WAIROA MEDICAL SERVICE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 22, 10 February 1937, Page 3

WAIROA MEDICAL SERVICE

Our Owu Correspbudeut).

Two Doctors Insufficient

(From I

WAIROA, Feb. 10. At the .Hospital Board meeting on Tuesday, the question of insufficient medicai staffing of the -town and district since the illness of Dr. Ross, was discusse.d. The chairman, Mr. P. J. Brewster, reported as follows on tlio subject: — "A* members are aware, we have at present oply two' doctors practising in this district, which must ine'an a " considerable strain on their resources, .as both are on the sta.ff also/ One has been on holiday leave but has had to be called back on several occasions, which has bpeh both regrettable and unavoidable, while the other, no doubt, has been fully overworked and is overdue for holida,ys. ' ' Owing to Dr. , Ross's illness, it is very unfortunate for this hospital and district, for with the combination we had it was working very well indeed ahd gave us no " worry, but now tlie' position has to be faced that should either of eur other two medicai officers be laid up or absent through any other cause, where is the. medicai stafE to carry on? I suggest that applications be called for another medieal appointment on a salary basis with the right of private practice, so that the risk we are taking at present can be reduced. The hospital now has sixty-one established beds, and in an emergency seventy-eight patients could'be accommodated. "In conclusion, I would like to afiirm that the present officers have carried on very satisfactorily and regret very much the occasion that has called for this report." A lengthy round-table talk resulted, and eventually it was decided that a sub-committee composed of the chairman and Messrs. A. T. Carroll and Mr. G, Williams should interview Dr. Hallwright, the medicai superintendent, and his assistant, Dr. Jardine, on the question of appointing an assistant for 12 months in place of Dr. Ross, the committee to report to the board at next meeting. On the motioii of Mr. Harker, the resignation of Dr. Ross was accep.ted with regret, the same to. date aa 'from January 31. I