MEDICAL EXPERTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22984, 11 March 1938, Page 10

MEDICAL EXPERTS

OBSTETRICAL BRANCH

DOMINION'S URGENT NEED

MEN TRAINED OVERSEAS

INDUCEMENT TO RETURN n [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON. Thursday The urgent need for moro highly qualified obstetricians in all the larger hospitals in the Dominion was brought* to the notice of the Waikato Hospital Board to-day in a letter from the Direc-tor-General of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt. "Tho University of Otago and tho Obstetrical Society have asked tho Department of Health to ensure as far as possible that tho appointment of an obstetrician having higher qualifications bo made to all hospitals admitting more than 200 cases a year," the Direc-tor-General informed the board. "It has been pointed out that for some timo past there has been somo anxiety occasioned by tho failure of tho holders of tho obstetric scholarship to return to New Zealand after receiving a very thorough training in obstetrics and gynaecology in Australia and Great Britain," the letter added. "The intention of the scholarship was to leaven New Zealand with an increasing number of medical practitioners especially trained in obstetrics, so that they could both create foci for the improvement of this branch of medicine, and also be at the disposal of other practitioners who might desire assistance.

"It is evident there is not enough inducement offered to medical men possessing this higher qualification to return to the Dominion and make that branch of medical work their specialty. It is felt that if part-time salaried appointments could be offered in centres where our larger maternity hospitals are located it would prove a definite attraction to such men." Framed by the board's medical superintendent, Dr. M. M. Hockin, a recommendation was passed to tho effect that, if an obstetrician with special qualifications commenced practice in Hamilton, the board would be glad to avail itself of his services at the Campbell Johnstone ward.