OBSTETRICAL HOSPITAL

Chronicle (Levin), 14 January 1947, Page 7

OBSTETRICAL HOSPITAL

I AGREEMENT ON NEARLY ALL POINTS AUCKLAND, Jau. 13. Agreemeut oxi all controvcrsiul pointb iuvolved iu the establisliment of an obstetrical aud gynaeeologieul teaeluug and hospital unit iu Auckland has uow beeu reached except in the choice of a aite. This was revealed in an interview by'Sir William Fletchcr Hhaw, the distinguished British gynaecologist, who assisted the New Zealand authorities in their examination of tlie proposals. ''I speedily found that all organisations iuterested in the proposal were raost enthusiastic, and if 1 have been of any service it has only been in Teaching a conimon agreemeut in the . few points of proeedure over which there were differencs of opinion, " Sir William said. "The Government, the University of Auckland, Hospital Board, mcinbers of the hospital visiting staff and the businessmen 's committee which raised the endowment funds, have all sliown the greatest cooperation aud wiliingncss to meet the views of other parties. " The sclection of a site which was the only point on which unanimity liad yet to be reached was most important. It was a difficult problem but he was conhdent it would soon be solved. All of the groups represented in the diseussions deserved the greatest commendation for their disinterested approach to the subject. A professor of obstetrics and gynaecology who would be direetor of the new hospital would be appointed by the University and the Hospital Board had sliown the greatest cooperation in rnaking these arrangements. It had also been agreed that the position should be stabilised by a short Act of Parliament. "The most important fence has still to be faced, the linding of a highlv qualilied professor and direetor," Sir William explained'. "The need could scarcely have arisen at a niore difficult period as so many universities in Great Britain and the Dominions liave been nsking for protessors in obstetrics and gynaecology, and the war has all'ected training in this braneh more tlian in general medicine and surgery. " Whether it would be possible to pcrsuade New Zealamlers sufficiently well trained and estalilished in Great Britain to undcrtake this pioneering work remained to be seen, Sir William added. Lt was a wonderful opportunity to do a great deal for New Zealand medicine though it would mean a considerable sacrifice, especially tinancially, for a specialist alroadv estalilished in Britain. After spending pearly foui montlis in the Dominion Sir William will leave for Sydney by air tomorrow.