Minister Recalls Hospital Inquiry

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31030, 9 April 1966, Page 3

Minister Recalls Hospital Inquiry

(New Zealand Press Association; WELLINGTON, April 8. The Minister of Health, Mr McKay, has decided to reconstitute the recently-appointed committee of inquiry into hospital matters in Southland.

His decision was announced after an .hour-long meeting yesterday between the Minister and the chairman of the Kew Hospital visiting medical staff committee, Dr. C. H. Baird, and Dr. R. Hunter, a member of both the Southland Hospital Board and the visiting staff committee. Mr McKay said the membership and terms of refer-

ence of the committee would be announced soon. The meeting yesterday was sought by the committee, which had urged the Minister to delay action until it had the opportunity to make rep resentations to him. The two doctors in a statement after the meeting said: “Having met the Minister of Health on behalf of the visiting staff of Kew Hospital, and discussed methods of attempting to solve the present impasse resulting from the boards’ refusal to ask Sir Charles Burns to act as interim medical superintendent-in-chief, our opinion is that the only solution lies in the reconvening of the committee of inquiry. “Sir Charles Burns has, in spite of great personal inconvenience to himself, expressed his willingness to come to Southland as an interim medical superintendent-in-chief, to aid the improvement of medical services to the public, if asked by the board. “The Minister of Health has stated that his appointment would be wholeheartedly agreed to by himself and his department. “Sir Charles Burns was not willing to come in a purely consultative capacity, as offered by the board.”