HOSPITAL STAFF

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11684, 23 November 1923, Page 3

HOSPITAL STAFF

REORGANISATION ? BOARD TO "SERIOUSLY CONSIDER, MATTER." PREBENT STAFF OVERWORKED? In accordance with notice given the Rev. H. Van Staveren moved at yesterday’s meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board: "That the board take into serious consideration the supplementing and reorganising of its medical staff. In sneaking to the motion, the Rev. Van Staveren said that there was a great deal at the back of the idea. Dr Wilson was quite willing to take on a great deal of extra work, but they should not allow him to overwork himself. They had only six medical assistants in the institution, and this was not enough. There were 400 patients in the hospital, and this was too great a number for one man to adequately look after. He was going to propose that two fully qualified and experienced doctors be appointed, the first at a salary of .£BOO per year, running to £9OO, and the second at £7OO, running to £BOO. There were too many complaints now about patients not receiving proper medical attendance, and if they saved only one human life it would be worth the extra cost. Mr J. W. Butler seconded the motion. It was evident that Dr Wilson had too much to do, but he considered that the suggestion made bv the mover should be referred to the hospital committee, which could bring recommendations to the next meeting of the board. Mr Van Staveren intimated that he was quite willing to have it referred to the committee. The Rev. Mr Elliott said that they should allow Dr Wilson to bring forward his promised report before it "butted in" with recommendations of its own. He did not think that Mr Van Staveren had made out a very good case, because the board had been elected on the ticket of economy, but some members wanted them to go on plunging into one form of expenditure or another. They had, after all, the young house surgeons, who, if they could not look after the cases themselves, could refer them to the medical superintendent. If they appointed two further expensive doctors he could not see what their young men would have to do. They might pass the time pleasantly in smoking cigarettes, but there would be little else for them to do. The chairman, Mr F. Castle, said that Mr Van Staveren’s motion asked for nothing more than that the question be considered. There was also a suggestion for reorganising the resident staff, but that would all be considered by the committee. The motion was put to the meeting and carried.