Classification of Hospital Employees Wanted

Grey River Argus, 2 October 1948, Page 7

Classification of Hospital Employees Wanted

WELLINGTON, Sept. 30

A unified service with a system of classification for a majority of hospital employees is favoured by the report of the Department of Health for the year -ending March 31, presented in the House of Representatives by the Minister, Miss Howard. Discussini the question of stall appointments by hospital boards, the report said that before appointing medical officers, matrons, secretaries and engineers, hospital boards were required to submit the list of applicants for the recommendation of the Minister, but boards were at liberty to appoint any applicant even if the Minister did not approve.

There had been occasions when boards had made or proposed to make rather unsatisfactory appointments, in spite of' the Minister’s or department’s advice. The question arose whether the Minister should have the power to veto an appointment which was not considered satisfactory. Within the system of classification favoured there would be the right to promotion within the service. Certain medical specialists such as radiologists, eye, nose and throat, surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons and others were in short supply and would become much more so when specialist benefits were introduced. It was desirable that the State should assist suitable men to become trained in these specialities, but under the present system there was no guarantee that hospital boards would appoint them after they were trained.