HOSPITAL BOARD CHAIRMAN CRITICISED

Chronicle (Levin), 13 May 1947, Page 3

HOSPITAL BOARD CHAIRMAN CRITICISED

-P'ress Association

DOCTOR'S RESIGNATION

By Telegr~ph—

AUCKLAND, May 12. Strong criticism of tlie cliairman of the Auckland Hospital Board, Mr. A. J. Moody, and regret at tho rcsignation of Dr. Walter Gilmour as director of the board 's pathalogical departnient, were expressed in a memorandum from the executive of the combined medical staft' of the board 's iustitutions, which was before the board at its meeting tonight. It stated that the executive, having lieard Dr. Gilmonr, had reached the conclusion that he had been most

unfairly treated. "The administration of the laboratory services under the control of the board, is a inatter which greatly affects the elliciency of the hospital and interests of the public of Auckland," stated the memorandum. ' 1 Af ter liearing Dr. Gilmour the executive deplores the fact that a man with his record of service and achievement should lind it necessary to resign a position which has been rendered untenable by the continued hostility of the cliairman of the board. In its opinion it is a reproach of the board's administration when the head of a department is unjustly censured without a hearing and when he finds that his staff has been interviewed with regard to the running of the department of which he is head. The combined staff have for several years been most concerned with respeet to the relationship between the board and its medical staff and it attributes these periodical disturbances very largely to the attitude of the chairman of the board. " The memorandum continued: "It is of opinion that a continuation of the methods employed by him in relation to the medical "staff is seriously affecting the efficiency .of the hospital and adversely affecting public interest. i It would be safe to say that the extraordinary position whi'eh obtains in the Auckland hospital is known throughout New Zealand and even over^eas. -This can only have one result and that is to damage the reputati'on of the institution. The executive trusts that these representations will be most carefully considered by the board." The memorandum stated that Dr. Gilmour had served the board and commnnity, in the executive 's opinion,

faitlifully for 26 years as head of one of the major departments of the hospital. He had been an examiner of the llniversity of New Zealand and for many years he had taken a leading part m the development of medical education in Auckland. His reputation in his field was a'Dominion wide. On the recommendation of the finance committee to whom the memorandum had been referred, the board decided to receive the memorandum and^advise^ the honorary secretaTy of the combined medical staff that the matter had already been fully investigated and finalised by the board.