HOUSE SURGEONS

Southland Times, Issue 20903, 12 October 1929, Page 8

HOUSE SURGEONS

, AN EAGER DEMAND SHORTAGE THROUGHOUT DOMINION HOSPITALS FEELING THE PINCH (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, October 11. Probably never in the history of New Zealand has there been such an eager demand for house surgeons on the part of the Hospitals throughout the Dominion as there is at present. Mr 0. M. Luke, chairman of the Hospital Board, said to-day that the Wellington Board had already put in its claim for three or four house surgeons to the Otago University authorities at Dunedin. There were always a number of young men who conclude their course at the end of each year, but though the number who are in for their final examination is known, it is never known how many will get through, for until they get their degree they are not available for appointment to a hospital. So the position is that if a good many students get through at the end of the year it will be good news to every hospital, as Wellington is by no means the worst off board in the country. “All we can do,” said Mr Luke, “is to put in our application for as many house surgeons as we want and hope for the best. We could do with three or four right away, but as we can’t get them, we have to get along as best we can without them.” "I will say this, however,” added the chairman, “that I ‘don’t think this shortage will occur again. You see it was caused years ago by Parliament deciding to extend the course for another year. This has thrown everything out and this is the year the hospitals are being made to feel the pinch, but hereafter the thing will adjust itself all right. At least we are hoping it will. It just goes to show that the supply and demand for doctors in this country is pretty well balanced.”