AN ACUTE POSITION

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 15 September 1930, Page 9

AN ACUTE POSITION

SHORTAGE OF HOUSE SURGEONS

The shortage of house surgeons in the hospital’s throughout the Dominion was again referred to at the meeting of tbe Hawera. Hospital Board to-day, when advice, was received from the Ashburton Hospital Beard that for some months it had been endeavouring to secure, a house, surgeon, but had not been successful, anti it would 1 appear that some of the hospital hoards were going to find it difficult in the near future to obtain staff. The sub-Dean of. the Dunedin Medical .school had advised that lie; regretted being “unable to give any information as to when a house surgeon will be available for the Ashburton Hospital. The medical examinations are rot held until December and, as there are only 30 candidates, it is problematical whether the demands of the smaller hospitals can be met.” , , The. secretary reported that he had replied advising tJliat the Hawera. .Board had experienced great difficulty in. tbe ■past two years'in getting bouse &ur-o-eonsi. In fact, the position had become so acute that the medical superintendent- had carried on without one for some time and the board had got over the difficulty temporarily by appointing a physician at £SOO per annum, with quarters. The latter liao agreed to stay for 12 months only, so tihat the. board would be conriotiVLu with the problem again in a. re\y months’ time. It would, appear mat the centres were absorbing all the newly qualified candidates and that tie smaller hospitals would have to mane other arrangements.