsible for the maintenance and development of the medical, nursing, and subordinate services in the board’s district, at all times under the control and with the approval of the Health Department. The board had always adopted a most generous policy towards all members of the staff, and had not deviated in any way from the by-laws, designed for the management of the hospital and approved by the Health Department. “It is to be regretted that the medical practitioners have seen fit to publicly declare the hospital board to be their battleground.”

Mr McDowell referred to his meeting with the Minister of Health (Mr McKay) in company with the medical

superintendent and secretary, some weeks ago. He said he had suggested to the Minister that the board would welcome an inquiry into the conduct of its affairs. “I now feel that it is over to the board, in view of the press statements that have been made, and in satisfaction to the public, to ask the Minister of Health to institute an inquiry,” Mr McDowell said. Unanimous He then moved that the board ask the Minister to conduct an inquiry. This was seconded by Mr E. T. Grigg and was supported unanimously by members. Mrs E. McQuilkin said she hoped an inquiry would be successful in staffing the hospital. She said that from the outset of the troubles, when the board received the letters of resignation from the first two doctors and the allegations made against the integrity of the board, that the matter should have been brought before the public. Mr E. J. Wood said an inquiry would “clear the air” and he favoured the proposed action.

Mr A. E. P. Killian said it seemed a pity that the board could not manage its own affairs. However, it was apparent that these “happenings” were beyond its control. The matters to be inquired into would require considerable thought and judgment. Urgency Sought Mr Killian said the time factor was the biggest worry. An inquiry wjuld take time, and it might be difficult to maintain services to the public while these were instituted. An inquiry was the only feasible way, but it should be of the greatest urgency. Mr McDowell’s motion was then put and carried unanimously. After Mr D. J. Aitken, the secretary, had outlined the position regarding medical staff appointments to fill the various vacancies, Mrs McQuilkin said it appeared, “in view of the letter from the doctors and from previous happenings, that the pattern is repeating itself. “I hope it is not true,” she said. Mr Aitken said the board had received four applications for the position of fulltime surgeon and after Health Department approval it had appointed Mr W. V. James, of Whyalla, South Australia.

After applications closed, however, Mr James advised his withdrawal, having been offered a position as surgeon at Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York.

The board had appointed a local practitioner to the position of visiting medical physician, and in addition had appointed a senior physician on the Christchurch Hospital staff who would visit one day a week. The Christchurch physician had confirmed his appointment, but the local appointee had withdrawn his application. “Immediate action must be taken to cover this position from January 1,” said Mr Aitken. Applications Dealing with the positions of anaesthetists and anaesthetic services, he said the board had received three overseas applications and had appointed a Dr. V. R. Jones. Dr. Jones had been unable to confirm the appointment through family illness and a cable was at present awaited from one of the other two applicants advising whether he would accept the position if Dr. Jones was unable to accept. Mr Aitken also detailed arrangements which had been made for anaesthetists and anaesthetic services, and for interim anaesthetic services over the holiday period until an appointment was made. Mr Aitken said the difficulties regarding the visiting physicians would be met by a consulting physician from Christchurch. ’The local applicant for the position had withdrawn his application on Monday. When Mr McDowell suggested that the board then go into committee to consider

“Nothing To Hide"

a letter from the Super-intendent-in-Chief of Christ church Hospital, Mrs McQmlkin said the time was opportune to tell the public about the board’s part-hue services and “general set-up."

Mr Killian said nothing should be hidden now. Eventhing should come out. as the board had nothing to hide If there was anything in board members’ minds it should be said now. The board had gone far enough in trying to protect other people’s feelings “The greatest mistake we have made is in trying to prevent unpleasant things being said about people who have given this county tremendous service. We are receiving the repercussions of this in increasing circles,” Mr Killian said.

The medical superintendent (Mr R. J. Jagose) said the parLtime medical staff members concerned in the troubles had been given the chance to meet him and the board, but had refused. Mrs Brown said that at no time was the way of negotiation closed to the medical staff. Negotiations could have taken place if the doctors concerned had been willing, but they were not willing. “We protected these people at the beginning of our troubles and we are reaping our reward. We tried to keep our first troubles in committee, but 1 admit we were wrong." she said.

Mr McDowell said the two letters which started the troubles were marked “confidential” by the doctors concerned, and the board had no option but to take them in committee. He said that at the departmental inquiry all matters would be brought forward. It would not be proper for the board to have a wide discussion at the meeting after having called for the inquiry. The board then elected to go into committee.