RESIDENT DOCTOR

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 123, 26 May 1937, Page 2

RESIDENT DOCTOR

Appointment to Hastings Hospital DECISION BY THE BOARD From Our Own Correspondent. NAPIER, May 25. Dr. W. Reeve, of aavewcx r»or«,»*, was yesterday appointed resident medical officer at the Hastings Fallen Sol diers’ Memorial Hospital. Since the inception of the institution the medical service has been carried on .by tho members of the honorary medical staff, whose splendid services have been fre 1 quontly given at a sacrifice and an inconvenience. In making the appoint rr.ent, the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board placed on record its high appreciation of the valued services given by the honorary staff. Tributes were paid in which it was stated that the public had little conception of the great amount of work carried . out by the members of tho honorary staff, who had maintained an excellent medical service that was worthy of the institution. The Hastings General Purposes Com mittee, in its report to the board, suggested that tho time was opportune to combine the service® of the various members of the honorary staff and to appoint a resident house surgeon. It was stated that the honorary staff was in favour of this proposal and that the medical superintendent had voiced hi® approval of it. Sir C. Lassen, chairman, in paying * tribute to the honorary staff, said that they had carried on the medical service to an extent which the public little realised. Among other things they had taken turns in giving up thoir Sundays so a® to be available if called upon. The chairman then moved that a letter should be sent to the honorary staff expressing the board's appreciation of tho splendid manner in which they had carried out the medical services at the Memorial Hospital. In seconding the motion, Mr H. V. Hoadley said that the grateful thankc of the board and of the public were due to the honorary staff for the most efficient service they had carried on. Dr. J. Allan Berry, in supporting the appointment, said that the idea of a stipendiary staff was rather against the principles that were held in connection with the hospital. •*lt is nice to know that we have Dr. Berry's approval,” said Mr Hoadley, amid laughter. Mr C. Duff said that a great debt was owing to the members of the honorary staff. The board and the public had derived a great benefit from tho unstinted time that had been given in the carrying on of the medical service. Board members would be pleased to know that Dr. Reeve was working in the utmost harmony with the medical superintendent, the honorary staff and the nursing staff. The board was fortunate in securing the services of a man like Dr. Reeve, who would fill the position with credit both to himself and to the board. A fine acknowledgment of the services of the honorary staff was paid by the medical superintendent, Dr. J. J. Foley, who said that of Jthe thousand® of cases that they had handled not a complaint had bcsn received. The doctors had devoted a great deal of time to the services they had given, and it had been largely due to their excellent work that it had been possible to run the hospital. Dr. Foley said that he had always been slightly afraid of a position arising when none of the honorary staff would .be available, but that fear had proved baseless. He was pleased at the appointment made, and with the services of the honorary staff, which would still be available, the hospital would be parti eularly well served.

The chairman's motion was then put and carried unanimously.