HOSPITAL BOARD CAN PROFIT FROM MISTAKES IN PAST, MEMBERS SAY

Wanganui Chronicle, 18 February 1949, Page 4

HOSPITAL BOARD CAN PROFIT FROM MISTAKES IN PAST, MEMBERS SAY

The Wanganui Hospital Board could not blame stabilisation or the Government for the present position because in the past it had broken an agreement with a fully qualified radiologist who came out from England to join its staff, declared Mrs. E. M. Scott at the monthly meeting yesterday. She was speaking to the following remit, moved by Mr. N. Hughes for consideration at the annual conference of the Hospital Board s Association of Now Zealand.

“That this broad views with alarm the influence of stabilisation on salaries paid to executive officers and specialists, being a distinct disadvantage in appointing and returning firstclass executive officers and specialists to hospitals, and requests the conference to make recommendations to the Government to vary the regulations so as to meet the needs of hospital boards.”

Mrs. Scott said that in the past the board had a good radiologist in Dr. Topham, but paid him less than the agreed figure when he was appointed and would not give him a rise. ‘‘What Mrs. Scott has said is true, but if we can profit from the mistakes of the past, all the better,” said the chairman, Mr. D. D. Simpson (Ilunterville). “That was a long time ago,” said Mr. A. P. Howard (Martoni. “I was not on the board then and I don’t know the circumstances. The board

can profit by its mistakes and see that they are not repeated.” It was also stated at the meeting that the incidents referred to occurred during the depression years when the Government insisted on salaries being rqeduced. Mr. Hughes’ remit was approved. I