HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24132, 26 November 1941, Page 10

HOSPITAL AFFAIRS

OFFICIAL CRITICISM REPLY BY CHAIRMAN "UNFAIR AND UNCALLED FOR" "Unfair and uncalled for" was how the chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, Mr. Allan J. Moody, yesterday described the criticisms of the board's administration and conditions at the 4 hospital contained, in the letter iroin the Director-General of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt, that came before the board on Monday night. "The affairs of the hospital have never before been more closely watched by the board," said Mr, Moody. "If he had any grounds for complaint after his inspection, it was his duty to have communicated them immediately to the medical instead of returning to Wellington and forwarding a report weeks later," said Mr. Moody. With reference to the strengthening of the staff by the appointment of a senior physician, Mr. Moody said the matter had repeatedly been before the board, which bad advertised throughout New Zealand for a suitable man, but without success. Mr. Moody then wrote I to Dr. Watt asking if lie knew of any medical man he could recommend, but the reply was that he did not know any who would accept the appointment. , Mr. Moody said it was a matter of .rreat satisfaction to himself and lus colleagues that the board had had the courage and foresight to go ahead with the erection of the new six-storev block at the . Infirmary. * The building was eventually to accommodate 250 beds, and the first two floors were now Hearing completion. The board decided at its meeting on Monday that the full scheme should be gone on with immediately. It would be used for general hrspital purposes. "It seems to me that too much ha,s been made of overcrowding in the institution," Mr.. Moody said. "Some time ago, when the hospital executive reported to the board its alarm at the overcrowding, I discovered that there were just on 90 beds not being used in the new Domain block, and mstrnctions were immediately issued for those

beds to be occupied. t . , Regarding complaints about mtccfcious diseases, Mr. Moody said that this matter had been considered by the board and appropriate action taken long before the . Director-General's letter was received.