STAFFING OF HOSPITALS

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1929, Page 11

STAFFING OF HOSPITALS

YOUNG DOCTORS IN DEMAND . EFFECT OF THE LONGER COURSE, HOSPITAL BOARD’S DIFFICULTIES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. “Probably' never in the history of New Zealand has there been such an eager demand for house surgeons on the part of the Dominion’s hospitals as there is at present,” Mr. 0. M. Luke, chairman of the Wellington Hospital Board, said to-day. The Wellington Board already had. put in its claim for. three or four house surgeons to the Otago University authorities at Dunedin. There were, always numbers- of young men who concluded their course at the end of each year but though the number who were in for their final examination was known it was not known how many would succeed. Until they obtained their ds2> gree they were. not available for ap* pointment to a hospital, so the position was that if a good many students won through at the end of the year it would be good news to. every hospital, as Wellington was by no means the most unfortunate. board in the country. “All we can do,” said Mr. Luke, “is to put in our .application for aA.;manyhouse surgeons as we want and hope for the best. We could do .; with:- three or four right away, but as we.- cannot secure them we have to manage as best we can without them.

“I shall say. this, however,” added the chairman, “that I do not think this shortage will occur again. You see it' was caused years ago"by Parliament’s deciding to extend the course for another year. This has thrown everything out and this is the year the hospitals are being madp to feel the pinch, but hereafter the thing will adjust itself; at least we are hoping it will. It just goes to show that the supply and de-, mand for doctors in this country is pretty well balanced.”