Associate Physician ‘Badly Needed’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31177, 29 September 1966, Page 11

Associate Physician ‘Badly Needed’

In the hope of attracting a much-needed assistant physician for Dr. D. W. Beaven, who is in charge of its medical unit, the North Canterbury Hospital Board will ask the Health Department if it can designate the post “associate physician.”

The chairman, Dr. L. C. L. Averill, said at yesterday’s board meeting that an associate physician was badly needed. D r. Beaven had the care of patients and the overseeing of a research programme. Next year 30 undergraduates studying in Christchurch would have to be taught. The board had applied to the Health Department for an assistant of senior specialist status. Efforts had been made to obtain an assistant physician, but the salary vas not sufficient to attract a suitable man. “For the Christchurch group of hospitals an associate physician is a must,” Dr. Averill said. It was reported that the board’s views on medical staff salaries generally had been sent to the Minister. He had advised that this matter would be fully reviewed by a Hospital Medical Officer’s Advisory Committee, soon to be established. An assurance had been given that the points raised

by the board would receive every consideration when the review was undertaken. The Health Department told the board that an independent assessment of salaries

paid to physicists in the hospital service would be made ou’ this year. Dr. A. M. Goldstein has been selected to serve on a panel undertaking the review.