HOSPITAL DISPUTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22197, 26 August 1935, Page 10

HOSPITAL DISPUTE

TROUBLE AT WAIHI DOCTOR TO RESIGN MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT CONFLICT WITH BOARD QUESTION OF CONTROL ("by telegraph —OWN correspondent! WAIHI, Sunday The crisis in the affairs of the Waihi Hospital became more acute last night, when tho medical superintendent, Dr. L. R. Hetherington, maintaining his right to control the staff in the interests of the patients'instead of being over-ruled by tho Hospital Board, informed the board at a special meeting that he would resign. The board insisted that the superintendent should reinstato a nursing aid he had dismissed, and Dr. Hetherington, in consequence, intends to tender h:s written resignation to-morrow morning. The board considered complaints by the nursing aid at a meeting last Monday, and, in instructing the superintendent to reinstate her, decided to terminate tho services of the matron, Miss M. K, Stevenson. On the following day practically all the members of the nui'sing and domestic staffs handed in their resignations. The nurses and nursing aids gave as their reasons their objection to the reinstatement of the aid concerned and the publicity given reports, the correctness of which they questioned, concerning hospital matters, and the domestics said their reason was the dismissal of the matron. Superintendent's Attitude A letter forwarded by the superintendent to the secretary of the board yesterday was discussed by the board last night, with the urgent subject of replacing the staff. Dr. Hetherington's letter stated: —"Regarding your communication of the 21st instant, in which I was instructed to reinstate Miss B. J. Howie, I beg to inform you that I have not reinstated Miss Howie, and would like you to bring the following facts before the notice of the board. "In dealing with patients I am solely responsible for their welfare, and under no circumstances is it possible either legally or professionally for me to remove this responsibility on to the board, even if the board were willing to receive it and I wished to be relieved of it. This being the case, it is essential that I have a staff of nurses whom I consider efficient, and that I am able to dispense with the services of any found unsuitable. Miss Howie, after due trial, was found unsuitable, hence she was given notice of termination of her duty. In the face of this I find myself unable to carry out your order to reinstate Miss Howie, and unless this resolution' is withdrawn and I am given full control of the staff I have no option but to tender my resignation." Private Practice Intended Dr. Hetherington has been superintendent for five years. He was in charge when the emergency of the serious mining shaft accident occurred several years ago. He intends to remain in Waihi in private practice. The special meeting of the board was called to consider the action of the chairman, Mr. A. E. Robinson, in allowing Miss Howie to leave at her request, to consider the resignations of the nursing and domestic staffs, and what provision should be made for staffing, and to consider an application by Mr. F. C. V. Clark, solicitor, for written reasons for the dismissal of the matron. After discussion, the board confirmed its decision on the reinstatement of Miss Howie, and further agreed to accept all the resignations tendered by members of the nursing and domestic staffs. It was further decided to inform Mr. Clark that the resolution of the board concerning the matron's dismissal was considered sufficient to indicate the reasons for the action. A letter was also received from the Director-General of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt, pointing out that the board was taking upon itself a grave responsibility in coming into conflict with the administrative head of the institution. Dr. Watt urged that the members of the board should review the matter of taking such drastic measures. Applications Called For In furtherance of his letter, Dr. Hetherington emphasised that his consideration was the interests of the patients. If the board would not support him in office, he would have no choice but to resign. If the board failed to recognise his duty, proper control and treatment would not be possible. Two sisters, three staff nurses, seven aids and eight domestics have tendered their resignations as from Wednesday last, and the board has decided to call for applications for the positions forthwith. A month's notice applies in the case of the sisters and nurses, two weeks' notice in the case of the aids, and a week's notice in the case of the domestics. An advertisement calling for applications for positions as domestics appeared on the screen at a theatre last night, and the audience showed by its comments an appreciation of the position.