Doctor calls for chairman to resign

Press, 16 February 1980, Page 3

Doctor calls for chairman to resign

Christchurch’s failure to’, get a cardiac unit has result-; ed in a call for the resigna-f tion of the chairman of the; North Canterbury Hospital; Board (Mr T. C. Grigg). j The call has come from a’: member of the board’s own; staff, Dr F. T. L. Hull, a car-i diologist at Princess Marga-p ret Hospital. His reaction follows this; week’s announcement that! Christchurch Hospital will I receive a neurosurgical unit I but that it cannot" expect al cardiac unit for at least! three years. Mr Grigg’s credibility and! that of the board and its; administrators had been; compromised, said Dr Hull.; “I therefore ask publicly that he resign for failing the people of Canterbury in carrying out his stated policy.” i Dr Hull said that Mr Grigg had maintained for some years, verbally and in writing, that his board's first ' priority was the establish- : ment of a cardiac surgery I unit. “He has had the public promise of the Prime Minis- ; ter (Mr Muldoon) that the . money would be available to 1 establish a cardiac unit in Christchurch by 1981. The : plans for such a unit have : been in Wellington for some 1 months.” Dr Hull said the net result I of Mr Grigg’s “promises” ; had been that facilities in Canterbury were worse, "for I it would appear that i patients sent to the North i Island for surgery will now I have to pay their own i fares.”

; Asked what he. believed ■ Mr Grigg’s resignation {would achieve. Dr Hull said ihe had no further comment Ito make. j Replying to Dr Hull’s ’statement. Mr Grigg said he ;was surprised that such action had been taken by a | staff member of the board ; without consulting him or any of the board’s senior I administrators. I “Dr Hull is obviously ig- | norant of the background to I the announcement made by I the Minister of Health (Mr iGair) last Tuesday. I “The decisions were made Iby the Government and the 'board was not able to in-1 ■ fluence them in any way." said Mr Grigg. “The board has made it" clear to the Government that it reserves the right to press for a cardiac surgery unit in the future, but believes that the approval of a CT scanner and the base neurosurgical unit will be of tremendous benefit to the area served by the North Canterbury Hospital Board.” The Medical Staff Association of the Christchurch hospitals, also supports Mr Grigg. The chairman of the association (Mr J. K. Laing) said the executive was confident it spoke for most of the medical staff in expressing support for the board, its chairman, and its administrations. “They have made great efforts in seeking the setting up of a cardiac surgery unit in Christchurch. That they have failed for the moment is not their fault,” said Mr Laing.