MEDICAL OFFICERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 191, 15 July 1941, Page 5

MEDICAL OFFICERS.

BOARD DECLINES RELEASE. (Press Assn.) AUCKLAND, July 14. A decision that the Auckland Hospital would not release further medical officers for military service until more satisfactory arrangements were made was reached at a meeting of the board to-night. Five house surgeons already have been released, being replaced by sixth-year medical students. F'our more surgeons have been asked for, and before the end of the year the remainder up to a maximum of 50 per cent, will be required. In a report the acting-medical superintendent (Dr. Gilmour) stated that five of the senior medical officers at the hospital had been called for active; service on June 26. The Army Department had now asked for the release of a further four qualified men. This would leave the hospital with 11 qualified men and 11 students.

"The board has always done all it

can to help the military authorities," said the chairman (Mr Allan Moody), "but the Health Department took five of our second-year resident surgeons without even consulting us. Now four moro are wanted. The department is always abusing us for lack of staff, but it must realise that we have a duty to the public of Auckland, not only civilians but also returning soldiers. The whole trouble has arisen because the Medical School is in Dunedin. Students lose valuable time going there for their final examinations. "1. want to move a motion to bring matters to a head,'' added Mr Moody. "It will have (he effect of dropping a l>omb among the University people in D lined in." The chairman moved that unless and until satisfactory arrangements were made so that final examinations would not interfere with the running of the hospital, aiid until provisional registration was arranged for students acting as residents, the board would not release any further medical officers. Seconding the motion, ilr J. Guiniven said it would bo foolish to reduce the staff further. Tho motion- was carried.