SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22603, 16 December 1936, Page 14

SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS

HOSPITAL PROBLEM DIFFICULTY AT NEW PLYMOUTH [by telegraph—own correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday Extreme difficulty is being experienced by the Tnranaki Hospital Board in obtaining qualified doctors to stalf the public hospital at New Plymouth. An acute <■ shortage of qualified men throughout the Dominion was indicated by figures submitted to the board today and the opinion was expressed that the board would have to salaries considerably higher than the £l5O a year it had been paying to secure men. The possibility of securing house surgeons from Australia was discussed, but it was stated that these men would require salaries of £SOO or £6OO a year. Mr. P. E. Stainton, chairman of the board, said the position was acute and many hospitals would bo unable to fill their requirements. The Taranaki board had been able to retain two of its present house surgeons for a period, probably three months, by offering them greatly increased salaries, and one vacancy would be filled by two doctors being engagod for six months .each during 1937. The board would havo to revise its ideas of paying £l5O to £2OO annually for house surgeons. Increases would have to bo made in accordance witli higher wages being paid in other trades and professions. Drs. A. <l. Thomson and Barron wero appointed houso surgeons from a date to be arranged at salaries of £2OO a year It was decided to reappoint Dr. F P Allen and Dr. Hawksworth at a'rate of £-150 a year. Their probable term of re-ongagement is about threo months.