New Proposal For Visiting Staff

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31017, 24 March 1966, Page 7

New Proposal For Visiting Staff

The North Canterbury Hospital Board is to recommend to the Health Department that visiting staff appointments be on a permanent basis instead of for only three years, as at present.

The proposal was made by the board’s medical super-mtendent-dn-chief (Dr. L. McH. Berry) after a comprehensive review of all visiting staff appointments. Mr V. J. Corbett questioned the wisdom of the proposed change at the board’s meeting yesterday. He said the present three-year appointments gave young doctors who had specialist training overseas the opportunity to apply for positions with the board. T’m afraid we could lose some very promising up-and-coming young persons,” said Mr Corbett. “If we have permanent appointees they will say that it is no use applying to the North Canterbury board, and they’ll go to Wellington or somewhere else instead.” Continuity Assured Dr. Berry said permanent appointments would have the advantage of assuring continuity of employment for visiting staff, and it would

mean that they could regard work with the board as a career. At present appointees had to reapply for their own positions every three years.

Mr D. Macmillan asked if other boards had a permanent appointment system. Dr. L. C. L. Averill, the board’s chairman, said that as far as he knew they did not. The proposal would be made to the Health Department, which would probably refer it to its Hospitals Advisory Committee and to other boards.

Dr. Berry said he did not expect the department to agree immediately to the recommendation. “We may have to delay the proposals for three years if the department digs its toes in,” he said.