Waiting Lists For Surgery

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

Waiting Lists For Surgery

The waiting list tor surgical treatment of ear, nose and throat complaints was so long that another two specialists could be fully occupied in Christchurch, the medical superintendent-in-chief of the North Canterbury Hospital Board, Dr L. M. Berry, said yesterday. He said that in spite of widespread and repeated advertising the hospital had been unable to get another ear, nose and throat specialist to cope with what he considered an unsatisfactory situation.

“If we had two more surgeons they would be so busy we would hardly notice them," he said. “This is a very difficult pfoblem. We have gone to considerable lengths to attract them.”

Dr Berry said there were also lengthy waiting lists for treatment of orthopaedic and varicose veins patients. Some* time ago there had been a waiting list of two years and a half for orthopaedic patients, but this had been’ reduced to about one year. The hospital had a lust of about 1000 patients waiting for varicose veins treatment and these were being attended to as quickly as possible. Dr Berry said the lists, were constantly being brought up to date, and the names of those no longer requiring treatment were being removed.