FRICTION IN A HOSPITAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17084, 16 August 1917, Page 5

FRICTION IN A HOSPITAL

MEDICAL STAFF RESIGNS. (Pee United Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, August 15. At the Hospital Board meeting to-day tho resignation of Dr Walker, the medical superintendent, and other members of the medical staff were received. This is the outcome of lons-standinpr friction, which was brought to a head lately by the board ordering an inquiry into the suspension of a junior nurse. Tins the medical staff regarded as tantamount to a vote of-want of confidence in the staff.

The Taranaki Herald says that "the hospital has achieved a very high and honourable reputation under the mcdical superintendent, who has met with .exceedingly discourteous treatment at the hands of members of the board, whose advice and recommendations have been neglected and generally his position has been made as uncomfortable as the members could well make it. The nursing staff has had similar cause for complaint and previous little consideration from members of the board. Fortunately a strong sense of duty to the public, especially to tho patients, has hitherto prevented both medical and nursing staff from showing what would be a very just resentment by resigning their positions. But so far as the medical superintendent is concerned a climax has been reached. Tho decision of the board at its last'meeting to grant a nurse's request for an. inquiry into her suspension was tantamount to a vote of want of confidence in tho medical superintendent, who regards it in that light, and the circumstaces surroundig the whole business aggravated tho situation, and made it quite intolerable."