HOSPITAL POSTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20039, 11 September 1939, Page 2

HOSPITAL POSTS

DECISION IN OPOTIKI

MATRON AND DOCTOR

CHAIRMAN’S CASTING VOTE

The appointments of Dr. C. S. James as medical superintendent of the Opotiki Hospital and Miss J. Waugh as matron were decided on at a meeting of the Opotiki Hospital Board. These positions were rendered vacant by the recent resignations of Dr. H. J. Mail and Miss L. -McLean.

There was only the one application for the position of matron, but for the position of medical superintendent both Dr. James and Dr. Mail made application. Mr. G. Neilson moved that Dr. James be appointed, this being seconded by Mr. C. D. Brown.

An amendment that Dr. Mail be appointed was moved by Mr. E. J. Baigent and seconded by Mr. G. S. Moody. On the amendment being put four votes were cast for it and four against, and the chairman, Mr. S. Maxwell, gave his casting vote against the amendment. The'motion was carried in a similar manner.

The whole of the nursing staff of the Opotiki Public Hospital sent in their resignations in July to the Opotiki Hospital Board, which advertised for applications for the positions. This was followed by the resignation of Dr. Mail and Miss McLean. The action of the nurses was reported to be the culmination of disagreements ’with their superiors, and the nurses sent a letter to the board voicing certain ccmolaints.

Following the resignations of the superintendent and matron, however, the nurses stated that they were willing to remain in their employment.