SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2544, 19 August 1915, Page 6

SHORTAGE OF DOCTORS

POSITION OF MEDICAL MEN PREPARED TO GIVE ALL HELP At a recent special council meeting of the British Medical Association in New Zealand the following resolutions, which are of general interest at tho present time, were passed, and submitted to the Defonco authorities: — (1) That this branch of the B.M.A. will endeavour to assist the authorities to make up the shortage in the staffs of general hospitals, and urges most strongly that sufficient recently-qualified medical men bo retained in New Zealand as house surgeons to public hospitals to maintain them at their original numerical strength. (2) That it is impossible to promise to make up the shortage of medical men in country districts, but each division will, as far as possible, render assistance in such circumstances as is now being dono, provided that no doctor is asked to leave his district. (3) That tho branch will endeavour to render temporary assistance at camps and hospitals if extra help is wanted by tho military authorities, provided that the doctor's ordinary duties are not unduly interfered with, but the branch deprecates tho multiplication of numerous small hospitals. (4) This branch strongly recommends that a central military hospital be provided in Wellington on some Suitable site and in such manner as to bo easily capable of extension, and providing accommodation for patients, nursesj etc. The branch considers this plan far more suitable, economical, and conveniently worked, both from tho patients' and tho staffs' aspect, than a number of small hospitals scattered about the cities and suburbs. That as soon as possible tho sick and wounded returned 'soldiers be sent from this clearing hospital to thenown districts. (5) That it be a recommendation that the invalided (sick and wounded) soldiers be placed in separate wards or convalescent homes under military discipline; it being found that the want of such control is seriously affecting genemanagement and discipline in tho civil hospitals. (6) That those medical officers who havo already offered their services, in response to the request of the Imperial Government for 100 medical men, should at once be definitely accepted, as in several cases steps havo been taken by these men to give up their practices, and tho inconvenience and uncertainty to which they have been, subjected must in future seriously interfere with recruiting from tho ranks of the medical profession. (7) That in tho opinion of the branch it is desirable to send Homo one or ! more hospital units in place of sending ' Home the 100 medical officers asked for by the Imperial authorities. In view of the'lack of definite information obtainable as to status, length of service, training, and general disposition of the latter proposal, the branch is of opinion that more good would accrue-by following out the proposal to send one or more hospital units. It would thus ho pos- , sible to supply periodic reinforcements in the medical* services, thus permitting those officers engaged to return to New Zealand at periods of, say, one year, if ( such is deemed advisable, and for other officers'in this way to take their places. (8) That this council directs the attention of members of the medical profession to tho probability that the services of all those available will shortly be urgently required for New Zealand medical i service itself, and the council deprecates medical men applying for outside service. (9) That, allowing for urgent military requirements, the authorities bt- asked to furnish definite plans for medical service as early as possible, so that the medical profession may know what is required of it.