Six More Doctors.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20447, 27 October 1934, Page 10

Six More Doctors.

Mental Hospitals Staffs Increased. (“ Star ” Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, October 27. AN ANNOUNCEMENT that the Government intended to engage six additional doctors in the Mental Hospitals Department was made by Mr Coates in the House yesterday, in reply to complaints that mental hospitals ’were understaffed. Mr Coates said the matter had given the Minister, the Hon J. A. Young, deep concern. It was clear that the medical and scientific staffs were not sufficient and required strengthening numerically. Mr Barnard (Napier) : The patients are suffering. Mr Coates: I don’t think so. These men are working overtime. There is no question about it. They are doing extraordinary work. It is a labour of love. Mr Coates said that the Minister of Health was not prepared to accept responsibility for present conditions, and had placed the matter before Cabinet. As a result of the Minister’s representations it had been decided to appoint six additional doctors. Mrs M’Combs (Lyttelton) congratulated the Minister on his obvious intention to rectify the present situation. Mr Savage, Leader of the Opposition, said he had been authoritatively informed that the British Medical Association had nothing to do with the proposal to limit the number of medical students at Otago University. The lion J. A. Young said that he could give the House an assurance that the British Medical Association had not taken any part in the movement.