HOSPITAL MATTERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3756, 9 March 1926, Page 56

HOSPITAL MATTERS.

honorary staff appoint MENTS.

SIE LIXDO FERGUSON CRITICISED.

(From Odu Own Ooa.iespondei;t.) , ri ... AUCKLAND, March 6. Ihe criticisms levelled by Sir Lindo Ferguson on the methods of appointment of the honorary staff to hospitals, when he addressed the Hospital Board's Association in Dunedin recently, were again referred to on Friday by Mr William Wallace, of Auckland, who, as president of the association had warmly answered Sir Lindo Ferguson s remarks at the time. He said that Sir Lindo, apart from inaccuracies in his criticism, was not at all helpful in solving the vexed problem of hospital staffing. “It is difficult to understand Sir Lindo Ferguson’s remarks,” he said, "because the most cordial relationship exists between all the boards and the honorary staffs throughout the Dominion. I came into contact with a great many medical men in Dunedin, and Christchurch, and in no case was approval expressed of Sir Lindo Ferguson’s attitude. lam sure it does not represent the opinion of t u bulk of the members of the B.M.A. It is just as well that the public should know the actual procedure followed in the appointment of the honorary staff 4 a hospital, as applications are being invited at present. When the applications close they are submitted to the honorary consulting staff, composed of medical men of long and tried experience in hospital work. In an honorary capacity these gentlemen carefully scrutinise the qualifications of each applicant, and report on them to the board. The board, with this report of their medical advisers to guide them, then make a selection and then the selection is submitted to the Minister for his approval. It will thus be seen that every precaution is taken to get the best men available.” Proceeding, Mr Wallace said: "Then again Sir Lindo Ferguson asserted that the real value of honorary services was equal to the sum received by the board from the rates. In my opinion there is both a debit and a credit side on this aspect of the question. The credit side for an honorary doctor is the invaluable clinical experience gained in the course of his work in the hospital. It must be a real 'et t*i him in his private practice. The amount received by boards from rates is £430,000 and the total strength of the honorary staff attached to the various hospitals is about 150 If Sir Lindo Ferguson's statement is correct then we should be paying £2900 per annum to each of these gentlemen for about a quarter of his time.”