SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9717, 20 July 1917, Page 2

SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS

POSITION OF WELLINGTON HOSPITAL. The scarcity of doctors due to their services being requisitioned by , tile military authorities tor services at the front is being keenly felt at the Wellington Hospital. The matter was mentioned by the chairman of the board yesterday. He said that one of the staff doctors (Dr Wilson) was shortly going into camp, and another (Dr Fitzgerald) had been drawn in tlio ballot at Dunedin. In respect to Dr Fitzgerald, Mr Baldwin said that it had been decided to aftpeal against his being taken away from the, institution, which was already understaffed, so much so that the medical superintendent (Dr Barclay) had advised that to-day (Friday) outpatients could not receive attention as lliero was no medical man available to do the work. The chairman added that in 1914 the daily avex-age number of patients in the institution was 311, and the medical staff consisted of a superintendent, staff surgeon, and three juniors, while to-day the daily average was 870. which included about forty soldiers. The medical staff to attend to this large number consisted of the medical superintendent and three doctors, and one of the doe tors was in charge of the Victoria Hospital, Dr Milne was going into camp, and there only remained the superintendent and Dr Fitzgerald to carry on the work of the main institution. Dr Barclay (medical superintendent) said one of the doctors would be away for the week-end. and there would be no one to attend to out-patients today, but it was hoped that arrangements would be made for the following week. He had communicated with Dunedin, and asked that ho be supplied with three men. BELIEF FROM MILITARY SBRV ivj. JiWAKD. When the case of William Douglas Fitzgerald, house' surgeon at the Wellington Hospital, came up for consideration at the sitting of the Military Service Board yesterday, Ala - H. Baldwin, the • chairman of the Hospital Board, desired to bo allowed to make a statement. Ho said that things had come to such a pass at the hospital tnat tb© board felt compelled to put in an objection to Dr Fitzgerald being taken away from the institution. In 1914 the average number of patients under treatment was 311, apart from the out-patients’ branch. The staff then consisted of a medical superintendent, a senior holise surgeon, and three junior house surgeons. Tho daily average number of patients now was 377, an increase of 22, apart from soldiers, who numbered 40. The staff comprised a medical officer supplied by the Government, tho medical superintendent, a senior house surgeon (Dr Mill), and Dr Fitzgerald. Dr Mill would go into camp shortly, so that only three resident officers would bo left, i Dr Fitzgerald had to consider whether his services would bo more valuable at the hospital than at the front. Dr W. J. Barclay, medical superintendent, impressed on the board than the hospital wa s very much understaffed, and it was a question whether the out-patients’ department would not have to be closed down. All doctors in private practice were now extremely busy. It was essential that the staff of house surgeons should bo kept up, and he thought it would he a good idea if students on oompJeting their medical course could be secured for hospital service immediately, for at least six months.

The chairman (Mr H. J. Beswick) ; I am afraid we cannot go into that. We realise the position. The appeal will be adjourned indefinitely.