HOSPITAL STAFF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22714, 28 April 1937, Page 15

HOSPITAL STAFF

ITHE recent election

VIEWS OF MR. W. K. HOWITT

METHODS IN PAST YEARS

NO PLUMPING ALLOWED

In view of the suggested change in the methods of appointment of honorary medical - ' and surgical staffs at the Auckland and other New Zealand hospitals, Mr. W. K. Howitt, who was for 14 years a member of the Auckland Hospital Board, was asked to comment 011 the recent appointments to the honorary medical staff. Mr. Howitt said: —"The members of the honorary ( staff are deserving of credit for stating so fully their reasons for objecting to the recent appointments. There was a time when tranquillity between the honorary staff and the board, when the hospital reached high water mark as an outstanding institution for the skilled treatment of its patients, when the interest of the patient came first every 'time. "This happy state of affairs was very noticeable when the British Medical Association held its conference in Auckland in 1924, when the retiring president, Dr. Gibson, handed over tho seals of office to Sir Carrick Robertson. A brilliant number of men came from ■overseas, notably an American delegation. of which, Drs. AY. J. Mayo and Martin were prominent. Sir John Lynn 'Thomas, a noted surgeon from England, was also present. After inspection ■of our hospital, they satisfied the Auckland public that the surgery they had seen was of the highest order, and that there seemed the closest co-opera-tion between Dr. Maguire and his (staff. Security of Tenure "It was the rule then," continued Mr. Howitt, "that 110 plumping was allowed in the selection of the honorary •staff. Members of the board had to vote for the full number, or their paper was invalid. Dr. Mayo, one of the most unassuming of men, and his colleague. Dr. Martin, addressing the board members at M'otuilii Island when they were being entertained, spoke forcibly ■on keeping the standard of the surgery at its then high level, and to give tho senior surgeons some security of tenure, although they : advised a retiring limit of not more than 60 years of age. "Not only should juniors have long service under seniors, they said, but before they 1 got to seniors themselves it should be asked, have these younger men, apart from having a good pair of hands and plenty of nerve, learned the lesson of living sound and cautious judgment, which is so essential to good surgery? It was necessary after long years of testing to find out if a senior surgeon had learned to diagnose surgical conditions with accuracy. They thought the great thing to know was when if was absolutely necessary to operate, how to operate In special cases, when dangers were evident, and when the concerted advice of many seniors, could be got to confirm judgments formed. Team Work Essential "Team work was what Mr. W. J. Mayo emphasised in all his speeches." said Mr. Howitt, "and he showed how it worked in his own clinic in America. What is a little alarming in Dr. Mackv's statement to the press was the inference- that the present honorary staff was not .working as an efficient team. Then 110 referred to 'a member of their staff, after long and jiouourable service, should be subject to gratuitous dismissal.' This was probably unknown till the election previous to the last one, and some of us were not very satisfied with what took place, because of the bias shown, but there was no plumping at that election. "The worst of all," concluded Mr. Hciftvitt, "is the statement 'that the elections resulted in the nomination for appointment of nn honorary medical staff so comprised as to make efficient service by this staff extremely difficult and most unlikely.' The awfulness of this is seen when we ask, 'Where does the patient come in?' My opinion is that the matter c-apnot be left where it' is, but the solution should not be hard, because of the desire to serve suffering humanity to the best advantage. There could not 1)0 a greater ideal, and we must leave it there, feeling sure of a successful issue because of what is at stake." LETTER TO THE BOARD H s ' NEED FOR CONSIDERATION j DIRECTOR-GENERAL'S VIEW The authorities concerned are . still considering the position that has arisen •between the Auckland Hospital Board sand its honorary medical staff. The Hospital Board has received a letter from the Director-General of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt, in which he suggests that very careful consideration should, be given to the selection of staff made by" recent ballot. The letter contains comments • on individuals concerned, but another passage in it has been made available for publication. "Although sufficient information is not yet available," writes Dr. Watt, "to enable a decision to be made in connection with the honorary staff's request, it is apparent that there is very serious dissatisfaction among the honorary staff, and it is accordingly urged that the board carefully consider the selection of the proposed appointments and ensure to the best of its opinion and judgment that the most competent and otherwise suitable applicants - are chosen." The chairman of the Hospital Board, the Rev. W. C. Wood, is visiting Wellington, and is not expected in Auokland earlier than to-niorrow. It docs not appear at all probable that there will.be a special meeting of the board this week to consider the Direct 01General's letter, but the board willmeet in committee next luesday, and is seems certain that the whole position will he considered then. The chairman of the honorary staff, Dr. Frank Macky, has not yet received a reply from the Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser, to the staff's request for a commission of inquiry into the circumstances of the recent election. It is thought that the Minister is familiarising himself with both sides of the dispute before foimulating an answer. The appointments are to take effect from May 1. unless objection is made by the Minister.