Appointments Of Specialists For Coast Hospitals

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 April 1948, Page 8

Appointments Of Specialists For Coast Hospitals

Proposals for the appointment of a full-time radiologist and a pathologist to provide specialist services for hospital patients throughout the West Coast and Buller districts were formulated at a conference of the hospital hoards concerned held at Greymouth last night. The discussions, however, were held in committee and 1 details of the tentative arrangements| reached will not be made public until I they are submitted to the respective l • boards. i “I think I can safely say that the West Coast and Buller, as a result of! their isolation are in what one may term the Cinderella category,” said Mr A. Mosley, chairman of the Grey Board. “We are not so fortunately placed as the centres, where specialist treatment is readily available. “No New Matter” Mr Mosley added that the meeting would have to consider the appointment of its chairman, but before that J was done he would like to mention that the matter- for discussion had been under consideration by the Grey Board for some time. In August last Dr Barclay (medical superintendent) had submitted a report and had given his reasons for suggesting the pro- 1 vision of such services. The matter came up again about October when Dr Rollinson reported on the X-ray department and plant, and it was also taken up with Dr Pearson. “So, it is no new matter as far as ! the Grey Board is concerned,” con- I ' tinued Mr Mosley “and I do hope that 1

something will be achieved tonight.” Pointing out that, as chairman of the Grey Board, he would much prefer the chairman of'the meeting to be a member of-another board, Mr Mosley proposed that Mr E. W. Heenan (Hokitika) take the chair. The motion was seconded by Mr J. Stokes. i Mr Heenan said he would like to | see Mr Mosley continue as' chairman, i as the conference was being held in 1 his district. " j Mr Mosley: Yes, that is so, but I ’ feel that we have sponsored this mat- ; ' ter for quite a while and for that reason one may be a little biased I want ‘ to have an open mind, but sometimes ! one thinks he has an open mind when, in fact, one may be a little biased.” | Not Open to Press I | Prior to vacating the chair, Mr Mos- I | ley said that the press had inquired ! whether it would be admitted to the! i meeting. He had felt that it was a ' i matter for the meeting to decide. His I 1 own view was that the matter was just j ! in.its initial stages and it was rather I premature for press reports to go out. I Those present were merely delegates! from their boards and it would be i

their duty to report back. Mr Heenan said that a free and frank discussion was required. Replying to a question by Mr C. Coxall (Reefton), Mr Mosley said he did not remember whether Dr Barclay’s report had been reported, but in any case the Grey board made no decision on it. 1 On Mr Mosley’s motion seconded 1 by Mr Stokes, it was decided, without ! dissent, that the meeting be not open to the press. ■ • | The delegates present at the con- 1 ference were as * follows:—Grey: • Messrs A. Mosley, J. Stokes, W. H. G. ‘ Watson and Dr S. Barclay. Westland:; Messrs E. W. Heenan, E. V. Hughes ' and Dr Smart. Inangahua: Mr C. I Coxall, Mrs R. Yellowlees and Dr A. C. Heaphy. Buller: Messrs J. Ward, H. I O’Neill, G. A. Brown and Dr Ryder. I