CHARGES OF NEGLECT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20171, 4 February 1929, Page 11

CHARGES OF NEGLECT.

HOSPITAL HONORARY STAFF.

"SUBSTANTIATE OR WITHDRAW"

CHAIRMAN NOTES IMPROVEMENT.

"I went round the hospital this afternoon and already there has been a considerable improvement, but I do not intend to make any statement until the next meeting of the board," said Mr. W. Wallace, chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, yesterday, when asked what action he intended to take in answer to a demand from the honorary medical staff that he should substantiate or withdraw charges that tho staff had neglected patients in the hospital. The position was discussed at a further meeting of the honorary staff, when the secretary was instructed to write to the chairman and members of the board as follows: —

"Some weeks ago the chairman of the board in public meeting made statements that patients in tho hospital Were being neglected by the honorary staff. In reply to a letter requesting in writing "what foundation there was for the charge, a letter was received from the chairman asking a committee of the honorary staff to meet him.

"The honorary staff, tho medical superintendent and tho assistant medical superintendent are quite unaware of any case of neglect or of any just cause for such an allegation. As the statements objected to had been made public, tho honorary staff declined to meet the chairman until he had disclosed tho basis of his charges. A further letter was sont to the chairman requesting information. A fortnight had elapsed and the medical superintendent and the honorary staff have not yet heard from tho chairman on what grounds ho based his charges. "The honorary staff therefore asks that the chairman of tho board immediately extend to the honorary staff the courtesy of cither substantiating his charges or of withdrawing them and respectfully suggests to the board that the harmonious working of the hospital will be facilitated by its early discussion of tho position which has arisen."