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NIGHT MEDICAL CALLS

COMMENT AT,INQUEST HOSPITAL BOARD CRITICISED (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 6. “ This Is by no means the first case In which distressed relatives have tried frantically and unsuccessfully to obtain medical aid at night,” said the coroner, Mr F. K. Hunt, at the inquest to-day into the death of Leonard Graham Fincham, aged 54, a labourer, of Franklin road. “ I suggest that the Auckland Hospital Board should reconsider its decision not to allow the members of its staff, or at least the younger members, to attend outside calls, particularly at night. 1 understand that the young men are willing, and, in fact, anxious, to do so. Besides being good experience for them, they could be paid for it.” Mr Hunt said he did not suggest that the earlier calling of medical attention in this particular case would have materially ‘altered its conclusion, but, he added, It may have done so. The evidence showed that last night the deceased had an attack of severe pains in the chest. He went to bed, but the pains increased in severity. Apparently his wife attempted to obtain medical attention, said Mr Hunt, and finally called her son, who lived nearby. The son said he endeavoured to call a doctor about 7 o’clock this morning. After repeated attempts he drove his father to the Auckland Hospital in a motor car.about 8 o’clock. On arrival at the casualty department he was told that his father was dead. “ The medical profession is labouring under a great disadvantage,” Mr Hunt said. Deducting those doctors who were purely surgeons and those who were on active service there were few enough left to attend to the needs of the public. Th ese few were in most cases attempting to carry on the work of two doctors.

“The public is entitled to medical service, and it is high time the question of night medical services in particular was faced up to,” Mr Hunt concluded. “The only solution I can see at the moment is the altering of the Hospital Board’s decision.” The inquest was* adjourned pending a post-mortem.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19440107.2.12

Bibliographic details

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25427, 7 January 1944, Page 2

Word Count
348

NIGHT MEDICAL CALLS Otago Daily Times, Issue 25427, 7 January 1944, Page 2

NIGHT MEDICAL CALLS Otago Daily Times, Issue 25427, 7 January 1944, Page 2