Rural Communities ‘Not All Loyal’ To Doctors

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32078, 28 August 1969, Page 8

Rural Communities ‘Not All Loyal’ To Doctors

The Medical Superin-tendent-in-Chief of the North Canterbury Hospital Board (Dr L. Sf. Berry) claimed yesterday that the disloyalty of country people to their doctors was a reason for the shortage of doctors in rjiral areas. He tdld the board that while some country people expected a lot from their doctors they were not prepared to support them and’be iSyat. ’-'A ibt of people come to town for treatment and it is only when there is an emergency that they etpect the local doctor to be ’on their doorstep,” he said. If country people, were not prepared to support their doctor during the week they could not expect to have him at all hours of the. night and at, week-ends. Dr Berry admitted that this situation did, not aPP I ? to all’ rural areas and that sometimes doctors themselves could be blamed for the lack of support they got. The question of country doctors was discussed in three separate contexts at ’ yesterday’s meeting. The chairman of the board (Di L. C. L. Averill) said many country people seemed to think that the board was Obliged to provide doctors in country areas. The chairman of the institutions committee (Mr J. B.

Hay), said people must realise that the real crisis was a i shortage of doctors to go into ' country areas. 1 “You can’t blame doctors ’ not wanting to go into the I country and until the medical 1

schools start turning out ( numbers where we get a slight' glut we will have this problem,” he said. A. letter from the Ashley County Council expressing concern about the shortage of doctors in its area said that' new community facilities at Amberley had Incorporated a Complete consulting room which had remained ’’empty and silent” Dr Berry said the matter was under consideration but' would not be easy to solve. ' ‘The question of sending! doctors from the hospitals; was impossible. It was illegal to send first-year doctors, and second-year doctors could not'

/be spared because of the great work load that would be trans* ferred to others. He said while doctors were* required to study and sit ex- : aminations it was unreasonable, on a permanent basis, to ' expect them to work in country areas. In any case the hospital had no power to insist that they go. Dr Averill said he congratulated the Atnuri County Council on the provision of such .good facilities and hoped it : would not be long before they i were in use. ‘J j . He said the question of factjlities for country doctors would be discussed ata meet-' 1 ing in Wellington today.