MEDICAL SCHOOL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22320, 18 January 1936, Page 15

MEDICAL SCHOOL

ROOM FOB ONE ONLY DISCUSSION IN SENATE CLINICAL WORK FACILITIES "Wo are unanimously of opinion that at this particular stage it would be a disaster, if, with our small population, wc should attempt to found two complete medical schools," said Professor T. A. Hunter, vice-chancel-lor of the university, in presenting the report of the committee on medical education to the New Zealand University Senate yesterday. " Medical education under those conditions would be bound to suffer for a considerable period," he said. "On the other hand, the committee was impressed with the difficulty that the increasing number of students makes in dealing with clinical work at the Otago University."

Professor Hunter said the commit--1 tee appreciated very much the assistr nnce and co-operation that had been given it by the Otago University CounF cil. The question was a most imi portant and a most difficult one. The I report was an attempt to set out ■ the facts as they had emerged, and it was felt that the senate should raise certain issues with the Otago University and particularly the medical faculty, who, after all, were the ■ advisers to the senate as far as medical education was concerned. Increase of Students Figures quoted in the report showed that there had been a large increase in the number of students. The senate felt that to a certain extent the Otago University was carrying on the medical course in very difficult circumstances. The committee indicated fivo points on which it thought it would be well for the committee to obtain a report from the faculty of medicine of Otago University. 'That report should be before the senate before it made its decision. The committee felt that the question of balance between pre-clinical and clinical teaching should be considered by the faculty and reported on to the senate, continued Professor Hunter. It, would be a mistake at this juncture not to take a long view of the situation, as a hasty decision might lead to serious consequences. He moved the adoption of the report. Dr. T. D. M. Stout, who said he had been assisting in the final-year training of students in Wellington, described the report as an extremely valuable one. As far as the pre-clinical stage was concerned conditions in Dunedin were extremely satisfactory, and it was generally agreed that the subjects were taught to a higher standard than generally obtained in the Home country. Possibly a certain amount ! of the time given to the preliminary stages could be curtailed to allow more scope for the treatment of the clinical stage later. Insufficient Material The question that constantly cropped up for solution was that Dunedin had not sufficient clinical material, and ' arrangements would undoubtedly have to be made for training final-year students elsewhere, said Dr. Stout. No difficulty should arise over this. Almost three-quarters of the final-year students were at present being trained in other centres, but a more definite arrangement should be made by establishing either tutorships or lectureships. He thought the committee should seek the opinion of the medical profession in other centres and of -the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons on these matters. Mr. H. F. von Haast, pro-chancel-#lor, said that no sort of dual con*trol was proposed, and the medical faculty would continue to have complete control of the training given in other centres.

Mr. K. Mackenzie said the medical school had developed the pre-clinical side to a point somewhat beyond what was necessary for the general practitioner. There had been a lack of balance, and the early side of the training had been developed at the expense of the later. The 300 obstetrical cases in Dunedin would provide material for not more than 50 students for their preliminary training. There would be about 150 students taking clinical work in a hospital in which there were some 80 medical and 130 surgical cases. For teaching purposes the position was an impossible one. Otago Council's Attitude

Mr. W. J. Morrell said the Otago University Council and the medical faculty were fully prepared that all the students of the final year with a few exceptions should go for training in other centres. With regard to the fifth year there was more divergence of opinion, and the faculty was of opinion that there was no need for the transference of these from Dunedin. The application for restriction of students was for one year only and there had been no such application since. Mr. W. Newlands said that what had been said about the shortage of material in Dunedin evidently must refer to the future and not to the present. With the existing arrangement for sixth year students, Dunedin was quite capable with its clinical resources of providing all the material necessary up to the sixth year. Any suggestion that the present arrangements were insufficient for dealing with'the classes of 60 they had was quite wrong. The sixth year training in other centres should in future bo in one centre only and not in three. Mr. L. D. Ritchie assured the senate that though it might take time to bring about the changes contemplated no harm wrvs being done in the meantime. No Restriction on Students It was not the fact that 60 new students was the limit, and as a matter of fact 71 students passed their first professional examination last year, said Mr. Kitchio. At present thero was no restriction on the number of students entering, and they were receiving a most thorough and excellent training. Dr. Hunter said that there had been no suggestion that 60 was the limit of new students, but that that was the Jmit who could receive efficient clinical instruction. Professor H. G. Denham spoke of the very high standing of the New Zealand medical degree, but said there was nevertheless a feeling that the medical school was not quite keeping pace with the demands on the side of clinical training. The committee had been unanimous in its desire that no new medical school should be established, but merely a branch of the Otago Medical School.

Mr. A. E. Flower suggested that secondary schools should bo able to lighten the work of the first year in the medical school by giving preliminary training in the required subjects. The report was adopted, and it was decided to continue the committee with the addition of Dr. Stout and instruct it to obtain opinions from medical authorities concerned for forwarding to the Otago University Council, and to report to tiie senate.