AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8092, 18 August 1904, Page 3

AUCKLAND HOSPITAL.

'-. D.OCrrOßfi' DIFFERENCES.; [FBOM OPS COBBXSFONDBNT.] ** AUOKLAND, August 18. Matters in connection with Auckland Hospital aie occupying unenviable publio prominence just now. A dispute -which recently between the senior medical officer <Dr Covins) and Dr Hardie Neil, a memibar of tho honoranry medical *taff, resulted last week in the former tendering his resignation to the chairman of tho Boards The chairroao refused to accept the resignation, whereupon Dr Collinß asked that JDr Neil should 1 "be suspended, pending investigation. This request was acceded to, apd the matter was gome into at a. special meeting of the Board on Monday night. It then appeared that the disruption had arisen over aa operation which Dr Collins ooodnaieA at the hospital in May last, and with th© method' of performing whiob Dr Nell fwho xraa present) disagreed. Several other ,<fe»ctors who were present gave evidence expressmg satisfaction with GDr Colliiss's method! of conducting the operation. The chairman, said that Dr Neil, in approaching him in regard to this operation, had stated Hhai. Dr Collins wai converting the operating theatre into "a shambles," but Dr Neil emphatically denied having mad© use of euoh expression. The Bosferd, after .considering the matter in committee, decided to ask Dr Neil to resign. Dr Neil states tfiat he was aot in- ' formed of tie charges against him until he front tothft meeting, and that hebadfood 1 no bpportunity of calling rebutting evidence.* He abates that he intends to auk the Board to re-open tlhe matter wiiih a view of bringing forward fresh evidence. There is also gome mentiota of a. Royal Commission being asked) for. Dr Neil has, so far, not resigned frem the honorary staff, and his reply to a question oii. &he subject -was that he had pot yet been, aaked by letter to resign.