‘No Power To Direct Drs.’

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30738, 30 April 1965, Page 3

‘No Power To Direct Drs.’

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, April 29.

The Minister of Health (Mr McKay) replied tonight to the Southland Hospital Board’s decision to refuse responsibility for any tragedy which might occur at Gore Hospital through staff shortages.

Mr McKay said he had no power to direct doctors to work in any particular hospital.

He said the number of house surgeons for hospitals was allocated annually by a committee of medical superintendents, and said this allocation was based on the numbers of graduates available from medical schools.

The Southland Hospital

Board said today it placed full responsibility on the Minister for any tragedy which might occur at the Gore Hospital—until the hospital had enough doctors. The Minister emphasised that the allocation to the hospital within the board’s area was purely a matter for that board.

Mr McKay said he had already advised the Southland Hospital Board of the names of students who were sitting their final examinations in May. He said this would enable the board to approach the students individually. An urgent telegram was drafted by the secretary (Mr T. H. Miles) at today’s board meeting and sent to the Minister.

The wording of the telegram was:

“Following a deputation today from Gore medical officers, the Southland Hospital Board refuses to accept any responsibility for any tragedy at the Gore Hospital through lack of medical staff. The board places full responsibility on the Minister until the staffing position is complete.” The Gore Hospital, approximately one-third the size of Kew Hospital and catering for 19,000 to 20,000 persons, was without any house surgeon at all for the third time in 10 years, the surgeon superintendent. Dr. H. J. Loughlin, told board members.

“It is a physical impossibility to ensure the safety of these people. Sooner or later a tragedy is going to occur and we will be able to do nothing at all to prevent it.”