MEDICAL SERVICE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 54, Issue 32651, 28 November 1945, Page 5

MEDICAL SERVICE

POSITION ON THE PLAINS DOCTOR & BOARD MEMBER STATEMENT MISUNDERSTOOD In a newspaper report he had noticed that Mr J. W. Neate emphasised the over-working of the medical staff, wrote Dr. F. L. Clark, of Paeroa, in a letter to the November meeting of the Thames Hospital Board. Mr Neate had further stated that when the writer visited the Hauraki Plains he was so overwhelmed with patients that he sent them to hospital for observation. If this were true it would explain' the over-working of the medical staff. As Dr. Clark denied the correctness of these remarks, he wrote the letter so that the board might give Mr Neate the opportunity to retract it. “I note also that he states that the Hauraki Plains has a medical service of four hours a week for 5000 persons,” wrote Dr. Clark. “This' is rubbish.”

Mr Neate explained that he said the doctor came to the Hauraki Plains twice a week, for a total of four hours. He had, however, never ipaJfe any attack on his services in any shape or form. Previous reports from, Dr. E. Gifford, medical superintendent at Thames, indicate that this hospital was.over-worked' and under-staffed. Wanted To Assist Mr Neate said he had made His remarks to. assist Dr. Clark, and had nothing to retract. He had made the statement in a general -way. 'Doctors throughout New Zealand were over-worked at present. He challenged Dr. Clark to do his l daily round of patients at Paeroa and! the 'Hauraki Plains in the same way as if he were concerned with the Hauraki Plains alone. '

u lf I have hurt 'Dr. Clark's feelings in any way I apologise,” said Mr Neate. He had made the statement to assist the representations he was placing before the board and he hoped shortly to meet Dr. Clark and discuss the matter quietly. Mr E. Edwards said it should be pointed out that a large portion of the Hauraki Plains did not receive medical attention from the visiting doctor from Paeroa, but from doctors from Thames, Morrinsville and Te Aroha. This reduced the number receiving attention from this one doctor quite considerably. The statement in the Press conveyed that the doctor was not giving sufficient attention to his patients. That was not the case. In addition to his regular visits he also made numIt should be borne in mind that when erous visits throughout the week, and if the impression had got around that patients were being dealt with by telephone and sent to hospital for observation it was creating a very wrong impression.

The impression had >been conveyed that one man was endeavouring’ to do a superhuman, job, when he was not. a member made a statement to the board to amplify a case members of the board understood the position, but an impression which might be erroneous was conveyed to the public when these remarks appeared’ in print.

Mr Neate said he agreed up to a point with these remarks. His statements had been- misconstrued. Notices Of Motion

Notices of motion by Mr Neate, that the board consider the employment of male nurses l and endeavour to have three district nurses' appointed, to be stationed at Ngatea, Hikutaia and, Tapu, were held over until further information is to hand.

The regulations governing the employment of male nurses are at present und'er eonsidea*ation by the Department of Health, and the Medical Officer of Health will give a full report on the employment of further district nurses.