AT. LOGGERHEADS
HOSPITAL BOARD AND DEPARTMENT HOUSE SURGEONCIES QUESTION
With furllier ref«rsnce to the controversy botwoun ll'O Wellington IIos»i----tul Buard and tin Actimj-hispector-Gene-nil- o[ Hospitals ovir the liouso surncuneica (|UL's(ion, th» sturclury of the board reported that in oumpliaucc with iheir wishes he had forwarded the following letter to the Actin^-inspector-Generali— "In reply to your letter of the Sth inst. (published in full at the lime), in further reference to the filling of vacancies for. lious-s surgeon*, I nm directed by tlio chairman of thft board to stato that niy hoard lias no wish to placo.obstacle in tho way of tho Dominion medical ■scholarship.* sclienii. This was nuido clear a-t the board meeting, but was not reported in tlw I'r-i". The board's atlitude ia simply a pioimt against the Department's attempt to usurp its etatntory functions and duties in the selection and appointment of liouiie surgeens' for service in thn Wi-llinsloii Hospital. That this is the intention of. tho Department is shown by (he following passage!, in your letter of the 12th ultimo: 'It has liow boon decided, nflei" consultation with the authorities of the Otago Medical School, that in future all applications for hnnsfi surgeons by hospital board.; or medical superintendent? shall bn submitted to and dealt with by, this Department.' ■ ■ ■ .
"My board contend? that the power of selection and'appointment of officers;, as (veil as the power of dismissal is, vested by statute in the board, and that this must bo rflflined unlcfs hospital board? aro to bo lvaimled as being entirely subordinate to Departmental control. This board is not dmliui; with tho question oiv'narochial lines.' On the contrary, it feels that an important'general principle is at stake, and for this rea•*nn. while fully recognising the- value of the liursory scheme to the people of New 7iealand,'it ennsiders that a protest should b> made against your proposal to deal' with appointments of houso surgeons. It is determined to uphold the right nf hospital boards to deal with the anmrntment nf their officers, and will associate itself and co-operate with the Department in tho appointment f'f fch<ilnr--hip liolders a* house surgeons in the Wellineton JTospitnl. but insists that' thn Dei)nrtmpnt in proposing to control the matter without any reference to the ho,?nital bonrds or their medical-superin-tendents is pxcppdin" its powers, and is at the same time inlroflucinp a dangerous principle into hospitsil administration. ■
"My board considers the scholarship whemo can l)r carried out without Hip Dcnnrtmcnt takins to itself the nower of flnnointment, and trusts von vi". modifv your proposals aecordin;:';.-. The clinirman rowets Hint you liavc fiiiwstcd thai 'canvass!]"*' nf boird members would exercise influence in the matter, for if: i> , list bo known tn you thnt the practice of this board 'in smnoiniintf house Mirpeons p to accept the guidance of it-s' medicnl sujx'rintondcnt-. who. obtains the ad"ice of f'l , authorities nt the Otaco Medical School,"
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Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 73, 19 December 1919, Page 9
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478AT. LOGGERHEADS Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 73, 19 December 1919, Page 9
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